Perry, Iowa
City
CountryUnited States
StateIowa
CountyDallas
Unit prefImperial
Area total14.22 km²
Area land14.21 km²
Area water0.01 km²
Area total5.49 sq mi
Area land5.49 sq mi
Area water0.01 sq mi
Population as of2020
Population total7836
Population density551.47 km²
Population density1428.36 sq mi
Time zoneCentral (CST) (UTC-6)
Time zone (DST)CDT (UTC-5)
Elevation994 ft
Coordinates41°50′27″N 94°06′35″W
ZIP code50220
Area code515
FIPS code19-62355
GNIS feature ID2396183[1]
Websitewww.perryia.org

Perry is a city in Dallas County, Iowa, United States, along the North Raccoon River. The population was 7,836 at the time of the 2020 Census.[2] It is part of the Des Moines metropolitan area.

History

Perry was laid out as a town in 1869, named for "one of the owners of the road at that time. Col. Perry, of Keokuk".[3] The original town site was bounded by Estella Street on the south, 8th Street on the east, 3rd Street on the west, and Dewey Avenue on the north.

On January 4, 2024, a school shooting occurred at Perry High School leaving an 11-year-old boy in sixth grade dead and seven other people injured. The 17-year-old male shooter was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound shortly after the shooting.[4][5][6] The high school principal Dan Marburger, wounded critically after having spoken to the shooter trying to gain time for escaping students, died of his gun shot wounds, state governor Kim Reynolds announced on January 14. The governor praised his courage and ordered all flags in Iowa to be flown at half-staff from January 14 until sunset on the day of his funeral and interment.[7]

Geography

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.[8]

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Perry has a hot-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfa" on climate maps.

Demographics

Historical populations
YearPop.±%
1880952—
18902,880+202.5%
19003,986+38.4%
19104,630+16.2%
19205,642+21.9%
19305,881+4.2%
19405,977+1.6%
19506,174+3.3%
19606,442+4.3%
19706,906+7.2%
19807,053+2.1%
19906,652−5.7%
20007,633+14.7%
20107,702+0.9%
20207,836+1.7%

Source:"U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2020-03-29. and Iowa Data Center

Racial and ethnic composition

Perry, Iowa – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000[9]Pop 2010[10][11]% 2000% 2010
White alone (NH)5,5614,709style='background: #ffffe6; |4,34872.85%61.14%style='background: #ffffe6; |55.49%
Black or African American alone (NH)65120style='background: #ffffe6; |2580.85%1.56%style='background: #ffffe6; |3.29%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1418style='background: #ffffe6; |110.18%0.23%style='background: #ffffe6; |0.14%
Asian alone (NH)5560style='background: #ffffe6; |840.72%0.78%style='background: #ffffe6; |1.07%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)210style='background: #ffffe6; |40.03%0.13%style='background: #ffffe6; |0.05%
Other race alone (NH)1212style='background: #ffffe6; |210.16%0.16%style='background: #ffffe6; |0.27%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)5181style='background: #ffffe6; |2080.67%1.05%style='background: #ffffe6; |2.65%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)1,8732,692style='background: #ffffe6; |2,90224.54%34.95%style='background: #ffffe6; |37.03%
Total7,6337,702style='background: #ffffe6; |7,836100.00%100.00%style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Perry had a population of 7,836.[12] The median age was 35.1 years. 28.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.5 males age 18 and over.[13]

97.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 3.0% lived in rural areas.[14]

There were 2,901 households in Perry, of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.6% were married-couple households, 19.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[13]

There were 3,219 housing units, of which 9.9% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.5%.[13]

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 7,702 people, 2,792 households, and 1,920 families living 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 inhabitants per square mile (294.4 /km2). The racial makup of the city (including Latinos in the racial counts) 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 35.0%.[15]

Of the 2,792 households 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 households were one person and 13.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.29.

The median age 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 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.0% male and 50.0% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 7,633 people, 2,831 households, and 1,942 families living in the city. The population density was 2,060.4 inhabitants per square mile (795.5 /km2). There were 2,994 housing units at an average density of 808.2 inhabitants per square mile (312.0 /km2). The racial makup 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%.[16]

Of the 2,831 households 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 households were one person and 14.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.13.

