Perry County, Mississippi
Perry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2010 census, the population was 12,250. The county seat is New Augusta. The county is named after the War of 1812 naval hero, Oliver Hazard Perry. Perry County is part of the Hattiesburg, MS Metropolitan Statistical Area. Until 1906, the county seat was the old town of Augusta, near the center of the county on the east bank of the Leaf River. At Old Augusta, the outlaw James Copeland was executed by hanging on October 30, 1857. Old Augusta remains a small  village today. New Augusta, two miles south of Old Augusta, was made the county seat of Perry County, because it was situated on the Mobile, Jackson & Kansas City Railroad. Geography. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.5%) is water. Demographics. 2020 census. As of the 2020 United States census, there were 11,511 people, 4,623 households, and 3,347 families residing in the county. 2000 census. As of the census of 2000, there were 12,138 people, 4,420 households, and 3,332 families residing in the county. The population density was 19  people per square mile (7/km). There were 5,107 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km). The racial makeup of the county was 76.17% White, 22.59% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races. 1.01% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 4,420 households, out of which 37.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 13.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and  24.60% were non-families. 21.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.18. In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.70% under the age of 18, 10.00% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 11.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18  and over, there were 91.10 males. The median income for a household in the county was $27,189, and the median income for a family was $32,791. Males had a median income of $29,130 versus $18,632 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,837. About 19.60% of families and 22.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.60% of those under age 18 and 25.50% of those age 65 or over.