Perry County, Tennessee

This article is about the county in Tennessee. For other counties with the same name, see Perry County.

Perry County
County
Perry County Courthouse in Linden
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
Tennessee's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°38′N 87°52′W
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
Founded	November 14, 1819
Named for	Oliver Hazard Perry
Seat	Linden
Largest town	Linden
Area
• Total	423 sq mi (1,100 km2)
• Land	415 sq mi (1,070 km2)
• Water	8.1 sq mi (21 km2)  1.9%
Population  (2020)
• Total	8,366
• Density	19/sq mi (7/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	7th
Website	www.perrycountygov.com
FIPS county code 47135

Perry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,366. Its county seat and largest town is Linden. The county is bisected east-to-west by US Highway 412 and north-to-south by State Route 13. Perry County is the most sparsely populated county in Tennessee, with an average population density of 18.6 persons/square mile. Additionally, Perry County is one of the most economically disadvantaged counties in Tennessee. Mousetail Landing State Park is located in the county.

History

See also: History of Tennessee

Archeology and Native Americans

Little information exists on the settlement of the area that would become Perry County by non-native persons prior to 1818. The remains of pre-historic megafauna have been discovered in the county. In September 1820, the skeletal remains of a large animal, possibly a megalonyx, were discovered in an unidentified cave. The remains were reportedly recovered by a Nashville museum operator and collector, but have since been lost.

Archeological evidence suggests a significant population of mound building Native Americans in the county, with a number of mounds located near the Tennessee River at Lady's Bluff. Archaeological surveys conducted in the 1970s and 1980s discovered evidence of early Archaic through late Woodland settlement concentrated in bottomlands in the Tennessee River basin near Mousetail Landing, with evidence of Paleoindian occupation in one site. Arrowheads and spear tips associated the Mississippian, Woodland, and Copena cultures have been found along the Tennessee River tributaries in the western half of the county.

Formation and early history

1836 map depicting Perry County

Permanent settlement by Europeans and enslaved Africans began shortly after 1806, when the area that would become Perry County was acquired from Native Americans. The area was found to have very productive bottom lands with an abundance of water, timber, and wild game. The earliest settlers likely arrived from nearby counties in Middle Tennessee, although some did immigrate to the area from North Carolina, Alabama, and Kentucky.

Between 1810 and 1812, the first gristmill in the area was established on Cane Creek. In 1818 the first known European birth in the territory that would become Perry County happened on Toms Creek. Some of the early settlers were veterans of the War of 1812, and some had probably received land grants in the area from the state of North Carolina for service in the American Revolution. In 1819, the Tennessee General Assembly passed an act providing "that a new county be established north of Wayne, west of Hickman, and south of Humphreys, by the name of Perry County, beginning at the southeast corner of Humphreys, running west, thence south, thence east, thence north to place of beginning, and to include all the territory lying between Humphreys, Hardin, Wayne and Hickman Counties." The county, named in honor of Oliver Hazard Perry, was officially organized that same year in the home of James Dixon near Lick Creek, which still stands today.

1842 map of Perry County

In 1820, the first court in the county was held in the same house under a Judge Humphreys, and the first school was established by Ferney Stanley on Toms Creek. In 1821, the county seat was established in Perryville, a river port located on the west bank of the Tennessee River. In 1830, the settlement of Beardstown was established on a high bluff overlooking the Buffalo River.

By the early 1830s, significant deposits of iron ore had been discovered in the county. Sufficient quantities were being extracted to justify the construction of a large iron ore furnace on Cedar Creek near the Tennessee River between 1832 and 1834. At its peak, it processed 1,400 tons of pig iron annually, using both free and enslaved labor, and taking advantage of the most advanced "hot blast" smelting techniques available at the time. The furnace shut down in 1862, during the Civil War, and was never brought back in to service. The Cedar Grove Iron Furnace is the only twin-stack iron furnace remaining in Tennessee. In addition to iron ore, some marble mining was conducted in the county in the middle of the 19th century.

