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SECTION 2 TOWNSIDP DESCRIPTION Overview This section describes the people, agricultural activity, and natural resources of the community and provides a resource to help identify, acknowledge, and appreciate the Township's distinctive features. The major parts of this section are historical concluding with a summary of what is known at present. A return to yesteryear is not advocated. Instead, historical perspectives help tell the stories and provide the foundation for the goals and policies that will protect Perry's valuable social, agricultural, and natural resources. People Historical Background Perry's rich human history was described in 1994 in a comprehensive, extensively researched and illustrated publication entitled The Historical Perry Norwegian Settlement. (Copies can be obtained by writing the Perry Historical Center, 1057 Hwy. 78, Mount Horeb, WI 53572.) The book describes in detail the region's churches, schools, families, Perry's only hamlet - Daleyville, cheese factories, and musical groups. This landmark account of Perry's history mentions various historic pre-Civil War houses, a rock barn, and log cabins that still exist. Many other historic Township buildings have been preserved. The five rural schools once found here closed in the mid-1960s and were consolidated with the three school districts that exist today. Four of the five former school buildings were converted to private dwellings; the fifth now serves as the Perry Town Hall. Of the 22 cheese factories that once operated in the Township, all have closed, but 11 have been converted to private dwellings. In addition, many old barns are scattered throughout Perry. Besides continuing to be functional, many of these barns are acquiring historical value. During 2001, the Town of Perry established the 34-acre Perry Hauge Log Church National Historic District. The District recognizes the unique character and setting of the Perry Hauge Log Church site, preserving a view in all directions including the imposing Blue Mounds to the north. The Hauge Log Church was built in 1852 and was the first public building in the Town. The structure was used as the first school in the township and was the first school that taught English. Last used as a place of worship by its original Norwegian immigrant congregation in 1887, it was restored through contributions and efforts of the local community as a monument to the pioneers that settled the Blue Mounds area. According to the Wisconsin State Historical Society, the Township contains nine known cemeteries and one archeological site. Locations of five of these nine cemeteries are well known; the remaining four may be smaller, unmarked burial grounds on private land. The Wisconsin State Historical Society reports only one site of archeological significance. There may be more. Early Native American presence in this area is also described in The Historic Perry Norwegian Settlement. Population and Development Trends The land use challenge facing Perry in recent decades is how to best to deal with the effect of population growth - in particular, the creation of new residences - on agricultural operations and Perry's rural character. While U.S. Census data record population declines from 760 in 1950 to 632 in 1980, Perry's population has increased slightly since then. In 2004 the population is estimated to be 692. Town of Perry Land Use Plan, 2004 Edition 6