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Perry, Florida

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Perry, Florida
City
Location in Taylor County and the state of Florida
Location in Taylor County and the state of Florida
Country United States
State Florida
County Taylor
Area
 • Total9.3 sq mi (24.1 km2)
 • Land9.3 sq mi (24.1 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation
46 ft (14 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total6,847
 • Density736.2/sq mi (284.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
32347-32348
Area code850
FIPS code12-56150Template:GR
GNIS feature ID0288724Template:GR

Perry is a city in Taylor County, Florida, United States. As of 2010, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 7,017.[3] It is the county seat of Taylor County.Template:GR The city's web site states that the city was named for Madison Stark Perry, fourth Governor of the State of Florida and a Confederate States Army colonel during the American Civil War.[1]

Geography

Perry is located at 30°06′52″N 83°34′57″W / 30.114311°N 83.582609°W / 30.114311; -83.582609.Template:GR

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.3 square miles (24 km2), all land. Hampton Springs and Resort Hotel (Ghost Town) Location – Lat. 30° 04’ 53.36” N, Long. 83° 39’ 46.25” W (SW¼ NW¼ NE¼ sec. 6, T. 5 S, R. 7 E). Hampton Spring is located 4.4 miles (7.1 km) west of Perry off of US 98. From the intersection of US 98 and CR 356 (Hampton Spring Road), travel southwest on CR 356 approximately 0.7 miles (1.1 km) to the intersection with an unnamed road on the west (right) side of the road. Turn west (right) here and drive approximately 0.1 miles (0.16 km) to the bridge over Spring Creek. Hampton Spring is located approximately 0.1 miles (0.16 km) upstream along the east bank of Spring Creek.

Description – Hampton Spring discharges from the foundation of the historic Hampton Springs Hotel. The spring was surrounded by concrete to create a bathing area and swimming pool for the hotel. Water from a 2 ft (0.6 m) concrete pipe is diverted first into a semicircular concrete pool 10 ft (3.1 m) in diameter. Steps lead down to the pool along the semicircle on the east side. The spring flows west into a 6 ft (1.8 m) square pool surrounded on three sides by a retaining wall. The water then flows along a concrete canal into a larger rectangular pool. The largest pool is 45 ft (13.7 m) long, 12 ft (3.7 m) wide, and 4 ft (1.2 m) deep. Water from this pool is released into Spring Creek through a pipe in the foundation. The spring water is clear with a strong hydrogen sulfide smell and has large amounts of dark green algae. All three pools have crumbling foundations. A hardwood forest is encroaching on the old foundation and spring. The hotel was a popular destination during the early 20th century and the county has finished renovating the property as a park. Discharge rate on June 9, 1999 measured 0.213 ft 3 /s

History

The Perry Race Riot occurred in Perry on 14 and 15 December 1922, during which whites burned Charles Wright at the stake and attacked the black community of Perry after the murder of a white schoolteacher.[2] On the day following Wright's lynching two more black men were shot and hanged; whites then burned the town's black school, Masonic lodge, church, amusement hall, and several families' homes.[2][3]

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2010, there were 7,017 people, 2,661 households, and 1,828 families residing in the city. The population density was 748.0 people per square mile (284.6/km²). There were 3,073 housing units at an average density of 330.9 per square mile (127.7/km² The racial makeup of the city was 55.0% White 40.1% African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.4% Asian and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population.

There were 2,661 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.4% were married couples living together, 23.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,986, and the median income for a family was $29,602. Males had a median income of $26,595 versus $19,041 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,845. About 23.0% of families and 28.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.0% of those under age 18 and 26.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Students are served by the Taylor County School System. For the 2007 - 2008 school year the Florida Department of Education gave the District a "B" grade, with each of its four schools earning a "B" as well. This was due to the fact that the school board changed their academic standards to be lower so it appeared that they were a better school.[4] District Website

Taylor County High School, Home of the Bulldogs[5] the 1997 Class 3A State Champions. In 2010 the Bulldogs completed an undefeated football season going 10-0, claiming the district championship.

Transportation

Perry-Foley Airport is a public-use airport located 3 miles (4.8 km) south of the central business district.

Law Enforcement

The Perry Police Department (PPD) is a 24 person agency, as of July 1, 2012 the Joint Drug Task Force will be disbanded for unannounced reasons. The Perry Police Department has four fully trained Patrol K-9 teams. Each Handler and K-9 partner were exposed to at least 500 hours of training and in a couple of instances as much as 800 hours to be certified as such. [4]

Cultural references

Vernon, Florida

  • A feature film was shot in Perry Florida by local filmmakers in 2007 named "County Road 14".

References

  1. ^ The official web site of the City of Perry, Florida states: Perry, Florida was first called Rosehead and information was unavailable as to how this name was chosen. In 1875 it was changed to Perrytown, after Governor Stark Perry. Later the “town” was dropped and the name became Perry." http://www.elocallink.tv/web/perry/hist.html
  2. ^ a b Henry, Charles P. (2007). Long overdue: the politics of racial reparations. NYU Press. pp. 70–71. ISBN 978-0-8147-3692-0. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  3. ^ Henry, C. Michael (2004). "Introduction". Race, poverty, and domestic policy. Yale ISPS series. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-09541-8. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |editors= ignored (|editor= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ [1] Florida Department of Education. Retrieved on 2009-03-27.
  5. ^ [2] Taylor County School District, Perry Florida. Retrieved 2012-04-03.
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