In 1846, Decatur County was formed from the portions of Perry County west of the Tennessee River. The seat of government and courts were then temporarily relocated to a small town known as Harrisburg, located near the geographic center of the county. Around 1844, the community of Flatwoods, originally known as Whitaker's Bluff, was established along the Buffalo River in the southern part of the county by a group of settlers from Halifax, North Carolina. In 1847, forty acres located approximately three miles north of Harrisburg on the west bank of the Buffalo River were donated to the county by David B. Harris for the building of a new county seat named Linden. The land was divided into plots and a public square, and the plots were sold off to provide funds for the construction of public buildings. Linden was established as the county seat in 1848, where it remains today, and is the largest municipality in the county. A temporary structure to house the court was built in 1848, and was replaced by a wooden frame building in 1849. Harrisburg no longer exists as a organized entity or recognized location.

In 1850, it was reported that there were 10 grist mills, a saw mill, a furnace, and two tanneries in operation within the county. Additionally, 21 churches were organized, as well as 23 schools enrolling 685 students. Corn was the primary agricultural product at the time, though oats, sweet potatoes, and tobacco were also grown in smaller quantities. In 1854, Lobelville was established as a trading post-village on the west bank of the Buffalo River about five miles north of Beardstown by a French trader named Henri de Lobel.

Civil War

See also: Tennessee in the American Civil War

In 1861, Perry County voted in favor of secession by a margin of 780 to 168. Even though the vote was overwhelmingly in favor of secession, the Unionist sentiment was strong and pervasive throughout the war, with men from the county volunteering for both sides in the conflict. About 300 men joined the Confederate Army, with about 200 joining the Union Army. Both pro-Union and pro-Confederate irregular and guerilla forces were organized in Perry County, and were known to have conducted raids on neighboring counties. Due to the rural, isolated nature of the region, away from the major railway lines and with only limited access to large landings on the Tennessee River, there were no large-scale engagements in the county. In February 1862, the Cedar Grove Iron Furnace was partially destroyed when it was shelled by Union gunboats USS Conestoga, USS Tyler, and USS Lexington. On April 27, 1862, a body was found by a group of children playing near Britt's Landing on the Tennessee River in Perry County. Investigation of papers found on the body revealed it to be that of Governor Louis P. Harvey of Wisconsin. Gov. Harvey had been conducting an inspection of hospitals where wounded soldiers were being treated after the Battle of Shiloh, and had drowned in the river on April 19 while returning to Wisconsin.

Before dawn on May 12, 1863, a flotilla under the command of Lt. Cmdr. Ledyard Phelps composed of the USS Champion, USS Covington, USS Argosy, and the USS Silver Cloud landed elements of the Union Army's 6th Tennessee Cavalry Regiment, led by Lt. Col. William Breckenridge, a native of Perry County, on the Tennessee River 12 miles west of Linden. The small force of 55 mounted cavalry approached Linden at daybreak on the same day, which was controlled by a small detachment of Confederate forces under Lt. Col. William Frierson. The Confederate forces, totaling about 100 men, were preparing to depart Linden to join General Van Dorn's force at Spring Hill and were taken completely by surprise. After a short skirmish against pickets, the Union cavalry captured Lt. Col Frierson and 46 of his officers and men and killed three more before reinforcements could arrive. During this engagement, the county courthouse, which was being held by the Confederate forces, was burned, destroying most records from the early history of the county. The only Union losses during the engagement were one horse. Breckenridge then returned to the Tennessee River and transferred his prisoners to the awaiting riverboats for transporation to Cairo, Missouri. Intelligence gathered from the Confederates captured in the engagement provided significant details to Union leadership on the size, location, and intentions of Confederate forces in the Middle Tennessee, including plans to re-capture Fort Henry and attack Union forces under General Rosecrans. The amphibious landing and battle was recounted on the front page of the Sunday, May 17, 1863 edition of the New York Times. No further action took place in the county until September 27, 1864, when a detachment of Confederate cavalry conducted a raid on the county, skirmishing with Federal forces near Lobelville and Beardstown.

