Page 7 - Perry CG 2019

The History and Evolution of
Perry and Houston County

1540
Welcome to Perry
Spanish explorers travel along the
Table of Contents Ocmulgee River and find present-day
Houston County populated by aboriginal
people thought to be Creek ancestors.
1821
1 Welcome
2 History Indian Springs Treaty transfers the
land from the Creek to the State
4 The Perry Area Chamber of Georgia and Houston County
is formed. Originally spelled
5 Getting Started Houstoun, the name has always been
1822 pronounced “house-ton.”
8 Housing
Perry is founded as a small
13 Community Living settlement of 20 families
called Wattsville.
20 Education

24 Local Healthcare 1824
26 Economic Development Wattsville is renamed Perry, and the town’s corporate
limits are extended a mile in each direction.

Present-day Perry
Linda Mosely .................................................................Publisher
Mark Mosely...................................................Executive Editor
Cindy Bailey ..........................................Marketing Executive ver nearly two centuries, Perry has progressed from a settlement of 20
Teresa Greer ..................................................Managing Editor families to a now thriving city of more than 17,000 residents. The area
Bonnie Hunter ................................Editor/PR Coordinator enjoys a vibrant cultural scene and economic climate, but the city has
Andrew Smith................................................Associate Editor O not forgotten its origins. Hundreds of years of history and legends are
Stephen Hefner ..........................................Creative Director
Rachel Rowell ......................................Production Directorr preserved in the historic downtown area, museums, tours, and in our residents,
Bob Swinehart ...........................................Graphic Designer some of whom can trace their heritage back to Perry’s first settlers.
Daniel Thompson ....................................Graphic Designer
Spence Garcia ............................................Graphic Designer
History Mike Schalk .........................................................Photographer Famous Folk from Perry
Drew Clements .........................................Graphic Designer
• Former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn
Michelle Holton ................................................Videographer
Sharee Copeland ............................Proofing Coordinator
Amy Anderson ............................Administration Director • Former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue
• Former State Representative Larry Walker
Connie Parker ...........................................Business Manager • Gen. Courtney Hodges, famous for commanding the First U.S. Army in northwest
Thomas Schaefer ......................................................IT Director Europe during World War II
Lauren Tingler .....................Digital Marketing Strategist • Casey Hayward, NFL football player
Nathan Faulkenberry .....Digital Marketing Strategist
The Perry Chamber Community Resource Guide is published by 365 Degree • Deborah Roberts, ABC News anchor and correspondent
Total Marketing/Great Southern Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 20568, St. Simons • Retired World Championship Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion Ron Simmons
Island, GA 31522, (912) 638-0780. Copyright ©2019 by Great Southern Publishers,
Inc. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Call • Former NFL and UFL football player Dontarrious Thomas
365 Degree Total Marketing for all your design and printing needs, (800) 697-5568 • Former NBA player Al Thornton
or www.365DegreeTotalMarketing.com.
• CARE USA CEO / former Points of Light CEO Michelle Nunn
2 Perry Area Chamber of Commerce • (478) 987-1234 • www.perrygachamber.com