Perry County was established in 1817 and was named after Oliver Hazard Perry, a hero of the War of 1812. Perry County occupies a portion of Ohio bounded on the north by Licking and Muskingum counties, on the east by Muskingum and Morgan counties, on the south by Athens and Hocking counties, and on the west by Fairfield County. It is therefore in the southeastern part of the State.

The landscape is a varied one. There are no mountains and no plains, but in the southern portion there are many lofty hills and narrow valleys. North of New Lexington the country is rolling and presents in many places charming vistas.

This section of the county is better adapted to agriculture than the more rugged; hence, well-cultivated farms and attractive buildings delight the eye. The highest point above sea level in the county is where the old courthouse in Somerset now stands, which is 1,160 feet. The lowest point is 689 feet, at Monday Creek Station.

Perry County, like its adjacent territory, was the home of Native Americans. The nations that resided in the area were the Shawnee, Hopewell Culture, Kaskaskia, Ofo, and Adena Culture. Further back, beyond the memory of men, and even traditions, a race of people lived here before the Native Americans. These were the Mound Builders. They left no records, and all they did leave behind were imperishable memorials in the form of mounds and earthworks. More than one hundred of these may be found in the county, the most wonderful being the “Stone Fort” at Glenford.

Village of New Lexington