Perry County Ohio

Perry County was established in 1818 as Ohio’s 55th county. It is named in honor of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry to commemorate his victory over the British fleet at the Battle of Lake Erie in September 1813, which was a turning point in the War of 1812. Rich coal mining reserves drove the settlement of the county’s Little Cities of Black Diamonds, the coal mining boomtowns that sprung to life in the region and thrived until the first half of the 1900s.

The United Mine Workers Union was first organized by workers in covert meetings at Robinson’s Cave in New Straitsville. Today Perry County boasts a vibrant agricultural community, while Buckeye Lake and the Wayne National Forest are host to year-round leisure activity in the county.

Quick Facts

  • Established: Act – March 1, 1818
  • 2020 Population: 35,408
  • Land Area: 410.0 square miles
  • County Seat: Village of New Lexington
  • Named for: Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, Battle of Lake Erie
  • Highways through County: US 22, OH 13, OH 37, OH 93
  • Rail: Norfolk Southern Corp, Ohio Rail Development Commission, Ohio Southern Railroad
  • Nearest Airport: Perry County Airport, 1870 Airport Road SE, New Lexington, OH
  • Distance – Airport to County Seat: 1.8

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