Reconstruction and the late 19th century

The 1868 Courthouse in Linden

Martial law was lifted in the county in April 1865, when the civil court held its first session since the beginning of the war. In 1868, a new two-story brick courthouse was built to replace the one burned during the Civil War. From about 1880 to 1884, the first regular newspaper in the county, the Linden Times, was published weekly.

In the late 19th century, the county was largely known for its tanneries and peanut cultivation, producing over 500,000 bushels of peanuts per year by 1886. In 1887, Congress authorized the construction of a railroad bridge across the Tennessee River connecting Perry and Decatur counties. The Tennessee Midland Railroad laid tracks from Lexington, Tennessee to Perryville. While a terminus allowing the transfer of goods from rail to river shipping was constructed in Perryville, the bridge was never built and the railroad was never extended into Perry County. A second attempt to bring a railroad to Perry County was started around 1890 with construction beginning on the Florence Northern Railroad. Plans for the line's extension meant for it to eventually pass through Linden on its way from Florence, Alabama to Paducah, Kentucky. Yet in 1894 the railroad was purchased by a Chattanooga company after about 30 miles had been graded, and construction was never completed.

20th and 21st century

1934 map of Perry County

By 1910, the population of the county peaked at 8,815. It then proceeded to decline to a low of 5,238 individuals in 1970, a number not seen since the census of 1830. During the First World War, a Selective Service Board was established in Linden. Over 1,500 men registered for the draft, and 254 individuals from Perry County served in the United States military from 1917 to 1919. Out of those who served, 10 were wounded and 27 were killed, a nearly 15% casualty rate.

In 1928, a new court house was built in Linden after the one built in 1868 burned in the early 20th century. Also opening in 1928 was the first bridge across the Tennessee River in the county, connecting Perry and Decatur counties. The bridge, named after World War I Medal of Honor recipient Alvin C. York, was opened on July 5, 1930 as part of a major road building program to provide additional links between Memphis and Nashville. This bridge was later demolished and replaced by a modern concrete bridge in 1986. The construction of the road bridge and completion of the highway reduced demand for rail service in the area. Service to the rail terminal at Perryville was discontinued in 1936, ending .

By the 1930s, Perry County had acquired a reputation as a hotbed of illicit alcohol production. Its isolated nature on the eastern edge of a Federal law enforcement district meant that prohibition officers rarely operated in the area, allowing moonshine operations to run unimpeded. Liquor would be distributed to dealers in neighboring Hickman County for sale.

In 1971, an Old Order Mennonite community was established along Cane Creek near Lobelville. Both English as well as Plattdeutsch and Pennsylvania German speaking families settled in the area from other areas of Tennessee, from nearby states such as Arkansas, and internationally from Belize. This community generally avoids motor vehicles, except in certain limited situations sanctioned by their church, and most families are not connected to the electric grid.

In 2007, the Perry County Chamber of Commerce began a concentrated marketing effort to draw more nature-oriented tourists to the area, using the slogan "Perry County: It's Just Our Nature". In 2008, the first annual Blooming Arts Festival was held in Linden.

Geography and geology

See also: Geography of Tennessee and Geology of Tennessee

Perry County is located on the western edge of Middle Tennessee. The topography of Perry County is highlighted by high ridges separating creeks flowing into the county's two rivers, typical of the Western Highland Rim region of Tennessee. The highest point in Perry County is approximately 980 ft (299m) above sea level, located on an unnamed ridge in the far southeastern portion of the county near the borders of Lewis County and Wayne County. Lady's Bluff, located approximately 11 miles west of Linden, is the tallest bluff on the lower Tennessee River, and overlooks the section of the river known as The Narrows.

