Originally part of Cumberland County, and named for Commodore Oliver Perry, Perry County was created on March 22, 1820. Skirmishes between Iroquois and settlers defined the first decades of settlement; Andrew Montour was the first authorized settler in what is now Perry County following the signing of an agreement with the Indians on April 18, 1752. These conflicts further diminished with the signing of the Treaty at Albany in 1754. Part of the Appalachian Mountain Region, Perry County’s borders are naturally delineated: it is bordered on the north, west and south by the Tuscarora, Conococheaque and Blue Mountains. On the east Perry County is bordered by 28 miles of the Susquehanna River.

It was declared a separate County in part because, to get to Carlisle, the Cumberland County seat, residents were forced to trek across the Blue Mountains. Bloomfield became the County Seat shortly after the county’s creation. The mining of iron ore, the creation of tanneries, the manufacture of wool, and flour mills all contributed to Perry County’s early economic life. Farms dotted the hillsides, and today farming remains one of the county’s main industries. Because of its location in the midst of several mountain ranges, the county’s woodlands are recognized as exceptional hunting areas as well as exceptionally beautiful places to hike, or just enjoy the scenic vistas.