Perry County, Ohio

Founding: 1818
Parent counties: Fairfield, Muskingum, and Washington

Namesake: Oliver Perry, U.S. naval commander
Seats: Somerset (1818–1857); New Lexington (1857–)

Land area: 408 square miles

Population (2020): 35,408

Population (historic): 8,429 (1820); 20,775 (1850); 18,453 (1870); 31,841 (1900); 31,445 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1820–1850; 1870–1920; 1970–2010

Subdivisions: 12 villages; two CDPs; 14 townships

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 4,235 (27.9%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 51.7%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 16.5%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 12.6%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 9.6%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,196
Average outbuilding value (1930): $773

Average farmhouse size (1940): 6 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 2,355
Average farm size (1920): 68.9 acres

Sources of settlement: Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ireland, and Maryland
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Somerset (ex-seat)

Namesake: Somerset, Pennsylvania

Founding: 1810 (platting); 1811 (post office)

Population (2020): 1,481

Population (historic): 344 (1820); 1,240 (1850); 1,153 (1870); 1,124 (1900); 1,297 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1820–1850; 1870s; 1900–1920; 1930–1950; 1960–1980; 1990s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 292 (46.1%)

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New Lexington

Namesake: Lexington, Massachusetts

Founding: 1817 (platting); 1829 (post office)

Population (2020): 4,435

Population (historic): 406 (1850); 1,357 (1880); 3,157 (1920)

Periods of population growth: pre-1850–1980; 2000s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 711 (35.8%)

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Outstanding Buildings

1. Isaac Yost House (c. 1830). 4396 State Route 669. Clayton. Federal.
2. Caleb Hitchcock House (1842). 5000 Ceramic Road. Harrison.
3. Bernard Mechling Farm (1874). 4837 State Route 204. Hopewell. Italianate.
4. Peter Mechling House (c. 1880). 4990 State Route 204. Hopewell. Italianate.
5. Darsham Log House (c. 1825). 10066 State Route 668. Hopewell.
6. St. Patrick Catholic Church (1846). 1170 State Route 668. Jackson. Gothic Revival.
7. Higgins House (c. 1875). 2535 Old Somerset Road. Pike. Italianate.
8. Perry County Infirmary (1902). 5550 State Route 37. Pike. Colonial Revival.
9. St. Aloysius Academy (1876/1882/1892). 5375 Tile Plant Road. Pike. Gothic Revival. Razed.
10. Van Atta House (1813). 6737 Stagecoach Road. Reading.
11. David Williams Farm (c. 1870). 6473 State Route 383. Reading. Italianate.
12. St. Joseph Catholic Church (1843/1866). State Route 383. Reading. Gothic Revival.
13. Daniel Poorman Farm (c. 1865). 9056 Township Road 2A. Reading. Gothic Revival.
14. David Church Farm (c. 1820). 3575 Township Road 70. Reading.
15. Emanuel Axline Farm (c. 1830/1870). 3785 US Highway 22. Reading. Federal.
16. Zion Reformed Church (1910). 8000 High Point Road. Thorn. Gothic Revival.
17. James Love House (c. 1875). 9260 State Route 13. Thorn. Italianate.
18. Solomon Whitmer House (c. 1830). 13917 Zion Road. Thorn. Greek Revival.

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