Topography and hydrography

Toms Creek embayment on the Tennessee River

Two rivers are found in the county. The county's western border is formed by the Tennessee River, which drains most of the western part of the county. The Buffalo River runs south to north through the middle of the county, and empties into the Duck River just north of the county line in Humphreys County. A small portion of the northwest corner of the county drains into the Duck River, which is outside of the county. The water table is high due to the hard substrate, creating numerous springs and shallow wells, and is charged by the Highland Rim aquifer. Typical spring and well yields range from 1 to 400 gallons per minute.

Buffalo Ridge bisects the county from north to south between the Tennessee and Buffalo rivers. The ridge reaches approximately 700ft (210m) above sea level, with a topographic prominence of about 300ft (90m). Eight smaller spur ridges extend to the west from the main crest of Buffalo Ridge about nine miles, creating the drainages for nine major creeks that flow into the Tennessee River. These creeks are, from north to south, Blue Creek, Crooked Creek, Roans Creek, Toms Creek, Lick Creek, Spring Creek, Cypress Creek, Marsh Creek, and Cedar Creek. To the east of the Buffalo River, additional ridges run east to west, similar to the terrain west of Buffalo Ridge. These ridges form the basins for the main Buffalo River tributaries within the county, Coon Creek, Brush Creek, Hurricane Creek, Short Creek, and Cane Creek.

Large tracts of natural wetlands exist within the county. One estimate based on analysis of satellite photography by the Tennessee Valley Authority estimated approximately 5,200 acres of forested wetlands and 1,200 acres of non-forested wetlands. These wetlands occur primarily along stream courses, and are some of the most productive wildlife habitat in the region.

Soil and geology

See also: Nashville Dome and Highland Rim

Soil deposits from the three river drainages located in the county have created fertile bottom lands that are used intensively for agricultural purposes. The soil profile is generally very deep, with slopes and soil types suitable for agriculture and building construction. The ridge tops are well drained and loamy, with significant chert rock deposits. Reserves of chert, sand, gravel, limestone, and phosphate can be found in the county. Cherty limestone deposits are the most extensive geologic feature of the county, and an impermeable siltstone and shale base below the chert formations has led to the emergence of numerous fresh water springs.

Blue and gray limestone outcrops are present in most valleys of the county. These limestone formations are part of the Lobelville formation of the Silurian Lockport Group and of the Lower Helderberg Group. Significant numbers of fossils have been found in the limestone. Iron ore is extremely abundant, with numerous deposits to the west of Buffalo Ridge.

Protected areas

National protected area

• Lady's Bluff Small Wild Area

State protected area

• Mousetail Landing State Park

Adjacent counties

• Humphreys County (north)
• Hickman County (northeast)
• Lewis County (southeast)
• Wayne County (south)
• Decatur County (west)
• Benton County (northwest)

Weather and climate

Perry County, Tennessee
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     2.9     45 33     4.3     49 35     3.7     60 43     3.8     69 50     3.7     79 59     3.5     87 66     4.8     89 69     4     89 68     3.3     83 62     3.1     71 52     2.3     58 42     3.5     50 37 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     74     7 1     109     9 2     94     16 6     97     21 10     94     26 15     89     31 19     122     32 21     102     32 20     84     28 17     79     22 11     58     14 6     89     10 3 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm

Perry County has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa), characterized by hot, humid summers and cold winters. The average winter temperature is 47.8 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average summer temperature is 75.7 degrees Fahrenheit. The record low of -18 degrees Fahrenheit occurred on January 24, 1963, and the record high of 105 degrees Fahrenheit occurred on July 17, 1980. Average seasonal snowfall is 5.5 inches. Thunderstorms are relatively common in the county, with an average of 53 days per year seeing thunderstorm activity, usually between May and August.

National Weather Service records list sixteen tornadoes which have been reported in Perry County, with the first one recorded in 1909. Out of these, 14 were reported since 1999. The deadliest tornado recorded in the county happened on May 27, 1917, which killed five and injured an additional 67 people. Its intensity was estimated as EF/4. Perry County was also struck during the May 5, 1999, tornado outbreak. It was hit by the strongest tornado reported during the outbreak, killing three people and causing substantial damage to Linden. Another deadly tornado hit the county during the December 23, 2015 outbreak, with two killed.

