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. As of the 2020 census, Perry had a population of 20,624.[6] An estimate in 2019 put the population at 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, Georgia | |
|---|---|
 Perry City Hall | |
| Motto: "Where Georgia comes together"[1] | |
 Location in Houston County and the state of Georgia | |
| Coordinates: 32°27′54″N 83°43′16″W / 32.46500°N 83.72111°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| Counties | Houston, Peach |
| Named after | Oliver Hazard Perry |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Randall Walker |
| • City Manager | Robert Smith |
| Area | |
• Total | 27.10 sq mi (70.20 km2) |
| • Land | 26.98 sq mi (69.87 km2) |
| • Water | 0.13 sq mi (0.34 km2) |
| Elevation | 364 ft (111 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 20,624 |
| • Density | 764.5/sq mi (295.19/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 31069 |
| Area code | 478 |
| FIPS code | 13-60340[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0320389[4] |
| Website | www |
Perry is best known as the location of the annual Georgia National Fair.[8]
History
editFounded 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 hotel was demolished on July 22, 2024, due to its irreparable condition.[10] 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.[11]
Mayors
edit- C. E. Brunson (1924 - 1929)[12]
- W. E. Swanson (1930 - 1934)[12]
- A. M. Anderson (1934 - 1938)[12]
- Sam A. Nunn, Sr. (1938 - 1945)[12]
- Geo. F. Nunn (1946 - 1947)[12]
- Chas P. Gray (1948 - 1949)[12]
- Mayo Davis (1950 - 1953)[12]
- Stanley E. Smith, Jr. (1954 - 1959)[12]
- Milton Beckham (1960 - 1963)[12]
- Richard B. Ray (1964 - 1969)[12]
- J. Malcolm Reese (1970 - 1972)[12]
- John W. Barton, Jr. (1972 - 1974)[12]
- James O. McKinley (1974 - 1980)[12]
- Barbara C. Calhoun (1980 - 1984)[12]
- Lewis M. Meeks (1985 - 1988)[12]
- James E. Worrall (1989 - 2009)[12]
- James E. Faircloth, Jr. (2010 - 2019)[12]
- Randall Walker (2019 - Present)[12]
Geography
editPerry 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.[13]
Demographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 836 | — | |
| 1880 | 929 | 11.1% | |
| 1890 | 665 | −28.4% | |
| 1900 | 650 | −2.3% | |
| 1910 | 649 | −0.2% | |
| 1920 | 678 | 4.5% | |
| 1930 | 1,398 | 106.2% | |
| 1940 | 1,542 | 10.3% | |
| 1950 | 3,849 | 149.6% | |
| 1960 | 6,032 | 56.7% | |
| 1970 | 7,771 | 28.8% | |
| 1980 | 9,453 | 21.6% | |
| 1990 | 9,452 | 0.0% | |
| 2000 | 9,602 | 1.6% | |
| 2010 | 13,839 | 44.1% | |
| 2020 | 20,624 | 49.0% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 25,699 |  | 24.6% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[14] 2025[15] | |||
2020 census
editAs of the 2020 census, Perry had a population of 20,624, with 7,685 households and 4,160 families. The median age was 34.4 years; 27.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.6% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 87.5 males age 18 and over.[16][17]
93.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 6.4% lived in rural areas.[18]
There were 7,685 households in Perry, of which 39.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.7% were married-couple households, 16.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[16]
There were 8,170 housing units, of which 5.9% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.6%.[16]
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White | 11,391 | 55.2% |
| Black or African American | 7,206 | 34.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 46 | 0.2% |
| Asian | 405 | 2.0% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 20 | 0.1% |
| Some other race | 336 | 1.6% |
| Two or more races | 1,220 | 5.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 987 | 4.8% |
2019 estimate
editCirca 2019, of the 13,839 residents, 13,776 of them were in Houston County and 63 were in Peach County.[19]
Arts and culture
editThe 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
editAreas in Houston County are within the Houston County School System (as are all other parts of Houston County).[20]
Areas in Peach County are within the Peach County School District (as are all other parts of Peach County).[21]
Infrastructure
editTransportation
editHighways 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- Kanorris Davis, former Troy University Trojans linebacker and NFL New England Patriots safety/linebacker, currently a free agent
- 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
- Courtney Hodges, General and commander of the First United States Army during World War II
- Willis Hunt, senior federal judge
- Michelle Nunn, daughter of Sam Nunn, born and partly raised there, later CEO of Points of Light and candidate for U.S. Senate
- Sam Nunn, former United States Senator
- 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
- Sonny Perdue, United States Secretary of Agriculture and former Governor of Georgia
- Richard Ray, former United States Representative.[22]
- 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.
- Al Thornton, former NBA player for Los Angeles Clippers, Washington Wizards, also the Golden State Warriors and former Florida State Seminoles basketball standout.
References
edit- ↑ "Perry". City of Perry, Georgia. Archived from the original on May 10, 2017. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
- ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
- ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ↑ "Perry". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
- ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
- ↑ Becker, Jim. "Seniors Visit Georgie". Senior Citizen Travel. Mandarich Media Group. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
- ↑ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 174. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
- ↑ Western, Megan (July 22, 2024). "Residents reflect on 99 years as the historic Perry Hotel is torn down". WMAZ. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
- ↑ "Press Release | Georgia DNR - Wildlife Resources Division". Archived from the original on October 26, 2011. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "City of Perry Mayors, from 1924 to Present". Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ↑ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Perry city, Georgia". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 19, 2017.[dead link]
- ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ↑ Origin= "2025 City and town population estimates: Georgia". U.S. Census Bureau. May 14, 2026. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
- 1 2 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
- ↑ "General Highway Map Houston County Georgia" (PDF). Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Houston County, GA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 25, 2024. - Text list
- ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Peach County, GA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 25, 2024. - Text list
- ↑ 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.