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Perry, Georgia

Coordinates: 32°27′54″N 83°43′16″W / 32.46500°N 83.72111°W / 32.46500; -83.72111
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For the New Zealand rower, see Georgia Perry.

Perry, Georgia
City
Perry City Hall
Perry City Hall
Motto: 
"Where Georgia comes together"[1]
Location in Houston County and the state of Georgia
Location in Houston County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 32°27′54″N 83°43′16″W / 32.46500°N 83.72111°W / 32.46500; -83.72111
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountiesHouston, Peach
Named afterOliver Hazard Perry
Government
 • MayorRandall Walker
 • City ManagerR. Lee Gilmour
Area
[2]
 • Total
27.11 sq mi (70.20 km2)
 • Land26.98 sq mi (69.87 km2)
 • Water0.13 sq mi (0.34 km2)
Elevation
364 ft (111 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
20,624
 • Density764.53/sq mi (295.19/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
31069
Area code478
FIPS code13-60340[3]
GNIS feature ID0320389[4]
Websitewww.perry-ga.gov, www.perryga.com

Perry is a city in Houston and Peach counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the county seat[5] of Houston County. The population was 13,839 at the 2010 census,[6] up from 9,602 at the 2000 census. As of 2019 the estimated population was 17,894.[7] It is part of the Warner Robins, Georgia metropolitan statistical area, within the Macon–Bibb County–Warner Robins combined statistical area.

Perry is best known as the location of the annual Georgia National Fair.[8]

History

[edit]

Founded in 1823 as "Wattsville", the town was located near the center of Houston County and served as its courthouse. The name was soon changed to honor Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, a hero of the War of 1812.[9] The Georgia General Assembly incorporated the town on December 9, 1824. The original city limit was a circle, one mile in diameter, except where bounded on the north by Big Indian Creek.

Antebellum industry in Perry included gristmills, sawmills, and cotton gins. The Houston Home Journal began publishing in 1870. Cotton was the most significant commodity crop in the 20th century.

Tourism has been important to the local economy since about 1920, when U.S. Highway 41 to Florida was paved. The New Perry Hotel, built in 1870 and rebuilt in 1925, became a landmark for many Florida tourists. The downtown area has emphasized its historic heritage and has several quaint shops and restaurants.

Since World War II, when Robins Air Force Base was established in nearby Warner Robins, the military has been a significant employer in the area. Warner Robins is several times larger than Perry. Other manufacturers in the city have included Frito-Lay, Perdue Farms (formally Heileman Brewing Co.), and Cemex, Inc. (formally Penn-Dixie Cement and Medusa Cement Company).

In the early 1960s Interstate 75 was constructed through the western side of the city. It has attracted more businesses that cater to travelers. The Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter opened in 1990. The Go Fish Georgia Education Center opened October 8, 2010.[10]

Geography

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Perry is located in west-central Houston County. The city limits extend northwest into Peach County. It is on Big Indian Creek, a tributary of the Ocmulgee River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Perry has a total area of 26.3 square miles (68.1 km2), of which 26.2 square miles (67.8 km2) are land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km2), or 0.48%, are water.[6]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1870836—
188092911.1%
1890665−28.4%
1900650−2.3%
1910649−0.2%
19206784.5%
19301,398106.2%
19401,54210.3%
19503,849149.6%
19606,03256.7%
19707,77128.8%
19809,45321.6%
19909,4520.0%
20009,6021.6%
201013,83944.1%
202020,62449.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
Perry racial composition as of 2020[12]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 11,152 54.07%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 7,139 34.62%
Native American 24 0.12%
Asian 401 1.94%
Pacific Islander 15 0.07%
Other/Mixed 906 4.39%
Hispanic or Latino 987 4.79%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 20,624 people, 6,242 households, and 4,160 families residing in the city.

Circa 2019, of the 13,839 residents, 13,776 of them were in Houston County and 63 were in Peach County.[13]

Arts and culture

[edit]

The Georgia National Fair is a state-sponsored fair each October at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry. The 11-day event features agricultural shows, competitions, and midway rides.

The Go Fish Education Center features aquatic wildlife, and is associated with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

The Perry Area Historical Museum features regional historical artifacts.

The Dogwood Festival features a pageant, run, and vendors.

Education

[edit]

Areas in Houston County are within the Houston County School System (as are all other parts of Houston County).[14]

Areas in Peach County are within the Peach County School District (as are all other parts of Peach County).[15]

Infrastructure

[edit]

Transportation

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Highways include U.S. Highway 41, Interstate 75, U.S. Highway 341.

Perry-Houston County Airport is a general aviation airport located in the city.

Notable people

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Perry". City of Perry, Georgia. Archived from the original on May 10, 2017. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  2. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  3. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Perry city, Georgia". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 19, 2017.[dead link‍]
  7. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  8. ^ Becker, Jim. "Seniors Visit Georgie". Senior Citizen Travel. Mandarich Media Group. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  9. ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 174. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
  10. ^ "Press Release | Georgia DNR - Wildlife Resources Division". Archived from the original on October 26, 2011. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  11. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  12. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  13. ^ "General Highway Map Houston County Georgia" (PDF). Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  14. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Houston County, GA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 25, 2024. - Text list
  15. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Peach County, GA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 25, 2024. - Text list
  16. ^ Barone, Michael; Ujifusa, Grant (1987). The Almanac of American Politics 1988. p. 295. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  • Bobbe Hickson Nelson, A Land So Dedicated: Houston County, Georgia ([Perry, Ga.], 1977) OCLC 3597733.
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