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The first Europeans to explore the area were Father Marquette and Ensign Joliet, leading a French expedition down the Mississippi from [[Canada]] in 1673; they were the first to observe and describe Grand Tower Rock in the middle of the river. French soldiers and colonists began settling just to the north, around Kaskaskia and Ste. Genevieve, by the mid-18th century; however, no such settlements were made in the Perry County area until after the Spanish took possession of the Louisiana Territory following the [[French and Indian War]]. In 1795, the colonial government began issuing land grants to settlers from the new [[United States of America|United States]]. A number of these early settlers were English [[Catholics]] arriving from [[Kentucky]], though some also came from [[Pennsylvania]] and the South.<ref>https://perrycountyhistoricalsociety.com/index/archives-2/perry-county-history/</ref> Most of the first settlements occurred in the so-called "Bois Brule" river bottoms, opposite Kaskaskia Island to the northeast.

The first Europeans to explore the area were Father Marquette and Ensign Joliet, leading a French expedition down the Mississippi from [[Canada]] in 1673; they were the first to observe and describe Grand Tower Rock in the middle of the river. French soldiers and colonists began settling just to the north, around Kaskaskia and Ste. Genevieve, by the mid-18th century; however, no such settlements were made in the Perry County area until after the Spanish took possession of the Louisiana Territory following the [[French and Indian War]]. In 1795, the colonial government began issuing land grants to settlers from the new [[United States of America|United States]]. A number of these early settlers were English [[Catholics]] arriving from [[Kentucky]], though some also came from [[Pennsylvania]] and the South.<ref>https://perrycountyhistoricalsociety.com/index/archives-2/perry-county-history/</ref> Most of the first settlements occurred in the so-called "Bois Brule" river bottoms, opposite Kaskaskia Island to the northeast.

Population growth increased after the Louisiana Territory was purchased by the U.S. in 1803, with more American pioneers arriving, including a colony of [[North Carolina]] [[Presbyterians]] who settled around Brazeau Creek further south in 1817, with a village of that name growing up around it. After the creation of the Missouri Territory and its division into counties in 1812, the region was made a part of Ste. Genevieve County, but soon a movement arose to form a separate jurisdiction. Perry County was officially formed by the legislature on November 16, 1820, though a county court was not organized until the following spring. The present site of Perryville was selected for a county seat, with a courthouse constructed in 1825.  

Population growth increased after the Louisiana Territory was purchased by the U.S. in 1803, with more American pioneers arriving, including a colony of [[North Carolina]] [[Presbyterians]] who settled around Brazeau Creek further south in 1817, with a village of that name growing up around it. After the creation of the Missouri Territory and its division into counties in 1812, the region was made a part of Ste. Genevieve County, but soon a movement arose to form a separate jurisdiction. Perry County was officially formed by the legislature on November 16, 1820, though a county court was not organized until the following spring. The present site of Perryville was selected for a county seat, with a courthouse constructed in 1825. Perry County was the last to be formed before Missouri's official admission into the Union in 1821.<ref>Robert Sidney Douglass, ''History of Southeast Missouri'' (1912), p. 169-70.</ref>

 

 

==Communities==

==Communities==