Perry County, Mississippi

Perry County
Perry County courthouse New Augusta
Perry County courthouse New Augusta
Map of Mississippi highlighting Perry County
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Map of the United States highlighting Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°10′N 88°59′W / 31.17°N 88.99°W / 31.17; -88.99
Country United States
State Mississippi
Founded1820
Named forOliver Hazard Perry
SeatNew Augusta
Largest townRichton
Area
 • Total650 sq mi (1,700 km2)
 • Land647 sq mi (1,680 km2)
 • Water3.0 sq mi (8 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total11,511
 • Density18/sq mi (6.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th

Perry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,511.[1] The county seat is New Augusta.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4]

  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Perry County, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ The Notorious Copeland Gang.
  4. ^ Perry County, Mississippi Genealogy and History