The age distribution was 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% 65 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 household income was $35,429 and the median family income 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

In April 2018, a video showcasing Perry's economy in 1979 and 1980 was released by Iowa State University.[17]

The primary employer in Perry was the Tyson Foods pork plant.[18][19][20] In March 2024, due to budgetary reasons, Tyson announced the closing of the facility for June of that year, which laid off an estimated 1,300 jobs with 800 employees living in Perry losing their jobs.[21][22][23][24]

Education

The Perry Community School District operates local area public schools.[25]

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Des Moines operates St. Patrick School in Perry. The school was dedicated on February 21, 1921.[26] The local Catholic high school is Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines.

Media

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^
  2. ^ "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Archived August 12, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  3. ^ The History of Dallas County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, &c. via Internet Archive: Higginson Book Company. 1879. pp. 457–66
  4. ^ Dvorak, Gina (January 5, 2024). "Perry school shooting update: Iowa officials release name of slain student". WOWT. Archived January 7, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  5. ^ "Sixth grade student killed in Perry school shooting; five other victims shot". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
  6. ^ Osborne, Mark & Margolin, Josh (January 4, 2024), "At least 1 dead in shooting at Iowa high school; scene now 'secured': Officials", ABC News, archived January 4, 2024 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved January 4, 2024
  7. ^ Somasundaram, Praveena, "Iowa high school principal who tried to distract shooter dies, governor says", Washington Post, January 14, 2024. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  8. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
  9. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Perry city, Iowa". United States Census Bureau
  10. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Perry city, Iowa". United States Census Bureau
  11. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Perry city, Iowa". United States Census Bureau
  12. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  13. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  14. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Archived July 9, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
  16. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Archived July 9, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  17. ^ Cauflield, Jim (April 18, 2018). Perry video from late '70s stirs old memories for retirees Archived February 1, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. The Perry News. Perry, Iowa. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  18. ^ "Tyson Foods Locations". Archived from the original on 2012-06-04. Retrieved 2012-06-21.
  19. ^ Greater Des Moines Partnership. "Large Private and Publicly Held Employers, Greater Des Moines". Retrieved June 19, 2012.[dead link]
  20. ^ FOLEY, RYAN J. (2020-05-05). "Nearly 1,400 Tyson workers at 3 Iowa plants get coronavirus". KGAN. Archived May 7, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  21. ^ "Tyson Foods pork plant in Perry, Iowa closing". KCCI. 2024-03-12. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
  22. ^ "Tyson Foods' Iowa pork plant to permanently close, over 1,200 jobs affected". Fox Business. March 12, 2024.
  23. ^ Baskins, Kevin (March 28, 2024). "Planned Tyson closing in Perry results in additional layoffs at company that cleans plant". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  24. ^ Jacobson, Ophelie (June 27, 2024). "City shares how community can support Perry once Tyson pork plant closes Friday". KCCI. Archived August 16, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  25. ^ "FY20 PERRY". Iowa Department of Education. Archived October 18, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  26. ^ O'Malley, George. "The Founding Of St. Patrick's School". St. Patrick School. Archived April 26, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
  27. ^ Longden, Tom. "Famous Iowans Bell, Bill". Des Moines Register. Archived from the original on 2012-07-30. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
  28. ^ Basu, Rekha (April 16, 2016). "Basu: Surviving torture of anti-gay 'therapy'". The Des Moines Register. Archived February 11, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  29. ^ Compton, Julie (January 19, 2017). "OutFront: LGBTQ Activist Fights to End Conversion Therapy". NBC News. Archived February 11, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  30. ^ "Gertude Mary Cox". MacTutor biography. Archived May 3, 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
  31. ^ V.T. Hamlin Collection in University of Missouri Special Collections Archived 2013-08-01 at the Wayback Machine
  32. ^ Goldthwait, Nathan Edward (1914). History of Boone County, Iowa. Chicago: Pioneer Publishing Company. pp. 377–78. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  33. ^ Schaeffer-Duffy, Claire (July 9, 2021). "Catholic activist sentenced for Dakota Access pipeline vandalism". National Catholic Reporter. Archived November 9, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 9, 2021.