Perryville, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Perryville is a city
in Perry County
, Missouri
, United States
. The population was 7,667 at the 2000 census. The 2008 estimated population is 8,172. It is the county seat
of Perry County
.
form of government. The city council
consists of six aldermen
, two from each of three wards. Both the mayor and the aldermen are elected for a term of two years.
There were two early stores in Perryville. The first, a log structure, was built by Ferdinand Rozier, Sr. on the north side of the square. The second, built by Levi Block, was a two-story building. The upper story served as the first town hall for the small settlement. Perryville was first incorporated in 1837, but records show the incorporation was allowed to lapse. In the early 19th century, Henry Burns built a home on South Spring Street. Later, William P. Faherty bought the house, which is now a museum operated by the Perry County Historical Society.
As both merchandisers and consumers grew in sophistication, so did the types of establishments in the County. Built in 1843, the Hoose Hotel, often called the "white house", was a prominent structure in early commercial days. The Hoose Hotel was located at the site presently occupied by Eagle Bank and Trust Co. and The Total Package and served as a hotel, a brewery and an auction block.
In 1856, the town was again incorporated and by 1874 it had its first fire engine. Fourth Class City status was attained in 1879 and the following year Charles A. Weber was elected its first mayor. With the building of the Perryville, Chester and Ste. Genevieve Railroad, prosperity came.
Largely because of its role as the seat of county government and because of its central location, Perryville began to develop as the major commercial and service center in Perry County. The population jumped from 897 in 1890 to 1275 in 1900. In 1893 the telephone arrived. The first horseless carriage, deemed a "locomobile" by The Perry County Republican newspaper, was reported in Perryville in 1903. The first power plant was built in 1913 to provide Perryville with electric lights. This building is currently being renovated by the Perry Art Alliance.
In 1923, the Chamber of Commerce was formed, and Perryville launched its first industrial development offensive by raising $100,000 to build an industrial building in the hope of persuading International Shoe Company in St. Louis to open a Perryville plant. The venture was successful and the opening of the International plant spurred a cycle of growth which included the paving of city streets and a host of new businesses and city services.
In 1940, a second International production facility, known as the Kiefner Branch, opened in Perryville. However, in 1964 an economic downturn forced the closing of International's original Magnolia branch plant.
The loss of 250 jobs in the Magnolia plant closing only served to heighten the community's enthusiasm to move toward a more diverse industrial base. The ingenuity and dedication of the Chamber of Commerce, Perryville Development Corporation, and city officials led to the development of the Perryville Industrial Park and the establishment of an Enterprise Zone. The City of Perryville hired its first City Administrator in 1976. The Perry County Industrial Development Authority was established in 1983 and our first Economic Development Director was hired.
The goal of diversification in the City's industrial base has been extremely successful. Tenants in the Perryville Industrial Park include TG Missouri Corporation, T-N-T Plastics, Wilkes Integrated Packaging, Falcon Foam, Industrial Foam Products, Perry County Sheltered Workshop and Missouri Corrugated Box.
Among other important contemporary manufacturers in the Perryville area are Gilster-Mary Lee Corporation, with five Perry County facilities, which processes and globally markets a wide variety of grain-based food products; Sabreliner Corporation, a company which provides maintenance and overhauling for both military and business jet aircraft engines; BBL Buildings and Components Ltd. and Stark Truss, Inc. both of whom manufacture building trusses for commercial and residential construction; and a French wine barrel manufacturer, Seguin Moreau, that mills barrel staves and heads from Perry County's white oak forests to supply its cooperage in Napa, California. The cooperage uses the wood it gets from Perry County to produce superb quality American oak wine barrels for the international wine industry. TG,Toyoda Gosei, Missouri also plays a large role in the community, manufacturing various interior trim pieces for numerous automobile manufacturers, most notable being Toyota.
The town has three school systems: St. Vincent dePaul School Systems, Immanuel Lutheran School Systems, and Perryville School Systems.
The 880th Engineer Team (HAUL) of the Missouri Army National Guard is based in Perryville.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 7.7 square miles (19.9 km²), of which, 7.6 square miles (19.7 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it is water
. The total area is 1.94% water.
of 2000, there were 7,667 people, 3,031 households, and 1,991 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,010.3 people per square mile (390.0/km²). There were 3,284 housing units at an average density of 432.7 per square mile (167.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.47% White, 0.25% African American, 0.17% Native American, 1.32% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races
, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.70% of the population.
There were 3,031 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples
living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,934, and the median income for a family was $43,072. Males had a median income of $27,115 versus $19,736 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,630. About 5.9% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 15.9% of those age 65 or over.
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in Perry County
Perry County, Missouri
Perry County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 18,132. In 2008 the population was estimated to be 18,743. Its county seat is Perryville. The county was officially organized on November 16, 1820 from Ste...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 7,667 at the 2000 census. The 2008 estimated population is 8,172. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Perry County
Perry County, Missouri
Perry County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 18,132. In 2008 the population was estimated to be 18,743. Its county seat is Perryville. The county was officially organized on November 16, 1820 from Ste...
.
