Perry is a town in Noble County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 5,230 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Noble County[3]. Located on Interstate 35, it is one of the few cities on Interstate 35 between Wichita and Oklahoma City. The city's economy is centered around [4]The Charles Machine Works, which is the world headquarters and manufacturing facility of Ditch Witch machinery. Perry recently moved from a strong mayor form of government to a Home Rule Charter. The town is in the process of transitioning to a City Manager. Perry was settled in 1893 as part of the Cherokee Outlet, and was at one time referred to as Hell's Half-Acre.
Perry is also one of a small number of towns in Oklahoma to still have a Carnegie library as its public library. It is the smallest town in Oklahoma with a daily newspaper.[5]
Timothy McVeigh was stopped on April 19, 1995, along Interstate 35 just outside of Perry by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Charles J. Hanger. Hanger had passed McVeigh's yellow 1977 Mercury Marquis and noticed it had no license plate. He arrested McVeigh for carrying a loaded firearm. Three days later, while still in jail, McVeigh was identified as the subject of the nationwide manhunt.[6][7]
Perry is home to the Perry High School wrestling team, the most successful high school wrestling program in the country. As of 2004, The Perry Maroon wrestling team has won 32 state championships, a national record, boasting more than 200 state champion medals. Danny Hodge, an OU graduate and Perry native, is generally regarded as one of the greatest (and strongest) collegiate wrestlers of all time and was never taken down by an opponent throughout his college career. He won a silver medal in the 1956 Melbourne Olympic games and was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated: the only amateur wrestler ever bestowed that honor. Later he won the U.S. Golden Gloves boxing heavyweight championship. Hodge is the only man to hold both amateur boxing and amateur wrestling titles. He still lives in Perry.
Geography
Perry is located at 36°17′29″N 97°17′28″W / 36.29139°N 97.29111°W / 36.29139; -97.29111 (36.291424, -97.291144)[8].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.8 square miles (17.7 km²), of which, 6.1 square miles (15.7 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (1.9 km²) of it (10.98%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 5,230 people, 2,203 households, and 1,445 families residing in the city. The population density was 860.1 people per square mile (332.1/km²). There were 2,493 housing units at an average density of 410.0/sq mi (158.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 39.73% White, 3.14% African American, 3.35% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.55% from other races, and 2.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 51.84% of the population.
There were 2,203 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,653, and the median income for a family was $37,731. Males had a median income of $30,485 versus $22,039 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,924. About 10.4% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.
Business
The largest employer is Charles Machine Works, also known as Ditch Witch, employing over 1,300 people.
Famous Residents
Danny Hodge, NWA wrestler
Jack Swagger, WWE superstar.
References
External links
