Perry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,511. 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 650 sqmi, of which 647 sqmi is land and 3.0 sqmi (0.5%) is water.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 11,511 people, 4,623 households, and 3,347 families residing in the county.

Communities

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Notable people

Politics

Education

There are two school districts in the county: Perry County Schools and Richton School District. The county is in the zone for Jones College.