Perry Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania

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Perry Township is a township in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,786 at the 2000 census. The Frazier School District serves the township.

Star Junction, Wickhaven, Whitsett, Banning and Layton are the villages that make up this township.

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 52.4 km² (20.2 mi²). 51.2 km² (19.8 mi²) of it is land and 1.3 km² (0.5 mi²) of it (2.42%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 2,786 people, 1,170 households, and 806 families residing in the township. The population density was 54.4/km² (141.0/mi²). There were 1,245 housing units at an average density of 24.3/km² (63.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.12% White, 3.02% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.07% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.22% of the population.

There were 1,170 households out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the township the population was spread out with 19.7% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $32,143, and the median income for a family was $37,413. Males had a median income of $32,261 versus $21,295 for females. The per capita income for the township was $16,241. About 9.7% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Facts

The townships' villages were highly important to the region when it was an industrial powerhouse. Star Junction, Wickhaven, Banning, and Whitsett are all towns which were once known for their coal mines or coke ovens. The village of Layton was once important as a freight depot for the railroad.

Perry Township is now known locally as the location of the original Gene and Boot's Candies. The only factory where the candy is produced is located behind the company's flagship Star Junction store. Gene and Boot's currently has a number of stores throughout Western Pennsylvania.

Portions of the movie The Silence of the Lambs were filmed in the village of Layton. The home is still owned by the same family as it was during the time of filming.

	Municipalities and Communities of Fayette County, Pennsylvania (County Seat: Uniontown)
Cities	Connellsville | Uniontown
Boroughs	Belle Vernon | Brownsville | Dawson | Dunbar | Everson | Fairchance | Fayette City | Markleysburg | Masontown | Newell | Ohiopyle | Perryopolis | Point Marion | Seven Springs | Smithfield | South Connellsville | Vanderbilt
Townships	Brownsville | Bullskin | Connellsville | Dunbar | Franklin | Georges | German | Henry Clay | Jefferson | Lower Tyrone | Luzerne | Menallen | Nicholson | North Union | Perry | Redstone | Saltlick | South Union | Springfield | Springhill | Stewart | Upper Tyrone | Washington | Wharton
Communities and CDPs	East Uniontown | Grindstone-Rowes Run | Hiller | Hopwood | Leith-Hatfield | Lynnwood-Pricedale | New Salem-Buffington | Oliver | Republic