Perry County, Alabama

Infobox U.S. County
county = Perry County
state = Alabama




map size = 175
founded = December 13, 1819
seat = Marion
largest city = Marion
area_total_sq_mi =724
area_land_sq_mi =719
area_water_sq_mi =5
area percentage = (0.63%)
census yr = 2000
pop = 11861
density_km2 =6
web =

Perry County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, of Rhode Island, United States Navy. As of 2000 the population was 11,861. Its county seat is Marion.

History

Perry County was established on December 13, 1819.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 724 square miles (1,875 km²), of which, 719 square miles (1,863 km²) of it is land and 5 square miles (12 km²) of it (0.63%) is water.

Major Highways

*
*
*

Rail

*Norfolk Southern Railway

Adjacent Counties

*Bibb County (north)
*Chilton County (east)
*Dallas County (southeast)
*Marengo County (southwest)
*Hale County (west)

National protected area

* Talladega National Forest (part)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 11,861 people, 4,333 households, and 3,046 families residing in the county. The population density was 16 people per square mile (6/km²). There were 5,406 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 68.38% Black or African American, 30.86% White, 0.08% Native American, 0.03% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. Nearly 0.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,333 households, out of which 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.40% were married couples living together, 25.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. Nearly 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63, and the average family size was 3.23.

In the county, the population was spread out with 29.80% under the age of 18, 11.10% from 18 to 24, 23.60% from 25 to 44, 20.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $20,200, and the median income for a family was $26,150. Males had a median income of $26,272 versus $16,839 for females. The per capita income for the county was $10,948. About 31.20% of families and 35.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 48.90% of those under age 18 and 25.80% of those age 65 or over. Perry County is considered to be the poorest county, in terms of household income, in the state of Alabama.

Cities and towns

*Marion
*Uniontown

Notes

External links

* [http://www.perrycountyalabama.org/perrycounty/index.cfm?pageID=243 Official Site]
* [http://www.perrycountyalabamachamber.com/ Perry Co. Chamber of Commerce]
* Perry County [http://alabamamaps.ua.edu/contemporarymaps/alabama/counties/perry.jpgmap of roads/towns] (map © 2007 Univ. of Alabama).