Perry County, Pennsylvania

Perry County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 45,842. The county seat is New Bloomfield. The county was created on March 22, 1820, and was named for Oliver Hazard Perry, a hero of the War of 1812, who had recently died. It was originally part of Cumberland County and was created in part because residents did not want to travel over the mountain to Carlisle, the county seat of Cumberland County. Landisburg became the temporary county seat before New Bloomfield was ultimately chosen. The county is part of the South Central Pennsylvania region of the state.

Perry County is included in the Harrisburg–York–Lebanon combined statistical area. The county is served by the 717/223 area codes.

In 2010, the center of population of Pennsylvania was located in the eastern end of Perry County. Green Park, an unincorporated village located in northeastern Tyrone Township, serves as Perry County's midpoint between the Conococheague Mountain in the west and the Susquehanna River to the east.

Geography
The county terrain is formed by the folded Appalachian Mountain ridges which run from southwest to northeast across the county. The terrain slopes to the northeast, with its highest point on the Blue Mountain Ridge, which delineates the border between Perry and Cumberland counties. The ridge peaks at 0.83 mi NE from Perry County's southmost corner; it measures 2,269 ft ASL. Perry County is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission, and it is identified as part of the "Midlands" by Colin Woodard in his book American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America.

The county is drained by the south-flowing Susquehanna River, which forms almost all of its eastern boundary. The Juniata River enters Perry County from Juniata County near Millerstown, and flows southeast to its confluence with the Susquehanna River near Duncannon. The county also contains several creeks, runs, and lakes, which provide recreational and fishing opportunities, formerly powered mills throughout the county and provided transport venues. To this day, canoeing and kayaking are forms of recreation which utilize the Shermans Creek and other waters in the county.

The county has a total area of 556 sqmi, of which 551 sqmi is land and 4.1 sqmi (0.7%) is water.

The Appalachian Trail runs through the town of Duncannon. The county is also famous for being the northern head of the Tuscarora Trail.

Perry County has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) and average monthly temperatures in New Bloomfield range from 28.5 °F in January to 73.2 °F in July. The hardiness zone is 6b except in Marysville where it is 7a. Common trees include red maple, Virginia pine, oak, eastern white pine, eastern hemlock, birch, shagbark hickory, and juniper, though American sycamore, ironwood (ex: Hop-hornbeam, American Hornbeam), sugar maple, black walnut, elm, alder, black cherry, black locust, and sassafras are also fairly common. Mosses of various species are common sights, especially on fallen tree logs, along streams, on tree trunks, and in sidewalk cracks, usually growing in shaded areas. Ferns also grow along streams and in shaded areas, and are also commonly seen in Perry County woodlands.

Adjacent counties

 * Juniata County - north
 * Northumberland County - northeast
 * Dauphin County - east
 * Cumberland County - south
 * Franklin County - southwest

Protected areas

 * Big Spring State Forest Picnic Area
 * Fowlers Hollow State Park
 * Little Buffalo State Park
 * Colonel Denning State Park (part)
 * Hoverter and Sholl Box Huckleberry Natural Area
 * State Game Lands Number 88
 * State Game Lands Number 170
 * State Game Lands Number 256
 * State Game Lands Number 281
 * Tuscarora State Forest (part)

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 43,602 people, 16,695 households, and 12,320 families in the county. The population density was 79.1 /mi2. There were 18,941 housing units at an average density of 34.4 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 98.54% White, 0.43% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. 0.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 45.8% were of German, 16.4% American, 7.8% Irish and 5.0% English ancestry. 96.8% spoke English and 1.2% Spanish as their first language.

There were 16,695 households, out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.6% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.20% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.01. There is also a high population of Anabaptist communities, such as Amish and Mennonites.

The county population contained 25.5% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.

Metropolitan Statistical Area
The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Perry County as the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As of the 2010 census the metropolitan area ranked 6th most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 96th most populous in the United States, with its population of 549,475. Perry County is also a part of the larger Harrisburg–York–Lebanon combined statistical area (CSA), which combines the populations of Perry County as well as Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lebanon and York Counties in Pennsylvania. The Combined Statistical Area ranked 5th in the State of Pennsylvania and 43rd most populous in the United States with a population of 1,219,422.

Commissioners
(as of January 2024)
 * R. Frank Campbell, Chair (R)
 * Brenda L. Watson, Vice Chair (D)
 * William "Bill" Lyons, Secretary (R)

Sheriff

 * David Hammar, Republican

===State Senate ===
 * Greg Rothman, Republican, Pennsylvania's 34th Senate District

State House of Representatives

 * Perry A. Stambaugh, Republican, Pennsylvania's 86th Representative District

United States House of Representatives

 * John Joyce, Republican, Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district

United States Senate

 * John Fetterman, Democrat
 * Bob Casey Jr., Democrat

Emergency services
The county's emergency services are located in the basement of the Perry County Courthouse. The 911 center's coverage area includes almost all of Perry County and portions of Juniata and Dauphin counties.

Politics
In 2016, Donald J. Trump received 73.07% of the presidential vote, compared to 21.67% to Hillary Clinton, and 5.26% for candidates Gary Johnson, write-ins, Jill Stein, and Darrell L. Castle, respectively. The county has voted for the Republican in every presidential election since 1964. In 2006, Lynn Swann received 9,998 votes (69%) to 4,477 votes (31%) for Ed Rendell, making it Swann's strongest county in his defeat. Rick Santorum also received more than 60% of the Perry County vote in his defeat.


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Public School Districts

 * Greenwood School District (also covers parts of Juniata County).
 * Newport School District
 * Susquenita School District (also covers parts of Dauphin County).
 * West Perry School District
 * Fannett-Metal School District (located in Franklin County, but covers parts of Perry County).