Confirmed tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita rating

EFU	EF0	EF1	EF2	EF3	EF4	EF5	Total
0	3	7	4	0	2	0	16

Flora and fauna

About 80% of the county is wooded. Numerous species of economically important timber trees are found in the county, including white oak, walnut, black oak, hickory, and chestnut oak. 561 species of wild plants have been collected in the county. Perry County has numerous native game species, including whitetail deer, rabbit, eastern wild turkey, gray squirrel, and fox squirrel. Bobwhite quail are also present, however the population is low due to a lack of suitable habitat. Mourning dove nesting populations are typically also low, although large numbers transit the area during seasonal migrations. Common migratory waterfowl found in the county include wood duck, mallard, gadwall, Canada goose, and there is good wood duck nesting habitat along the Buffalo River and its tributaries. Mink, muskrat, and beaver are found throughout wetlands in the county. There are large populations of bobcat, opossum, gray fox, striped skunk, and coyote, as well as numerous species of reptiles, amphibians, and birds.

Wildlife reintroduction

By the late 1940s, fewer than 1,000 whitetail deer were found in the state, having been hunted to the brink of extirpation. In the early 1930s, the Tennessee Game and Fish Commission, the United States Forest Service, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and the United States Navy began restocking efforts on public lands in the State. In 1949, the Game and Fish Commission began their first reintroduction effort in Perry County on public lands, later expanding reintroductions to private lands in the 1950s. By the 1950s, the populations had grown large enough to sustain a limited degree of hunting. In 1960, 30 deer were harvested in the county; by 1996, that number had risen to nearly 2,200.

By the 1950s, wild turkeys had been eliminated from the county. A reintroduction and habitat management program was started by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (the successor agency to the Game and Fish Commission), leading to the successful return of the species to the county. While the overall number of turkeys are moderate, good local populations are found within certain areas.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1820	2,384		—
1830	7,094		197.6%
1840	7,419		4.6%
1850	5,821		−21.5%
1860	6,042		3.8%
1870	6,925		14.6%
1880	7,174		3.6%
1890	7,785		8.5%
1900	8,800		13.0%
1910	8,815		0.2%
1920	7,765		−11.9%
1930	7,147		−8.0%
1940	7,535		5.4%
1950	6,462		−14.2%
1960	5,273		−18.4%
1970	5,238		−0.7%
1980	6,111		16.7%
1990	6,612		8.2%
2000	7,631		15.4%
2010	7,915		3.7%
2020	8,366		5.7%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2014

Age pyramid Perry County in 2000

2020 census

Perry County racial composition

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	7,700	92.04%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	195	2.33%
Native American	41	0.49%
Asian	26	0.31%
Pacific Islander	1	0.01%
Other/Mixed	276	3.3%
Hispanic or Latino	127	1.52%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 8,366 people in 2,929 households residing in the county. The average household size was 2.68. A language other than English was spoken at home by 6.5% of the population.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 7,915 people, with 2,977 households residing in the county. The average household size was 2.55. The population density was 19.1 people per square mile. There were 4,599 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 95.8% White, 1.5% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.2% Asian, and 1.5% from two or more races. 1.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Economy

See also: Economy of Tennessee

Agriculture makes up a significant portion of the economy of Perry County. In 2017, 287 farms were in operation, averaging 215 acres each. Over 35,000 acres of land were utilized for a variety of agricultural activities, including crop production, forestry, and pasture land. A 2018 study showed that agriculture and ag-supporting industries contributed $49.6 million to the county's economy, with 525 jobs (about 17% of total employment in the county). Over 23,000 acres, totaling about 10% of the county's area, are rated by the USDA as prime farmland. In 1999, the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service reported that 3,200 acres were planted to corn, 2,600 were planted to soybeans, and another 300 acres were left fallow as part of a conservation program. Additional smaller acreages were planted with sorghum, snap beans, watermelons, and sweet corn. Pasture and hay production utilize nearly 30,000 acres of farmland in the county.

