[8] Founded in 1823 as "Wattsville", the town was located near the center of Houston County and served as its courthouse.

The original city limit was a circle, one mile in diameter, except where bounded on the north by Big Indian Creek.

Antebellum industry in Perry included gristmills, sawmills, and cotton gins.

Interstate 75, the major north–south artery through Georgia, passes through the western side of Perry, with access from Exits 134 through 138.

[6] As of the 2020 United States census, there were 20,624 people, 6,242 households, and 4,160 families residing in the city.

The fair is an 11-day event offering a wide range of activities and shows, such as agricultural, livestock and horse shows, home and fine arts competitions, youth organization events (4-H, FBLA, FCCLA, FFA, and TSA), circus, midway rides, and games, fair food, major live music concerts in Reaves Arena, family entertainment, and nightly fireworks.

The Buzzard drops in Perry each New Year's Eve with live entertainment, spirits sold on-site, a dance contest, and souvenir memorabilia.

Exhibits include military, social, agricultural, fashion, education, and political memorabilia.

Services offered by the museum include a heritage library of local and regional publications, records, documents, family histories, and other research material.

For each festival, there is a pageant, 5k, arts & crafts sale, food vendors, kids zone, youth entertainment stage, dog dock-diving competitions, and a hot air balloon rally.