Perry County

The county is bordered by Forrest County to the south, Jones County to the north, Greene County to the east, and Lamar County to the west. The Leaf River flows through the county, offering fishing and natural beauty. Perry County is characterized by its small-town atmosphere, strong agricultural heritage, and timber industry.

The Perry County Chancery Clerk's office, located at 100 Main Street in New Augusta, maintains vital records, land records, and court documents. The Perry County Tax Assessor's office, also situated in the county courthouse complex, handles property assessments and tax records. The Perry County Circuit Clerk manages court records and case filings.

The county's economy has historically been tied to forestry, agriculture, and small-scale manufacturing, with many residents commuting to larger nearby cities such as Hattiesburg for employment. Perry County represents quintessential rural Mississippi, with deep roots in Southern culture and a commitment to preserving its natural resources while pursuing measured economic development.

Inmates housed at the Perry County Detention Center can be located through direct contact with the Sheriff's Office during business hours, as the county does not currently maintain a real-time online inmate roster. For current booking information, citizens must call the jail directly. Municipal law enforcement within Perry County includes the New Augusta Police Department, which has jurisdiction within the town limits of New Augusta, the county seat.

Mugshots and booking photos are maintained by the Sheriff's Office and can be requested under the same public records provisions, though some information may be redacted if it pertains to ongoing investigations or juvenile matters. Perry County does not have tribal police jurisdiction, as there are no federally recognized tribal lands within the county. The Mississippi Highway Patrol also maintains jurisdiction on state and federal highways passing through Perry County, including U.S.

Highway 98 and Mississippi Highway 15, and works cooperatively with local agencies on traffic enforcement and criminal investigations.

The Perry County Chancery Court, sharing the same courthouse location, has jurisdiction over domestic relations matters including divorce and child custody, estate matters, property disputes, adoptions, and guardianships. The Chancery Clerk's office, phone 601-964-8398, serves as the official recorder of land records and vital statistics in addition to court duties. Justice Court is presided over by elected justices of the peace who hold court in New Augusta and Richton.

Municipal courts in New Augusta and Richton have jurisdiction over city ordinance violations and some misdemeanor offenses occurring within town limits. Under Mississippi Code § 25-61-9, court records are generally public unless sealed by court order or protected by specific confidentiality statutes covering juvenile matters, certain family court proceedings, and grand jury materials. The Circuit Clerk's office allows in-person inspection of non-confidential case files during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Perry County does not currently offer online case lookup through a county website, though Mississippi courts are gradually implementing the statewide Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) system. Researchers seeking historical court records should contact the appropriate clerk's office in advance, as older records may be archived and require additional retrieval time.

The Chancery Clerk maintains and indexes all recorded instruments affecting real property, including warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, mortgage releases, liens (mechanic's liens, judgment liens, tax liens), easements, rights-of-way, mineral deeds, oil and gas leases, plat maps, subdivision maps, and other instruments required to be recorded under Mississippi law. The public may search land records in person during regular business hours by reviewing grantor-grantee indexes organized alphabetically and chronologically. Property tax information and assessments are handled by the Perry County Tax Assessor's office, also located in the courthouse complex, phone 601-964-8424.

The Assessor's office maintains property assessment rolls, ownership information, property descriptions, and appraised values. Property tax collection is the responsibility of the Perry County Tax Collector. Mississippi law requires all instruments affecting real property to be recorded in the county where the land is located to provide constructive notice to subsequent purchasers and creditors.

The Chancery Clerk's office accepts documents for recording during business hours and stamps each instrument with the official recording date and time. Perry County has not yet implemented a GIS (Geographic Information System) parcel viewer accessible to the public online, though parcel maps may be reviewed in person at the Assessor's office. Researchers conducting title searches or property history research should begin with the Chancery Clerk's grantor-grantee indexes and may need to trace ownership chains back through multiple conveyances.

restricts access to immediate family members, legal representatives, or individuals with legal interest. The Mississippi State Department of Health, Vital Records Office, P.O. Box 1700, Jackson, MS 39215-1700, phone 601-206-8200, maintains statewide vital records and serves as an alternative source for birth and death certificates for events occurring anywhere in Mississippi.

Marriage licenses must be obtained from the Perry County Chancery Clerk's office prior to marriage ceremonies performed in Mississippi. Mississippi has no waiting period, and licenses are valid for 30 days from issuance. Divorce records (divorce decrees) are maintained by the Chancery Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted and are public records accessible for a copy fee.