Tourism in Perry County has increased in recent years, though it remains limited by a lack of accommodations. In 2020, Mousetail Landing State Park reported that campsites were full on most weekends. There were over 3,100 campsite rentals that year, up from 2,149 in 2019. The increase in visitors was probably due to the COVID-19 pandemic encouraging outdoor activity. The park reportedly generated $14.3 million in economic impact to the county in 2021. Only one hotel operates in Perry County, the Commodore Hotel in Linden.

The earliest known bank in Perry County was organized by 1890 as the Linden Bank and Trust. This bank, after a series of mergers and buy-outs, is a branch of FirstBank. The other bank operating in the county, the Bank of Perry County, was organized in 1905 as the Bank of Lobelville. By 1975, it had opened branches in both Lobelville and Linden.

The low population and lack of significant transportation connections in the county never allowed economic activity to expand significantly beyond agriculture and forestry, with some limited light industry and tourism. As of 2021, the county was listed as an Appalachian Regional Commission distressed county, ranking it at or near the bottom of Tennessee counties in terms of poverty rate, unemployment, and income.

Perry County ranks below the statewide average in numerous economic indicators. Perry County's Gini coefficient is .54, indicating a significantly higher level of income inequality than the rest of Tennessee. As of 2020, the gross domestic product of all industries in the county was $189,584,000. In 2019, the poverty rate in the county was estimated at 16.1%, three percent higher than the statewide average. The median household income was $41,034, and the per capita income was $27,970. Typical of many rural counties, the rate of broadband internet adoption and availability remains low, with about 59% of households reporting access to broadband internet, compared to 78% statewide.

Property values in the county are significantly below the statewide average. In 2019, the median value of owner-occupied housing was $88,100, compared to $167,200 statewide. The rate of owner-occupied housing however, was significantly higher at 82% versus 66%.

Unemployment

Perry County was severely impacted by the economic recession of 2008 and 2009. Unemployment reached nearly 29%, making it the highest in the state of Tennessee, and one of the highest in the United States. The massive amount of unemployment was due to the closure of a major automotive parts plant that employed a significant portion of the county's residents. In April 2020, seasonally unadjusted unemployment peaked again at over 24%, compared to the state average of 15.6%. In 2020, a rubber parts manufacturer that was the largest employer in Lobelville shut down, significantly adding to the county's unemployment rate. As of December 2021 unemployment had fallen to 7.9%, which was still substantially higher than the state average of 3.3%.

Government

See also: Government of Tennessee

The government of Perry County is overseen by a County Mayor and a County Commission. The County Mayor is elected at-large every four years. The County is divided into six districts, each of which elect two Commissioners to the County Commission. Commission meetings are held monthly. Additional elected officials include the property assessor, register of deeds, sheriff, county trustee, and road superintendent.

Politics and elections

See also: Political party strength in Tennessee

Historically, like most of Middle Tennessee, Perry County was overwhelmingly Democratic. It voted to elect for Warren G. Harding in his record popular vote landslide of 1920, but otherwise no Republican presidential candidate managed to carry the county up to 2004. It did, though, give a plurality to segregationist Alabama Governor George Wallace in 1968, but became one of only six Wallace counties to vote for George McGovern against Richard Nixon’s 3,000-plus-county landslide of 1972.

Since 2000, Perry County has seen a very rapid trend towards the Republican Party. In 2016, indeed, this historically Democratic county was only marginally less Republican than traditional Unionist Republican bastions of East Tennessee.

