Perry County, Mississippi

Perry County, Mississippi
Perry County courthouse New Augusta, Mississippi
Location in the state of Mississippi
Mississippi's location in the U.S.
Founded	1820
Seat	New Augusta
Largest Town	Richton
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	650.20 sq mi (1,684 km²) 647.18 sq mi (1,676 km²) 3.02 sq mi (8 km²), 0.46%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	12,250 18/sq mi (7/km²)

Perry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. It is part of the Hattiesburg, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 12,250. It was named after the War of 1812 naval hero, Oliver Hazard Perry. The county seat is New Augusta. Until 1906, the county seat was the old town of Augusta, near the center of the county on the east bank of the Leaf River. At Old Augusta, the outlaw, James Copeland, was executed by hanging on October 30, 1857. Old Augusta remains a small village today. New Augusta, two miles south of Old Augusta, was made the county seat of Perry County, because it was situated on the Mobile, Jackson & Kansas City Railroad.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 650.20 square miles (1,684.0 km²), of which 647.18 square miles (1,676.2 km²) (or 99.54%) is land and 3.02 square miles (7.8 km²) (or 0.46%) is water.

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 98
• Mississippi Highway 15
• Mississippi Highway 29
• Mississippi Highway 42

Adjacent counties

• Wayne County (northeast)
• Greene County (east)
• George County (southeast)
• Stone County (south)
• Forrest County (west)
• Jones County (northwest)

National protected area

• De Soto National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1820	2,037		—
1830	2,300		12.9%
1840	1,889		−17.9%
1850	2,438		29.1%
1860	2,606		6.9%
1870	2,694		3.4%
1880	3,427		27.2%
1890	6,494		89.5%
1900	14,682		126.1%
1910	7,685		−47.7%
1920	8,987		16.9%
1930	8,197		−8.8%
1940	9,292		13.4%
1950	9,108		−2.0%
1960	8,745		−4.0%
1970	9,065		3.7%
1980	9,864		8.8%
1990	10,865		10.1%
2000	12,138		11.7%
2010	12,250		0.9%
MS Counties 1900-1990 GeoHive - 2000 & 2010 statistics

As of the census of 2000, there were 12,138 people, 4,420 households, and 3,332 families residing in the county. The population density was 19 people per square mile (7/km²). There were 5,107 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 76.17% White, 22.59% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races. 1.01% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,420 households out of which 37.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 13.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.60% were non-families. 21.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.70% under the age of 18, 10.00% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 11.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,189, and the median income for a family was $32,791. Males had a median income of $29,130 versus $18,632 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,837. About 19.60% of families and 22.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.60% of those under age 18 and 25.50% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

• Towns
  • Beaumont
  • New Augusta
  • Richton

• Unincorporated places
  • Hintonville
  • Janice
  • Runnelstown

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Perry County, Mississippi