Perry, Georgia

Perry is a city in Houston and Peach counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the county seat of Houston County. The population was 13,839 at the 2010 census, up from 9,602 at the 2000 census. As of 2019 the estimated population was 17,894. 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.

History
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. 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.

Geography
Perry is located in west-central Houston County at 32.465°N, -83.72111°W (32.464940, −83.721163). The city limits extend northwest into Peach County. It is on Big Indian Creek, a tributary of the Ocmulgee River.

U.S. Highway 41 passes through the center of Perry, leading north 30 mi to Macon and south 16 mi to Unadilla. Interstate 75, the major north–south artery through Georgia, passes through the western side of Perry, with access from Exits 134 through 138. I-75 leads north 106 mi to Atlanta and south 123 mi to Valdosta. U.S. Highway 341 also passes through Perry, leading northwest 12 mi to Fort Valley and southeast 21 mi to Hawkinsville.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Perry has a total area of 68.1 km2, of which 67.8 sqkm are land and 0.3 sqkm, or 0.48%, are water.

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

Georgia National Fair
The Georgia National Fair is a state-sponsored fair that is held every October at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in the southern part of Perry. The fair is an 11-day event offering a wide range of activities and shows, such as agricultural, livestock and horse shows, home and fine arts competitions, youth organization events (4-H, FBLA, FCCLA, FFA, and TSA), circus, midway rides, and games, fair food, major live music concerts in Reaves Arena, family entertainment, and nightly fireworks.

Go Fish Education Center
The Go Fish Education Center takes visitors on an educational journey through Georgia's watersheds to learn about the diverse aquatic wildlife, their natural habitats and the impact of water pollution. Visitors can see freshwater aquariums, explore underwater habitats, view aquatic wildlife, catch fish in a stocked pond, view a movie exploring Georgia's fishing options and traditions, and try out interactive fishing and boating simulators. The Go Fish Education Center is part of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (Fisheries Management Section). The hours are Friday & Saturday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The center is reserved Tuesday through Thursday for school field trips and other groups.

Perry Buzzard Drop
The Buzzard drops in Perry each New Year's Eve with live entertainment, spirits sold on-site, a dance contest, and souvenir memorabilia.

Perry Area Historical Museum
The Perry Area Historical Museum was founded to identify, protect and preserve the area's historical landmarks, artifacts, and histories of its people. Exhibits include military, social, agricultural, fashion, education, and political memorabilia. Services offered by the museum include a heritage library of local and regional publications, records, documents, family histories, and other research material. Programs offered include guided tours, special events, kids programs, and activities. The hours are Tuesday through Thursday, from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon and 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The museum is also open by appointment.

Perry Dogwood Festival
The Dogwood Festival is held the second weekend of April each year in downtown Perry. For each festival, there is a pageant, 5k, arts & crafts sale, food vendors, kids zone, youth entertainment stage, dog dock-diving competitions, and a hot air balloon rally.

Other attractions

 * Historic Downtown Perry
 * The Perry Players Community Theater
 * Perry Historic Walking/Driving Tour
 * Flat Creek Public Fishing Area
 * Georgia Grown Trail 41/341
 * Georgia National Rodeo
 * Peaches to the Beaches Yard Sale
 * Food Truck Fridays
 * Merchant's Wine Tasting
 * Georgia National Antique & Agriculture Show
 * Small Business Saturday
 * Perry's Festival of Trees

Airport
The Perry-Houston County Airport serves Middle Georgia's general aviation needs with a 5,000' x 100' runway, hangar space, a repair/maintenance facility, flight school, and both aviation and jet fuel services. Presently the facility is the base for 89 aircraft, with 66 public and corporate hangars.

Notable people

 * Ernest Greene, chillwave musician, known by his stage name Washed Out
 * Casey Hayward, cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons, and former Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Green Bay Packers, and Vanderbilt University football player
 * Photograph of Courtney Hodges - DPLA - d8a77bc1acf3b92a511c42b0c9c70829.jpegney Hodges, General US-O10 insignia.svg and commander of the First United States Army during World War II
 * Willis Hunt, senior federal judge
 * Sam Nunn, former United States Senator
 * Michelle Nunn, daughter of Sam Nunn, born and partly raised there, later CEO of Points of Light and candidate for U.S. Senate
 * Sonny Perdue, United States Secretary of Agriculture and former Governor of Georgia
 * Deborah Roberts, correspondent for ABC News
 * Ron Simmons, WCW/WWE wrestler and former Florida State Seminoles football player
 * Dontarrious Thomas, former linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers also the Minnesota Vikings and former Auburn University Tigers football player. Now entrepreneur and owner of VooDoo Wing Company in Auburn, AL and Las Vegas, NV
 * Al Thornton, former NBA player for Los Angeles Clippers, Washington Wizards, also the Golden State Warriors and former Florida State Seminoles basketball standout.
 * Richard Ray, former United States Representative.
 * Admiral James Harrison Oliver, Director of Navy Intelligence during World War I, appointed by President Woodrow Wilson to be the first governor of the Virgin Islands
 * Kanorris Davis, former Troy University Trojans linebacker and NFL New England Patriots safety/linebacker, currently a free agent