Perry

Formed December 13, 1819 (28^th county)

Perry County (8,515), Marion (3,176)

This stately courthouse has a typical southern look.  It was built in 1855 on a square at Pickens, Jefferson, Washington and Greene streets.  Alabama State Highway 289 is Washington Street.  B. F. Parsons was the architect of this Greek Revival courthouse.  The courthouse was renovated in 1954.  The building features columns and a working clock.  The grounds have veteran memorials and a canon.  Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry provided the inspiration for the county’s name.  Perry County was established on December 13, 1819 as the 28^th county from parts of Bibb, Dallas, Marengo, and Tuscaloosa counties.  American hero Francis Marion is the source of the county seat’s name.  He is also the namesake of Marion County.  Marion has been the only county seat. 

Perry County government consists of a sheriff, revenue commissioner, and coroner (executive).  It has 5 commissioners (legislative.)  Three Circuit Judges serve Perry, Bibb, Dallas, Hale and Wilcox counties and a District Judge, a Probate Judge, a District Attorney, and a County Clerk serve Perry County (judicial.)  The county is in west central Alabama with Birmingham, Alabama to the northeast and Montgomery, Alabama to the southeast.  The center of the county is in Marion 1.9 miles Southwest of the city center.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Bibb, Chilton, Dallas, Marengo, and Hale counties.  Marion is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 37.3% of the county population.

The county has an area of 719.7 square miles.  It ranks 29 out of 67 in size.  It ranks 66 out of 67 in population in the state.  It has a density of 11.2 persons per square mile making it 67 out of 67 in the state.  Perry County has 62.1% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 80 crosses the southern tip east to west, Dallas County to Marengo County.  The county shape is a backward 9.  Marion is slightly west of center in the county.