Perry County, Arkansas

County in Arkansas, United States

County in Arkansas

Perry County

County

Perry County Courthouse (Perryville, Arkansas)

Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas

Arkansas's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 34°57′37″N 92°56′07″W﻿ / ﻿34.960277777778°N 92.935277777778°W﻿ / 34.960277777778; -92.935277777778
Country|  United States
State|  Arkansas
Founded| December 18, 1840
Named after| Oliver Hazard Perry
Seat| Perryville
Largest city| Perryville
Area

• Total

| 561 sq mi (1,450 km2)
• Land| 551 sq mi (1,430 km2)
• Water| 9.1 sq mi (24 km2)  1.6%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 10,019

• Estimate

(2023)

| 10,184
• Density| 18/sq mi (6.9/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 2nd
Website| perrycoarkansas.org

Perry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Its population was 10,019 at the 2020 United States census.[1] The county seat is Perryville.[2] The county was formed on December 18, 1840, and named for Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, naval hero in the War of 1812. It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county.

Perry County is included in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway metropolitan area.

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 561 square miles (1,450 km2), of which 551 square miles (1,430 km2) is land and 9.1 square miles (24 km2) (1.6%) is water.[3] It is the fourth-smallest county in Arkansas by land area and third-smallest by total area.

### Major highways

[edit]

* Highway 7
* Highway 9
* Highway 10
* Highway 60
* Highway 113
* Highway 300

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Conway County (north)
* Faulkner County (northeast)
* Pulaski County (east)
* Saline County (southeast)
* Garland County (southwest)
* Yell County (west)

### National protected area

[edit]

* Ouachita National Forest (part)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1850| 978| | —
1860| 2,465| | 152.0%
1870| 2,685| | 8.9%
1880| 3,872| | 44.2%
1890| 5,538| | 43.0%
1900| 7,294| | 31.7%
1910| 9,402| | 28.9%
1920| 9,905| | 5.3%
1930| 7,695| | −22.3%
1940| 8,392| | 9.1%
1950| 5,978| | −28.8%
1960| 4,927| | −17.6%
1970| 5,634| | 14.3%
1980| 7,266| | 29.0%
1990| 7,969| | 9.7%
2000| 10,209| | 28.1%
2010| 10,445| | 2.3%
2020| 10,019| | −4.1%
2023 (est.)| 10,184| [4]| 1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790–1960[6] 1900–1990[7]
1990–2000[8] 2010[9]
Age pyramid Perry County[10]

### 2020 census

[edit]

Perry County racial composition[11] Race  | Number  | Percentage

|
|

White (non-Hispanic)  | 9,069  | 90.52%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)  | 107  | 1.07%
Native American | 43  | 0.43%
Asian | 12  | 0.12%
Other/Mixed | 502  | 5.01%
Hispanic or Latino | 286  | 2.85%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 10,019 people, 3,668 households, and 2,824 families residing in the county.

### 2000 census

[edit]

As of the 2000 census,[12] there were 10,209 people, 3,989 households, and 2,939 families residing in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile (6.9 people/km2). There were 4,702 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.62% White, 1.73% Black or African American, 0.98% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. 1.18% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,989 households, out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.10% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.30% were non-families. 23.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.40% 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 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.30% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,083, and the median income for a family was $37,170. Males had a median income of $28,254 versus $21,462 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,216. About 10.50% of families and 14.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.00% of those under age 18 and 15.00% of those age 65 or over.

## Government and Politics

[edit]

### Government

[edit]

The county government is a constitutional body granted specific powers by the Constitution of Arkansas and the Arkansas Code. The quorum court is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all spending and revenue collection. Representatives are called justices of the peace and are elected from county districts every even-numbered year. The number of districts in a county vary from nine to fifteen, and district boundaries are drawn by the county election commission. The Perry County Quorum Court has nine members. Presiding over quorum court meetings is the county judge, who serves as the chief executive officer of the county. The county judge is elected at-large and does not vote in quorum court business, although capable of vetoing quorum court decisions.[13][14]

Perry County, Arkansas Elected countywide officials[15][16][17] Position  | Officeholder  | Party

|
|

County Judge | Larry Blackmon  | Republican
County/Circuit Clerk | Renee Rainey  | Republican
Sheriff/Collector | Ricky Don Jones  | Republican
Treasurer | Jessica Spinks  | Republican
Assessor | Amanda Hawkins  | Democratic
Coroner | Wes Harris  | Republican

