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 / 35.64°N 87.87°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Tennessee |
| Founded | November 14, 1819 |
| Named for | Oliver Hazard Perry |
| Seat | Linden |
| Largest town | Linden |
| Other cities | Lobelville |
| Government | |
| • County mayor | John Carroll |
| 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 | 20.2/sq mi (7.8/km2) |
| Demonym | Perry Countian |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 37097, 37096 |
| Area code | 931 |
| Congressional district | 7th |
| Website | www |
| 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, with an average population density of 20.2 persons per square mile (7.8 persons/km2), making it the least densely populated county in Tennessee. Its county seat and largest town is Linden. The county is named after American naval commander and War of 1812 hero Oliver Hazard Perry.
In 1806, the Cherokee ceded to the United States the land that would later become Perry County in the Treaty of Washington. The county was established by the Tennessee General Assembly in 1819 from parts of Wayne County, Hickman County, and Humphreys County. In 1845, the portions of Perry County located west of the Tennessee River were split off to form Decatur County.
Agriculture and forestry are the largest components of the local economy, supplemented by light industry and tourism. Perry County is one of the most economically disadvantaged counties in the state. It was severely impacted by the Great Recession of 2008, at one point having the second highest unemployment rate in the United States, and as of 2020[update] continues to lag behind the rest of the state in various economic indicators, including income inequality and poverty rates. Transportation infrastructure is limited, and no railroads, commercial airports, or freeways are present in the county.
Over 80 percent of the county is forested. The county's terrain is largely defined by its two major rivers, the Buffalo and the Tennessee, and features ridges and valleys that form tributaries to the rivers. Agriculture and outdoor recreation benefit from plentiful fresh water sources, fertile crop land, and abundant wildlife. Mousetail Landing State Park is the largest protected area in the county and a significant driver of nature tourism in the region.