Intermediate unit
The Capital Area Intermediate Unit 15 is a state approved education agency that offers to Perry County school districts, charter schools, private schools, and home school students, a variety of services including: a completely developed K-12 curriculum that is mapped and aligned with the Pennsylvania Academic Standards (available online), shared services, a joint purchasing program and a wide variety of special education and special needs services.

Private schools
As reported on EdNA (ED Names and Addresses) by the Pennsylvania Department of Education:


 * Blue Goose Children's Learning Center, Inc – Newport
 * Carson Long Military Institute
 * Clarks Run Parochial School – Blain
 * Community Christian Academy – Newport
 * Farm Lane School – Ickesburg
 * Fowlers Hollow School – Blain
 * Heritage Christian School – West Perry
 * Honeysuckle Ridge School – Elliotsburg
 * Kuddly Bear Child Care Center Inc. – Duncannon
 * Loysville Youth Development Center – Loysville
 * Manassa School – Blain
 * Messiah Day Care Center – Elliottsburg
 * Mountain View Parochial School – Ickesburg
 * Perry View Parochial School – Landisburg
 * Raccoon Valley Amish School – Millerstown
 * Shermans View School – Loysville
 * Stony Point School – Loysville
 * Sunset Valley School – Millerstown

Trade schools

 * Central Pennsylvania Diesel Institute – Liverpool

Public libraries

 * New Bloomfield Public Library
 * Community Library of Western Perry County
 * Marysville-Rye Public Library
 * Newport Public Library

Newspapers
The county is home to four weekly newspapers, three published by Advance Publications of Perry and Juniata Counties, Inc. associated with The Patriot-News of Harrisburg: Duncannon Record, The News-Sun, and Perry County Times. The Perry County Weekly is published by The Sentinel in Carlisle, Cumberland County, by Lee Enterprises of Davenport, Iowa.

Books
There are numerous historical books written about the county, available at the Council of the Arts in Newport as well as other establishments. They cover various topics of the county's past, including an historical overview of the Blain area; an account of the life of the early settlers along the Shermans Creek in three townships; and an account of a Civil War battle on Sterrett's Gap.

Communities
Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following boroughs and townships are located in Perry County:

Boroughs

 * Blain
 * Duncannon
 * Landisburg
 * Liverpool
 * Marysville
 * Millerstown
 * New Bloomfield (county seat)
 * New Buffalo
 * Newport

Unincorporated communities

 * Acker
 * Andersonburg
 * Alinda
 * Amity Hall
 * Aqueduct
 * Bailey
 * Bixler
 * Bridgeport
 * Centre
 * Center Square
 * Cisna Run
 * Couchtown
 * Cove
 * Crums Corners
 * Dellville
 * Donnally Mills
 * Dromgold
 * Elliottsburg
 * Erly
 * Eshcol
 * Everhartville
 * Falling Spring
 * Fort Robertson
 * Glenvale
 * Gramere
 * Green Park
 * Half Falls
 * Ickesburg
 * Juniata Furnace
 * Keystone
 * Kinkora Heights
 * Kistler
 * Little Germany
 * Losh Run
 * Loysville
 * Mannsville
 * Marklesville
 * McKee
 * Mecks Corner
 * Milltown
 * Montebello
 * Montgomery Ferry
 * Mount Patrick
 * Mount Pleasant
 * Nekoda
 * New Germantown
 * Oakgrove
 * Old Ferry
 * Perdix
 * Pine Grove
 * Pfoutz Valley
 * Reward
 * Rose Glen
 * Roseburg
 * Saville
 * Seyoc
 * Shermans Dale
 * Stony Point
 * Sundy Place
 * Wahneta
 * Walnut Grove
 * Wardville
 * Wila

Townships

 * Buffalo
 * Carroll
 * Centre
 * Greenwood
 * Howe
 * Jackson
 * Juniata
 * Liverpool
 * Miller
 * Northeast Madison
 * Oliver
 * Penn
 * Rye
 * Saville
 * Southwest Madison
 * Spring
 * Toboyne
 * Tuscarora
 * Tyrone
 * Watts
 * Wheatfield

Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Perry County.

† county seat

Economy
Perry County's economy is primarily agricultural. Various farmers markets, roadside stands, farm produce stands, food festivals, resale farm stands, meat stores, and plant nurseries are present throughout the county. Two farms in Perry County are particularly well known, which are Spiral Path Farm and Yeehaw Farm, with the latter having been spotlighted by the Washington Post. The county's area is 38.3% farmland, of which 11.09% (thus 4.24% of all land in the county) is pastureland.

Perry County also hosts a wide range of non-agricultural businesses. Historically, mills were prevalent, and the county currently has 21 known non-operational mills still standing. Settlement was not allowed until 1755, and when settlement was allowed, it was not safe: in June 1755, Native Americans chased nearly all of the pioneers out, until it was considered safe to return in 1762. The first mill was taxed in 1763, though the exact date of its completion is not known.

Nearly every stream's basin hosted a sawmill, providing wood for early buildings and boardwalks.

Recreation
The county has a variety of recreation facilities. There are three state parks: Fowlers Hollow State Park, Little Buffalo State Park, and Big Spring State Forest Picnic Area. The Hoverter and Sholl Box Huckleberry Natural Area is found near New Bloomfield along Huckleberry Road. Carroll Township Park also offers a wide variety of athletic facilities.

Pools: Liverpool Pool (Jann Deitzler Memorial Pool), Millerstown Pool, New Bloomfield Pool, and Little Buffalo State Park Pool

Trails: Hawk Rock Trail and Iron Horse Trail

State Game Lands: #170 Dellville, #254 New Buffalo, #256-Mecks Corner and #281 Miller Township. Hunting requires licenses from the PA Game Commission.