The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 8 Republicans and 1 Democrat. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:[18][19]

* District 1: Travis Bentley (R)
* District 2: Dale Payne (R)
* District 3: Ronnie Lee (R)
* District 4: Shane Treadway (R)
* District 5: Edward Evans (D)
* District 6: Charlie Clements (R)
* District 7: David Hoyt (R)
* District 8: Benjamin D. Lee (R)
* District 9: Scott Skinkle (R)

Additionally, the townships of Perry County are entitled to elect their own respective constables, as set forth by the Constitution of Arkansas. Constables are largely of historical significance as they were used to keep the peace in rural areas when travel was more difficult.[20] The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:[21]

* Houston: Randall E. Luyet (R)
* Perry: Bart Hight (R)

Cherry Hill Township also elects its own committee board. The committee board member at-large is Phylis McMoran (D).[22]

### Politics

[edit]

Over the past few election cycles Perry County has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democrat (as of 2024) to carry this county was Bill Clinton in 1996.

United States presidential election results for Perry County, Arkansas[23] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 3,559  | 77.64% | 923  | 20.14%  | 102  | 2.23%
2020 | 3,479  | 75.19% | 1,012  | 21.87%  | 136  | 2.94%
2016 | 3,008  | 69.86% | 1,049  | 24.36%  | 249  | 5.78%
2012 | 2,581  | 65.54% | 1,187  | 30.14%  | 170  | 4.32%
2008 | 2,743  | 64.10% | 1,352  | 31.60%  | 184  | 4.30%
2004 | 2,435  | 54.95% | 1,921  | 43.35%  | 75  | 1.69%
2000 | 2,114  | 52.76% | 1,648  | 41.13%  | 245  | 6.11%
1996 | 1,143  | 32.83%  | 1,873  | 53.79% | 466  | 13.38%
1992 | 1,162  | 33.16%  | 1,906  | 54.39% | 436  | 12.44%
1988 | 1,627  | 52.01% | 1,470  | 46.99%  | 31  | 0.99%
1984 | 2,047  | 58.82% | 1,404  | 40.34%  | 29  | 0.83%
1980 | 1,459  | 45.79%  | 1,606  | 50.41% | 121  | 3.80%
1976 | 832  | 26.48%  | 2,310  | 73.52% | 0  | 0.00%
1972 | 1,445  | 63.88% | 810  | 35.81%  | 7  | 0.31%
1968 | 740  | 32.31%  | 634  | 27.69%  | 916  | 40.00%
1964 | 1,048  | 43.90%  | 1,320  | 55.30% | 19  | 0.80%
1960 | 501  | 36.17%  | 789  | 56.97% | 95  | 6.86%
1956 | 572  | 43.87%  | 719  | 55.14% | 13  | 1.00%
1952 | 502  | 38.32%  | 802  | 61.22% | 6  | 0.46%
1948 | 201  | 18.42%  | 731  | 67.00% | 159  | 14.57%
1944 | 285  | 28.64%  | 710  | 71.36% | 0  | 0.00%
1940 | 206  | 20.81%  | 783  | 79.09% | 1  | 0.10%
1936 | 249  | 21.69%  | 899  | 78.31% | 0  | 0.00%
1932 | 123  | 8.34%  | 1,347  | 91.38% | 4  | 0.27%
1928 | 474  | 42.59%  | 636  | 57.14% | 3  | 0.27%
1924 | 260  | 32.91%  | 386  | 48.86% | 144  | 18.23%
1920 | 592  | 43.31%  | 738  | 53.99% | 37  | 2.71%
1916 | 439  | 31.05%  | 975  | 68.95% | 0  | 0.00%
1912 | 163  | 16.89%  | 522  | 54.09% | 280  | 29.02%
1908 | 445  | 39.63%  | 608  | 54.14% | 70  | 6.23%
1904 | 356  | 41.40%  | 477  | 55.47% | 27  | 3.14%
1900 | 293  | 38.45%  | 459  | 60.24% | 10  | 1.31%
1896 | 217  | 24.08%  | 678  | 75.25% | 6  | 0.67%

## Tourism

[edit]

