Rural Perth South

Rural Perth South covers almost all of the township: about 39,000 hectares of farmland in the southern tip of Perth County, between Stratford and St. Marys, where the Avon River meets the Thames. Kirkton is a small village on the township's west edge, and Avonton, Rannoch and Woodham are hamlets among the farms. Wildwood Conservation Area, run by the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, has a seven-kilometre reservoir, a beach, 386 campsites, canoe and kayak rentals and about 30 km of trails for hiking and cycling. In Kirkton, the Kirkton-Woodham Community Centre stands beside an outdoor pool, a park with ball diamonds and a soccer field, and an arboretum trail.

Perth South was formed on January 1, 1998, when the townships of Downie and Blanshard joined. Arthur Meighen, who became Prime Minister of Canada, was born in Anderson, a small community in the township. Timothy Eaton and his brother James opened their first store less than half a kilometre from Kirkton.

The 2021 census counted about 1,450 homes in Perth South. Leaving out Sebringville and St. Pauls, the countryside, its villages and its hamlets had about 1,230 homes, and nearly all of them are single detached houses. About half were built in 1960 or earlier and about one in five between 1961 and 1980. About one in six were built between 1981 and 2000, and about one in sixteen in 2001 or later.

Highway 7 crosses the township between Stratford and St. Marys, Highway 8 runs along its north edge through Sebringville, and Highway 23 runs along the west through Kirkton toward London. Perth roads and lines link the farms with Stratford, St. Marys, Mitchell and St. Pauls. Stratford's and St. Marys' VIA Rail stations are the nearest, and PC Connect's Route B links Stratford, St. Pauls, St. Marys, Mitchell and Sebringville, Monday to Saturday.

Wildwood Conservation Area at 3995 Line 9 has a beach, boating, fishing, swimming, 386 campsites and about 30 km of trails, with canoe and kayak rentals. In Kirkton, the Kirkton-Woodham Community Centre has a hall for events, with the Kirkton-Woodham Pool, a park with ball diamonds and a soccer field, a picnic area and the Kirkton-Woodham Arboretum's nature trail close by. The Downie Optimist Hall has a full kitchen and a meeting room, and the St. Pauls Pavilion looks over the township's soccer fields and ball diamonds behind the township office.

• South Perth Centennial Public School — JK to Grade 8. The public school for the south and west, including Kirkton, Woodham and Rannoch, on Road 163.
• Downie Central Public School — JK to Grade 8. The public school for the north, including Avonton, on Line 20.
• St. Marys District Collegiate and Vocational Institute — Grades 9 to 12. The public secondary school for the South Perth Centennial side, on Elizabeth Street in St. Marys.
• Stratford District Secondary School — Grades 9 to 12. The public secondary school for the Downie Central side, on Forman Avenue in Stratford.
• Bedford Public School — Grades 1 to 6 in French immersion. The public French immersion school for the Downie Central side, on Bedford Drive in Stratford.
• Holy Name of Mary School — JK to Grade 8. The Catholic elementary school for the south and west, on Peel Street North in St. Marys.
• St. Joseph's School — JK to Grade 8. The Catholic elementary school for the north, including Avonton, on St. Vincent Street South in Stratford.
• St. Michael Catholic Secondary School — Grades 9 to 12. The Catholic secondary school, on Oakdale Avenue in Stratford.
• Jeanne Sauvé Catholic School — JK to Grade 8. The Catholic French immersion school from JK, on Grange Street in Stratford.