Perry County was created by the Alabama legislature on 1819 Dec. 13. It was named for Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry (Rhode Island), hero of the War of 1812. In 1822 the courthouse was established at Muckle's Ridge, now known as Marion. The county is located in the west-central part of the state, in the Black Belt region. It encompasses 719 square miles. Notable towns include Marion, Uniontown, Heiberger, Perryville and Sprott.