Genealogical researchers seeking historical vital records should note that older records may require additional retrieval time from archives.

For formal business entities such as corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and professional associations, the official registration and recordkeeper is the Mississippi Secretary of State, Business Services Division. The Secretary of State maintains a searchable online database at www.sos.ms.gov where the public can look up business entity information including corporate names, registration dates, registered agents, officers, status (active, dissolved, revoked), and annual report filings. Businesses operating in Perry County must also obtain appropriate federal Employer Identification Numbers (EIN) from the IRS if they have employees.

Sales tax permits are issued by the Mississippi Department of Revenue and are required for businesses selling tangible goods. Professional and occupational licenses (contractors, cosmetologists, health professionals, etc.) are regulated by respective Mississippi state licensing boards rather than county government. Building permits, zoning approvals, and land use permits within unincorporated Perry County are administered by the Perry County Board of Supervisors and the county's building inspector or zoning administrator; contact the Perry County Courthouse for specific requirements and applications.

Municipalities issue their own business licenses and building permits within town limits—contact New Augusta Town Hall or Richton Town Hall for local business licensing requirements. The Perry County area is served by business development resources, though the county does not maintain a formal Chamber of Commerce website as of recent information. Entrepreneurs and business researchers can access comprehensive Mississippi business resources through the Mississippi Development Authority and Small Business Development Centers located in nearby Hattiesburg.

Prospective voters can register in person at the Circuit Clerk's office, by mail using a Mississippi voter registration application, or online through the Mississippi Online Voter Registration system at www.sos.ms.gov/elections-voting/pages/voter-registration.aspx, which requires a Mississippi driver's license or state ID number. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, residents of Mississippi and Perry County, at least 18 years old by the next general election, and not disqualified by felony conviction (unless rights have been restored) or court-determined mental incapacity.

Perry County voters can find their assigned polling place by contacting the Circuit Clerk's office or using the Mississippi Secretary of State's polling place lookup tool on the state elections website. Election records that are public under Mississippi Code § 23-15-11 and § 25-61-1 et seq. include certified voter registration rolls (available for inspection with personal information redacted for privacy), precinct-level election results, candidate qualifying documents, campaign finance reports filed with the Secretary of State for state and federal candidates, and election certifications.

The Circuit Clerk maintains records of past elections including vote totals by precinct. The next major election is scheduled for November 3, 2026, featuring U.S. House of Representatives races (Mississippi's congressional districts), potential U.S.

Senate races if applicable, and various Mississippi state legislative seats. Perry County voters may request absentee ballots if they meet specific criteria established by Mississippi law, including being away from the county on election day, having a temporary or permanent physical disability, being 65 years or older, being a parent or caregiver of a dependent with a disability, or being required to work during all hours polls are open. Absentee ballot applications must be submitted to the Circuit Clerk's office by mail or in person, with different deadlines for mail-in versus in-person absentee voting.

Mississippi does not offer universal no-excuse absentee voting. Transparency in Perry County elections is supported through public access to election results, which are posted at the courthouse following certification, and through the ability of citizens to serve as poll watchers and election observers under Mississippi law.

Major employers in Perry County include timber companies and wood product manufacturers that harvest and process the county's forest resources, as well as agricultural operations focused on poultry, cattle, and row crops. The median household income in Perry County is approximately $38,000 to $42,000, which is below both the Mississippi state median and the national average, reflecting the rural economy and limited large-scale industrial presence. Key economic sectors include forestry and logging, agriculture (poultry farming is particularly significant), manufacturing (primarily wood products and related industries), retail trade serving local populations, healthcare and social assistance, and educational services through the Perry County School District.

Many Perry County residents commute to neighboring Forrest County and the city of Hattiesburg for employment in healthcare, education (University of Southern Mississippi), manufacturing, and retail sectors, making the county part of the broader Hattiesburg economic region. Unemployment rates in Perry County have historically tracked slightly above Mississippi state averages, typically ranging from 5% to 7% depending on economic conditions and seasonal factors affecting forestry and agriculture. Tourism plays a modest role in the economy, primarily through outdoor recreation in the De Soto National Forest, hunting leases, and fishing along the Leaf River.

Notable economic challenges include population decline in recent decades, limited broadband internet infrastructure in rural areas, and competition from larger regional employment centers. There are no major corporate headquarters or large industrial facilities comparable to those in more urbanized Mississippi counties, though the county benefits from its proximity to Hattiesburg's economic activity and transportation corridors including U.S. Highway 98.