Just west of the Little Rock Metro Area, Perry County is a rural area set in the Ouachita Mountains with much of the county is within the Ouachita National Forest. Multiple points of interest of the National Forest are located within Perry County, to include the Flatside Wilderness Area, the Ouachita National Recreation Trail, Flatside Pinnacle Mountain, Lake Sylvia Recreation Area, the Hollis CCC Camp, the South Fourche Recreation Area and multiple watershed lakes and streams. Other popular outdoor recreation-related points of interest in the county include Nimrod Lake, Harris Brake Lake, Toad Suck Park, the Arkansas River, the Fourche LaFave River, and the South Fourche LaFave River.[24]

For history buffs, the Perry County Museum in Perryville's Historic Commercial District provides several exhibits on the history of Perry County and its communities. The Hollis Country Store in Hollis is a popular roadside stop for travelers on Scenic Highway 7 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Perry County's most popular annual event is the Arkansas Goat Festival[25] held in the Fall drawing thousands of tourists from around the country. Perry County is also the location of Heifer Ranch, an arm of Heifer International, a nonprofit which provides food and agricultural training for people all across the globe.

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Adona
* Perryville (county seat)

### Towns

[edit]

* Bigelow
* Casa
* Fourche
* Houston
* Perry

### Census-designated place

[edit]

* Aplin

### Other unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Ava
* Cherry Hill
* Fourche Junction
* Hollis
* Nimrod
* Toad Suck

### Townships

[edit]

Townships in Arkansas are the divisions of a county. Each township includes unincorporated areas; some may have incorporated cities or towns within part of their boundaries. Arkansas townships have limited purposes in modern times. However, the United States census does list Arkansas population based on townships (sometimes referred to as "county subdivisions" or "minor civil divisions"). Townships are also of value for historical purposes in terms of genealogical research. Each town or city is within one or more townships in an Arkansas county based on census maps and publications. The townships of Perry County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township. [26][27]

* Aplin
* Casa (Casa)
* Cherry Hill
* Fourche Lafavre (most of Perryville)
* Houston (Houston)
* Kenney
* Lake (Perry)
* Maumelle
* New Tennessee
* Perry (Bigelow, Fourche)
* Petit Jean (Adona)
* Rankin
* Rose Creek
* Tyler
* Union
* Union Valley (small part of Perryville)
* Wye

## Notable people

[edit]

* Mary Elizabeth Bentley (born 1961), Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives since 2015
* Len E. Blaylock (1918–2012), Republican politician from Nimrod in Perry County
* Bob Dorough (1923–2018), American bebop and jazz pianist most recognizable from Schoolhouse Rock! fame.

## See also

[edit]

* List of lakes in Perry County, Arkansas
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Perry County, Arkansas

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Perry County, Arkansas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
4. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
7. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
9. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
10. ^ Based on 2000 census data
11. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
13. ^ "Quorum Courts". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
14. ^ "Office of County Judge". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
15. ^ "Perry | Association of Arkansas Counties". www.arcounties.org. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
16. ^ "Election Night Reporting". results.enr.clarityelections.com. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
17. ^ https://www.arcounties.org/site/assets/files/6033/november_races.pdf
18. ^ "Perry County, Arkansas, elections, 2024". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
19. ^ "Election Night Reporting". results.enr.clarityelections.com. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
20. ^ "What is a Constable?". What is a Constable?. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
21. ^ "Perry County, Arkansas, elections, 2024". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
22. ^ "Perry County, Arkansas, elections, 2024". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
23. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 18, 2016.
24. ^ Commerce, Perry County Arkansas Chamber of. "Perry County Arkansas Chamber of Commerce". Perry County Arkansas Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
25. ^ "Whoops, it looks like that event has passed or is no longer happening. | Arkansas.com". www.arkansas.com.
26. ^ 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Perry County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
27. ^ "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 29, 2014.

## External links

[edit]

* Perry County, Arkansas entry on the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Perry County, Arkansas

|  | Conway County | Faulkner County

|
|

|  |
Yell County |

Perry County, Arkansas

| Pulaski County
|  |
Garland County |  | Saline County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Perry County, Arkansas, United States

County seat: Perryville

City|

* Adona
* Perryville

Map of Arkansas highlighting Perry County

Towns|

* Bigelow
* Casa
* Fourche
* Houston
* Perry

CDP|

* Aplin

Other unincorporated
communities|

* Ava
* Cherry Hill
* Fourche Junction
* Hollis
* Little Italy‡
* Nimrod
* Toad Suck

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* Arkansas portal
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* v
* t
* e

State of Arkansas

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34°57′37″N 92°56′07″W﻿ / ﻿34.96028°N 92.93528°W﻿ / 34.96028; -92.93528

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