Perry, Oklahoma


Perry is a city in, and county seat of Noble County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 5,126, a 2.0 percent decrease from 5,230 at the 2000 census The city is home of Ditch Witch construction equipment.

History

19th century

The Treaty of New Echota, May 23, 1836, assigned the Cherokee Outlet to the Cherokees as a perpetual outlet to use for passage to travel and hunt in the West from their reservation in the eastern part of what became Oklahoma. This was in addition to the land given to the Cherokees for settlement after their arrival from their home in Georgia.
Perry's original name was Wharton, the name of a train station built in 1886 by the Southern Kansas Railway about 1 mile south of the present city and it was located within the Outlet. Before the 1893 Cherokee Outlet Opening, the U.S. government selected a site a mile north of Wharton for a land office. A town around the office was named after J.A. Perry, a man sent by the government to lay out land office towns. Perry later became one of the township location commissioners. Noble County, then known as "County P", was named after John Willock Noble of St. Louis, the Interior Secretary for President William Henry Harrison.
The Dalton Gang, which at that time included Bob Dalton, Emmett Dalton, Charlie Bryant and George Newcomb entered Wharton to rob a train in May 1891 earning $1745. Shortly after the robbery, Bryant fell ill and was taken to Hennessey to see a doctor. After being spotted and arrested by Deputy Marshal Ed Short. During an escape attempt Bryant and Short would kill each other. Among those within the boundary of the Strip prior to the opening, were the notorious Bill Doolin gang. A Santa Fe train was robbed at Wharton before the opening, and the gang escaped into Osage County. U.S. Marshall E.D. Nix and 100 deputies were commissioned to police the area and keep order.
At noon on September 16, 1893, "a run" for land within "the Strip" was opened. An estimated 90,000 men, women, and children took part and by nightfall 40,000 had erected tents in Perry. Jack Tearney started at the county line and reached Perry within 31 minutes. By 4:00 p.m. he had erected and opened the "Blue Bell" saloon selling beer the first day for $1.00 a bottle, due to the scarcity of water. He would sell 38,000 glasses.
Named "Hell's Half Acre", the original town's perimeter included A & F streets and 1st and 9th streets. About 110 saloons and gambling houses were in operation with many of them set up 1/2 block east of the west side of the now existing square.
Perry incorporated on September 20, 1893.

20th century

In 1902, Carl Malzahn, a German immigrant, moved to Perry and opened the Malzahn Blacksmith Shop with his sons, Charles. The sons took over the business in 1913 and renamed it Malzahn Brothers' General Blacksmithing, specializing in repairing equipment for the nearby oil fields. After Gus died in 1928, the surviving brother renamed the business, Charlie’s Machine Shop. Charlie's son, Ed, a mechanical engineer, joined the business in 1944. Ed noticed a need for a machine to replace hand digging trenches for the installation of residential utility lines, and set to work developing such a device. By 1948, he had a successful device, a compact trencher, which he called the Ditch Witch. Soon, Ditch Witch became a successful company, wholly owned by the now-renamed Charles Machine Works Company, since 2019 a subsidiary of The Toro Company. It has grown into the largest employer in Perry and in Noble County, employing approximately 1,300 people.
Timothy McVeigh was stopped on April 19, 1995, along Interstate 35 outside of Perry by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Charlie Hanger. Trooper Hanger had passed McVeigh's yellow 1977 Mercury Marquis and noticed it had no license plate. He arrested McVeigh for carrying a loaded firearm. Three days later, while still in jail, McVeigh was identified as the subject of the nationwide manhunt.

21st century

Perry moved from a strong mayor form of government to a Home Rule Charter. The town is in the process of transitioning to a City Manager.
Operating under the Home Rule Charter form of government, the City of Perry divides its responsibilities between the city council and the city manager. The city council acts as the legislative branch, establishing ordinances, setting policy, authorizing budgets, and directing the city manager when appropriate. The city manager oversees day-to- day operations and administration of the city. Together with city staff, the city manager and city council work to make the most efficient use of the limited resources available to the City of Perry.
It is the smallest town in Oklahoma with a daily newspaper.

Geography

Perry is located at . It is north of Oklahoma City, and south of Wichita, Kansas. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, of which, of it is land and of it is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,230 people, 2,203 households, and 1,445 families residing in the city. The population density was 860.1 people per square mile. There were 2,493 housing units at an average density of 410.0 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 89.7% White, 3.1% African American, 3.3% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.
There were 2,203 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city, the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,653, and the median income for a family was $37,731. Males had a median income of $30,485 versus $22,039 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,924. About 10.4% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The city is home to Charles Machine Works, which is the headquarters and manufacturing facility of Ditch Witch machinery and employs over 1,300 people.

Education

Perry High School is noted for its wrestling program, historically one of the most successful programs in the United States; it has won 56 state championships, including 42 team and 19 dual championships since 1952, and 163 individual state championships.

Government

The city of Perry has a Home Rule City Charter Form of Government since it passed by a vote of the people and was approved by the Governor in 2008.
The Perry Police Department consists of 12 full time police officers, 5 dispatchers, and 1 animal control officer. The Chief of Police is Brian Thomas.
The Perry Fire Department consists of nine full time fireman.

Historic Sites

Multiple historic sites in Perry are NRHP-listed:
The Cherokee Strip Museum is operated by the Oklahoma Historical Society. It provides an opportunity to explore the remarkable events and people constituting the history of the Cherokee Outlet. The facility includes The Rose Hill School, giving fourth-grade students an opportunity to experience an education from yesteryear; and, a Blacksmith Shop, allowing visitors to see what crafting tools was like in pioneer days.

Since 2016, Perry has operated the Perry BMAC Baseball Complex, complete with four ball fields, each equipped with a digital scoreboard and control system. The complex includes covered bleachers and a full concessions area.
Perry Lake is two miles off US-77. The lake was originally created to be the primary water source for the City of Perry; however, its primary use is now recreational. The lake offers boating, skiing, swimming, fishing, and RV camping.
CCC Lake and Park, created in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps as part of the New Deal, is just to the south of Perry on SH-86. The lake itself is now Perry’s primary water source; so, while swimming and fishing are allowed, only trolling motors are permitted on the lake. Three pavilions are available for use, as is Centennial Church, a beautiful 1894 building moved to the Park and fully renovated by 2007. All these facilities can be reserved for special occasions.
Lake McMurtry is to the southeast; and, Lake Carl Blackwell is to the south.

Notable people