Governance
Perryville has a Mayor/City CouncilMayor-council government
The mayor–council government system, sometimes called the mayor–commission government system, is one of the two most common forms of local government for municipalities...
form of government. The city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
consists of six aldermen
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
, two from each of three wards. Both the mayor and the aldermen are elected for a term of two years.
History
It is not clear why or how Perryville came to be selected as the county seat of Perry County, Missouri, but on August 7, 1821, Bernard Layton deeded 51 acres (206,389.9 m²) to the commissioners in exchange for one town lot. Fifty-three of the 99 town lots were sold for $1,486.25, which was used to build the first courthouse. The one existing today is actually the third such structure. It was built in 1904 at a cost of $30,000.There were two early stores in Perryville. The first, a log structure, was built by Ferdinand Rozier, Sr. on the north side of the square. The second, built by Levi Block, was a two-story building. The upper story served as the first town hall for the small settlement. Perryville was first incorporated in 1837, but records show the incorporation was allowed to lapse. In the early 19th century, Henry Burns built a home on South Spring Street. Later, William P. Faherty bought the house, which is now a museum operated by the Perry County Historical Society.
As both merchandisers and consumers grew in sophistication, so did the types of establishments in the County. Built in 1843, the Hoose Hotel, often called the "white house", was a prominent structure in early commercial days. The Hoose Hotel was located at the site presently occupied by Eagle Bank and Trust Co. and The Total Package and served as a hotel, a brewery and an auction block.
In 1856, the town was again incorporated and by 1874 it had its first fire engine. Fourth Class City status was attained in 1879 and the following year Charles A. Weber was elected its first mayor. With the building of the Perryville, Chester and Ste. Genevieve Railroad, prosperity came.
Largely because of its role as the seat of county government and because of its central location, Perryville began to develop as the major commercial and service center in Perry County. The population jumped from 897 in 1890 to 1275 in 1900. In 1893 the telephone arrived. The first horseless carriage, deemed a "locomobile" by The Perry County Republican newspaper, was reported in Perryville in 1903. The first power plant was built in 1913 to provide Perryville with electric lights. This building is currently being renovated by the Perry Art Alliance.
In 1923, the Chamber of Commerce was formed, and Perryville launched its first industrial development offensive by raising $100,000 to build an industrial building in the hope of persuading International Shoe Company in St. Louis to open a Perryville plant. The venture was successful and the opening of the International plant spurred a cycle of growth which included the paving of city streets and a host of new businesses and city services.
In 1940, a second International production facility, known as the Kiefner Branch, opened in Perryville. However, in 1964 an economic downturn forced the closing of International's original Magnolia branch plant.
The loss of 250 jobs in the Magnolia plant closing only served to heighten the community's enthusiasm to move toward a more diverse industrial base. The ingenuity and dedication of the Chamber of Commerce, Perryville Development Corporation, and city officials led to the development of the Perryville Industrial Park and the establishment of an Enterprise Zone. The City of Perryville hired its first City Administrator in 1976. The Perry County Industrial Development Authority was established in 1983 and our first Economic Development Director was hired.
The goal of diversification in the City's industrial base has been extremely successful. Tenants in the Perryville Industrial Park include TG Missouri Corporation, T-N-T Plastics, Wilkes Integrated Packaging, Falcon Foam, Industrial Foam Products, Perry County Sheltered Workshop and Missouri Corrugated Box.
Among other important contemporary manufacturers in the Perryville area are Gilster-Mary Lee Corporation, with five Perry County facilities, which processes and globally markets a wide variety of grain-based food products; Sabreliner Corporation, a company which provides maintenance and overhauling for both military and business jet aircraft engines; BBL Buildings and Components Ltd. and Stark Truss, Inc. both of whom manufacture building trusses for commercial and residential construction; and a French wine barrel manufacturer, Seguin Moreau, that mills barrel staves and heads from Perry County's white oak forests to supply its cooperage in Napa, California. The cooperage uses the wood it gets from Perry County to produce superb quality American oak wine barrels for the international wine industry. TG,Toyoda Gosei, Missouri also plays a large role in the community, manufacturing various interior trim pieces for numerous automobile manufacturers, most notable being Toyota.
The town has three school systems: St. Vincent dePaul School Systems, Immanuel Lutheran School Systems, and Perryville School Systems.
The 880th Engineer Team (HAUL) of the Missouri Army National Guard is based in Perryville.
Geography
Perryville is located at 37°43′34"N 89°52′18"W (37.726123, -89.871564).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 7.7 square miles (19.9 km²), of which, 7.6 square miles (19.7 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it is water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
. The total area is 1.94% water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 7,667 people, 3,031 households, and 1,991 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,010.3 people per square mile (390.0/km²). There were 3,284 housing units at an average density of 432.7 per square mile (167.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.47% White, 0.25% African American, 0.17% Native American, 1.32% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.70% of the population.
There were 3,031 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,934, and the median income for a family was $43,072. Males had a median income of $27,115 versus $19,736 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,630. About 5.9% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 15.9% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- Official website
- Chamber of Commerce
- Historic maps of Perryville in the Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection at the University of MissouriUniversity of MissouriThe University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...