Welcome to Perry County

The History

Perry County was organized Nov. 16, 1820 (effective Jan. 1, 1821) from Ste. Genevieve County and named for Oliver Hazard Perry, a naval hero of the War of 1812.

The county offers a number of historic, architectural and scenic attractions, such as the St. Mary's of the Barrens Seminary, the first college founded west of the Mississippi River, dating to 1827. In Perryville, the county seat, visitors can stroll the square surrounding the 1904 Perry County Courthouse. In southeastern Perry County, near the Mississippi River, are the early German villages of Frohna, Altenburg and Wittenberg.

To the south is the Tower Rock Natural Area, a designated national landmark featuring a 10-mile hiking trail. Tower Rock is a 60-foot-high rock standing in the Mississippi River. Its history dates to 1698, when there missionaries established a landing atop the rocky island.

Perry County also has about 650 known caves. It has more caves than any other county in Missouri, which is nicknamed "The Cave State."

KIT DOYLE ~ kdoyle@semissourian.com Stage 2 Tour of Missouri riders pass Perry County Courthouse a little less than midway through the course. [Click to enlarge]

Quick Facts

Perry County Courthouse
15 W. Ste. Marie St.
Perryville, Mo., 63775
573-547-1611
County population trends
1980 1990 2000 2005
16,783 16,648 18,132 18,571
County seat: Perryville
Year organized: 1820
Square miles: 475
Size of board: 3

Elected county officials

Carl Leuckel, presiding commissioner
Patrick Heaps, associate commissioner
James Sutterer, associate commissioner
Thomas Hoeh, prosecuting attorney
Tammy Tarrillion, public administrator
Herbert Miller, coroner
Gary Shaaf, sheriff
Ken Baer, county surveyor
Veronica Hershey, treasurer
Charles Triller, assessor
Rodney Richardet, collector of revenue
Randy Taylor, county clerk
Sue Oster, recorder
Becky Paulus, circuit clerk