Have you ever wondered where Perry, GA, got its name? Perry was the first incorporated municipality in Houston County and, in 1824, was named after Oliver Hazard Perry – an American naval commander whose striking military achievements captivated the nation!
Oliver Hazard Perry died young, on his 34th birthday in 1819. By that time he was a famous naval hero, mainly for his crucial role in the War of 1812. While still in his 20s, Perry orchestrated a crucial victory in the Battle of Lake Erie. It was a turning point in the war, marking the first time in history that an American naval fleet defeated a British fleet in open battle – which was huge! It catapulted him to national fame, and he was celebrated in newspapers, songs and paintings all over the US.
Perry’s fame came at a time when large swaths of America were still largely unsettled and undeveloped, resulting in many new places being named for him. Perry, GA, was incorporated in 1824, at a time when his legacy lingered strong in the mind of the nation, just 5 years after his death.
In addition to our own Perry, GA, for example, there is the town of Hazard, KY, which lies in Perry County – honoring both his middle and last names and leading us to a possible insight about the Dukes of Hazzard!
The Dukes of Hazzard was a TV show in the 80s set in Hazzard County, GA – a county which doesn’t actually exist. The first 5 episodes were actually filmed in Covington, GA, but the on-screen location was never pinned down in the show and has long been a mystery to fans (after the first 5 episodes, they moved filming to California). However, it very well may have been inspired by the namesake of Oliver Hazard Perry and – who knows – Hazzard County could have even been a veiled reference to our beloved hometown in Middle Georgia!
Today, the City of Perry proudly bears its name in honor of Perry’s legacy, having grown for nearly 200 years into an increasingly prominent role as the Crossroads of Georgia.
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