United States presidential election results for Perry County, Tennessee

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	2,775	80.95%	615	17.94%	38	1.11%
2016	2,167	75.90%	597	20.91%	91	3.19%
2012	1,578	60.21%	992	37.85%	51	1.95%
2008	1,596	53.20%	1,329	44.30%	75	2.50%
2004	1,522	48.32%	1,579	50.13%	49	1.56%
2000	1,165	40.65%	1,650	57.57%	51	1.78%
1996	747	31.31%	1,444	60.52%	195	8.17%
1992	708	24.25%	1,889	64.71%	322	11.03%
1988	854	41.14%	1,208	58.19%	14	0.67%
1984	948	41.82%	1,316	58.05%	3	0.13%
1980	783	35.08%	1,401	62.77%	48	2.15%
1976	520	23.63%	1,660	75.42%	21	0.95%
1972	900	48.10%	937	50.08%	34	1.82%
1968	519	25.58%	726	35.78%	784	38.64%
1964	514	26.31%	1,440	73.69%	0	0.00%
1960	645	37.13%	1,076	61.95%	16	0.92%
1956	694	39.43%	1,052	59.77%	14	0.80%
1952	762	39.00%	1,192	61.00%	0	0.00%
1948	459	26.26%	1,196	68.42%	93	5.32%
1944	387	33.42%	771	66.58%	0	0.00%
1940	332	23.66%	1,068	76.12%	3	0.21%
1936	210	18.90%	896	80.65%	5	0.45%
1932	182	20.38%	705	78.95%	6	0.67%
1928	359	36.82%	616	63.18%	0	0.00%
1924	268	34.99%	494	64.49%	4	0.52%
1920	747	51.91%	692	48.09%	0	0.00%
1916	483	41.96%	663	57.60%	5	0.43%
1912	379	32.15%	664	56.32%	136	11.54%

Cities and towns

Aerial view of Linden. U.S. Route 412 crosses the northern part of the town from west to east, while Tennessee State Route 13 passes east of the town from north to south.

City

• Lobelville

Town

• Linden (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

• Beardstown
• Bunker Hill
• Chestnut Grove
• Flatwoods
• Pine View
• Spring Creek

Incorporated communities by population

Place	Population	Founded
Linden	997	1848
Lobelville	919	1854

Transportation

Transportation infrastructure in Perry County includes one federal highway, numerous state highways, and one general aviation airport. No railroads or interstate highways are present within the county. According to a 2015 study, Perry County commuters drove alone to work at the highest rate of any county in Tennessee, reflecting low access to carpooling opportunities or public transportation.

Major highways

• US 412
• SR 13
• SR 20
• SR 48
• SR 100
• SR 128
• SR 438

Airports

Aerial view of James Tucker Airport (M15)

Perry County is served by a small public general aviation airport, James Tucker Airport, located south of Linden. A private-use helipad (FAA identifier 5TN8) was located at the now-closed Perry Community Hospital in Linden.

Pipelines

Tennessee Gas Pipeline operates a natural gas pipeline that bisects Perry County. A pumping station for the line is located in Lobelville, and was one of the largest pumping stations in the United States when it was constructed. This station and sections of the nearby pipeline are a listed EPA Supefund site. This pipeline and pumping station was the subject of a suit against Tennessee Gas Pipeline alleging the release of PCB contaminates into the local environment.

Education

Perry County has one unified school district, the Perry County School System, with four schools. It is managed by the Perry County Board of Education. The county's lone high school, Perry County High School, was established in 1963 in Linden with the consolidation of the high schools in Linden and Lobelville. The consolidation was controversial for a number of reasons. Due to the distance from Linden, as well as concerns that the new school would not be ready for the beginning of the 1963 school year, numerous parents and school administrators in Lobelville resisted the consolidation. In 1963 a special district had been granted to Lobelville by the state legislature, however the State Board of Education said the district did not qualify for any funds and would not be accredited in an effort to force the consolidation of the county's school districts. A group of Lobelville parents sued to keep the school district open, with volunteer teachers filling in for the 1963 school year. The case went to the Tennessee Supreme Court where it affirmed in 1964 that the State Board of Education was within its rights to deny funding to the special school district, and the consolidation went forward with the Lobelville school closing later that year.

