Perry, Iowa

History

Perry was laid out as a town in 1869. The original townsite was bounded by Estella Street on the south, 8th Street on the east, 3rd Street on the west, & Dewey Avenue on the north.

Geography

Perry is located at 41°50′24″N 94°6′0″W (41.840107, -94.099978).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.18 square miles (10.83 km²), of which, 4.17 square miles (10.80 km²) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²) is water.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 7,702 people, 2,792 households, and 1,920 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,847.0 inhabitants per square mile (713.1/km²). There were 3,180 housing units at an average density of 762.6 per square mile (294.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.1% White, 1.8% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 14.1% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 40.0% of the population.

There were 2,792 households of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.0% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.29.

The median age in the city was 33.3 years. 29.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.3% were from 25 to 44; 22.3% were from 45 to 64; and 13.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.0% male and 50.0% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,633 people, 2,831 households, and 1,942 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,060.4 people per square mile (796.5/km²). There were 2,994 housing units at an average density of 808.2 per square mile (312.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.84% White, 1.06% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 13.19% from other races, and 1.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.54% of the population.

There were 2,831 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.13.

Age spread: 27.3% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,429, and the median income for a family was $41,771. Males had a median income of $27,610 versus $21,839 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,935. About 8.9% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

A major employer in Perry is the Tyson Foods pork plant.

Notable people