It was named in honor of Oliver Hazard Perry who defeated the British fleet at the decisive Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812.

Early settlers, including some Revolutionary War veterans bearing land grants, moved here from the Eastern United States.

Growth boomed in the 1850s for two reasons: construction of the Illinois Central Railroad through the eastern portion of the county, and the discovery of large coal reserves.

Immigrants from Ireland, Poland, Germany, Italy and elsewhere steadily increased the county's population from 1850 through the 1920s.

African Americans also were established in the county during northward migration following the Civil War.

The Mississippi River lies about 10 miles (16 km) west and southwest of the County at its closest point.

Beaucoup Creek runs north to south through the county and lies just east of Pinckneyville.

[14] Perry County has been divided into precincts: Beaucoup, Cutler, Denmark, DuQuoin, Paradise, Pinckneyville, Sunfield, Swanwick, Tamaroa and Willisville.

The table below includes a list of Perry County's election results at the presidential level.