Perry County is a county located in the rolling hills of east-central state of Ohio. Founded on March 1, 1818, it was the 55th county to be formed in Ohio. As of the 2000 census, the population was 34,078. Its county seat is New Lexington, and it is named for Oliver Hazard Perry, a hero of the War of 1812. According to the Ohio Department of Development, the county has a total area of 413 square miles, or 264,320 acres. Land use acreages are approximately 2,326 Urban, 57,014 Cropland, 16,996 Pasture, 186,769 Forest, and 502 Bare/Mine use. The total open water acres accounts for 714 acres. Agricultural land use is dictated by the glacial boundaries that cross Perry County. The northern and western portions are glaciated with rolling topography and soils that are well-suited to the intensive production of row crops. The southern and eastern portions of the county are un-glaciated, with more hilly topography and soils that are better suited for forestry and forage crop production. Agriculture is an important business in Perry County both environmentally and economically. Perry County has approximately 620 farms with a total of 226,000 acres in agricultural production. That production generated $19.3 million in farm cash receipts in 2007. Crop cash receipts totaled $13.6 million while livestock cash receipts amounted to $5.7 million. In the crop category, corn accounted for $2.6 million and soybeans accounted for $3.3 million, while wheat, oats and hay made up $1.2 million of the county's crop income. “Other crops” are the most rapidly growing sector of the crop industry making up $6.5 million.“ Other crops” are mostly fruits, vegetables and greenhouse crops. In livestock, beef cattle and calves accounted for $3.5 million of the county's farm income. The dairy industry accounted for $1.3 million income. Hogs, poultry and other livestock brought in $0.9 million.