The county's high school graduation rate is very high, at 97.5%, versus a statewide average of 90.4%. Approximately 75% of the population over age 25 has a high school diploma or equivalent, while 12% have a bachelor's degree or higher. Both are significantly below the statewide average of 87% and 27%, respectively.

In 1947, the county established a board and funding for a public library. By 1986 two public libraries had been established, one in Linden and another in Lobelville.

High school

• Perry County High School

Primary schools

• Linden Elementary School
• Linden Middle School
• Lobelville Elementary School

Media and entertainment

See also: List of radio stations in Tennessee and List of newspapers in Tennessee

Throughout its history, numerous radio stations and newspapers have existed in Perry County. Today, the county is served by two radio stations, one each on the AM and FM bands, as well as one weekly newspaper. Six different newspapers are known to have been printed in the county, starting in 1880 with the Linden Times. Follow-on newspapers included the Linden Mail (1890s to 1910s), the New Age (1900s to 1920s), the Perry County News (1913 to late 1910s), and the Perry Countian (1924 to 1978). In 1976, the Buffalo River Review began publication, which merged with the Perry Countian in 1978 and continues today as a weekly paper.

In 1957, the film Natchez Trace starring Zachary Scott, Marcia Henderson, and William Campbell and directed by Alan Crosland, Jr. was filmed in Flatwoods. Numerous locals appeared as extras in the lost film which chronicled the life of John Murrell, a bandit who operated in the area in the early 19th century.
Print

• The Buffalo River Review

Radio

• WOPC (FM)
• WMAK (AM)

Health and healthcare

In November 2020, the sole hospital in the county, Perry Community Hospital in Linden, announced it would be closing temporarily. Shortly prior to this, the hospital had announced cessation of all services except for the emergency room. The hospital did not re-open, however, and as of 2022 there were no plans to re-open. Prior to its closure, the hospital had over $2 million in accounts payable due. In 2019, the hospital had come under investigation by insurance provider BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee for over $4.5 million in overpayments due to improper billing practices.

Perry County is served by a local health department that provides basic healthcare services, including vaccinations, disease testing, primary care, and pediatrics. In addition to services provided by the health department, a small clinic funded by a Rural Health Initiative Grant was constructed in 1979 to provide essential outpatient services in the county.

As of 2019, 14.5% of the county's population under the age of 65 lacked health insurance. Additionally, 15.6% of the population under the age of 65 was disabled.

COVID-19 pandemic

As of early March 2022, Perry County has experienced a total of 2,327 COVID-19 cases, along with 48 deaths and 59 hospitalizations. Additionally, as of March 7, 2022, Perry County had the 6th lowest vaccination rate in the state, with only 41% of the population fully vaccinated, over 10 percent lower than the state average.

Sports and athletics

While Perry County does not currently host any professional or semi-professional athletics teams, at least two semi-professional baseball organizations have operated in Perry County. In the early 1920s, both Lobelville and Linden fielded teams. Linden's team, the Owls, won at least three state baseball championships.

Perry County high school athletic teams have achieved some notability in state-wide competitions, especially in basketball. In 1955, Linden High School began a three-year streak of winning the state high school basketball championship. Following Linden High School's consolidation with Lobelville High School, Perry County High School again won basketball state championships in 1976, 1977, and 1997.

Notable individuals

• Kelsie B. Harder - Professor and onomastician (name scholar)
• Kirk Haston - Politician and former professional basketball player
• Clyde Milan - Professional baseball player and manager with the Washington Senators
• Thetus W. Sims - Politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Tennessee § Perry County

External links

• Perry County Tennessee Government
• Perry County Chamber of Commerce
• The Buffalo River Review
• Perry County, TNGenWeb - free genealogy resources for the county
• Genealogical "Fact Sheets" About Perry County
• Perry County at Curlie