Peru, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Peru is a city in LaSalle County, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 10,295 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Ottawa
–Streator
Micropolitan Statistical Area. Peru and its twin city, LaSalle, make up the core of the Illinois Valley.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 6.1 square miles (15.8 km²), of which, 5.9 square miles (15.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (1.82%) is water.
Located on the Illinois River, Peru lies 3 miles (4.8 km) west of the intersection of two major interstate highways: Interstate 39
and Interstate 80
. The city is also the western terminus of the historic Illinois and Michigan Canal
. Before the [Illinois Waterway] was constructed, the Illinois River was navigable only up to Peru. Starved Rock State Park
, a regional tourist attraction, is located 5 miles (8 km) south-east of the community. Peru has a twin city on its eastern edge, LaSalle.
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As of the 2010 census there were 10,295 residents, 4,143 households, and 2,672 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,655.5 people per square mile (639.3/km²). There were 4,413 housing units at an average density of 742.8 per square mile (286.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.47% White, 0.32% African American, 0.18% Native American, 1.11% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.16% from other races
, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.08% of the population.
There were 4,143 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were married couples
living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,060, and the median income for a family was $48,180. Males had a median income of $39,722 versus $21,961 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $20,658. About 4.8% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
The city's first settler was John Hays, who arrived in 1830. The town became a successful river port, but with the construction of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, it was soon eclipsed by La Salle. After the closing of the Illinois & Michigan canal, Peru regained status as a port. The original downtown was on Water Street; little of it remains today.
Plank Road
, northwest of town was originally a toll road meant to reach Dixon, Illinois
.
The city is the birthplace and hometown of world renowned violinist Maud Powell
, who was born on 1112 Bluff Street, where the 251 bridge currently stands. The city was home to Turn Hall
, which was the location of Maud Powell's first performance.
The city was also the world headquarters of Westclox
clock company. When Westclox closed, in the late 1970s, the population fell. The city is also the headquarters for Maze Lumber and Maze Nails - founded in 1848. The city was also home to Star Union Brewery, which closed in 1963 when it was bought out by Canadian Ace. The city also was home to James Barton, the inventor of the polygon mill, which stood in the north eastern section of town between 12 street, and Pulaski. Barton's home, which was called by local residents the "castle" due to its stone central turret, was adjacent to the mill, and still stands today.
Early industries on Water Street include:Brunner Foundry and Machine Co, started 1868, Illinois Zinc Works, and the Peru Plow and Wheel Company.
, affectionately called L-P. L-P has the Cavaliers and Lady Cavaliers as its mascots, referencing Cavelier Rene Robert de LaSalle, who discovered and established forts in the area.
, by route of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. In terms of transportation cost, Peru was the closest point to the Galena mines with readily available coal.
In recent years, Peru has evolved into a regional commercial center, boasting a 76-store shopping mall (the largest within 75 miles) as well as several other national retailers. The area has also enjoyed the arrival of several small industrial/manufacturing firms. The completion of Interstate 39 in the early 1990s helped foster much of this new growth, making the city especially attractive to prospective distribution centers.
Peru is home to the offices of Carus Chemical Company, the largest manufacturer of potassium permanganate
in the world. Maze Nail, one of America's last nail makers, is located in Peru, Illinois as well. Started in 1848, it is also one of the oldest continuously-operating businesses in Peru.
Peru is also home to the national headquarters of American Nickeloid.
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 10,295 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Ottawa
Ottawa, Illinois
Ottawa is a city located at the confluence of the Illinois River and Fox River in LaSalle County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 18,786...
–Streator
Streator, Illinois
Streator is a city in LaSalle and partially in Livingston counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city is situated on the Vermilion River approximately southwest of Chicago, Illinois in the prairie and farm land of north-central Illinois. It is the center of the geographic region known as...
Micropolitan Statistical Area. Peru and its twin city, LaSalle, make up the core of the Illinois Valley.
Geography
Peru is located at 41°20′4"N 89°7′39"W (41.334458, -89.127385).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 6.1 square miles (15.8 km²), of which, 5.9 square miles (15.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (1.82%) is water.
Located on the Illinois River, Peru lies 3 miles (4.8 km) west of the intersection of two major interstate highways: Interstate 39
Interstate 39
Interstate 39 is a highway in the midwestern United States. I-39 runs from Normal, Illinois at Interstate 55 to Highway 29 in Rothschild, Wisconsin, approximately six miles south of Wausau. I-39 was designed to replace US Highway 51, which in the early 1980s was one of the busiest two-lane...
and Interstate 80
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
. The city is also the western terminus of the historic Illinois and Michigan Canal
Illinois and Michigan Canal
The Illinois and Michigan Canal ran from the Bridgeport neighborhood in Chicago on the Chicago River to LaSalle-Peru, Illinois, on the Illinois River. It was finished in 1848 when Chicago Mayor James Hutchinson Woodworth presided over its opening; and it allowed boat transportation from the Great...
. Before the [Illinois Waterway] was constructed, the Illinois River was navigable only up to Peru. Starved Rock State Park
Starved Rock State Park
Starved Rock State Park is a state park in Illinois, characterized by the many canyons within its 2360 acres. Located just southwest of the village of North Utica, in Deer Park Township, LaSalle County, Illinois, along the south bank of the Illinois River, the park hosts over two million visitors...
, a regional tourist attraction, is located 5 miles (8 km) south-east of the community. Peru has a twin city on its eastern edge, LaSalle.
Demographics
As of the 2010 census there were 10,295 residents, 4,143 households, and 2,672 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,655.5 people per square mile (639.3/km²). There were 4,413 housing units at an average density of 742.8 per square mile (286.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.47% White, 0.32% African American, 0.18% Native American, 1.11% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.16% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.08% of the population.
There were 4,143 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,060, and the median income for a family was $48,180. Males had a median income of $39,722 versus $21,961 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $20,658. About 4.8% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
History
The city was organized as a borough in 1838, and was officially incorporated as a city on March 13, 1851. The original plat was between West Street, 4th Street, and East Street (now Pine Street).The city's first settler was John Hays, who arrived in 1830. The town became a successful river port, but with the construction of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, it was soon eclipsed by La Salle. After the closing of the Illinois & Michigan canal, Peru regained status as a port. The original downtown was on Water Street; little of it remains today.
Plank Road
Plank road
A plank road or puncheon is a dirt path or road covered with a series of planks, similar to the wooden sidewalks one would see in a Western movie. Plank roads were very popular in Ontario, the U.S. Northeast and U.S. Midwest in the first half of the 19th century...
, northwest of town was originally a toll road meant to reach Dixon, Illinois
Dixon, Illinois
Dixon is a city in Lee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 15,733 as of the 2010 census, down from 15,941 at the 2000 census. Named for its founder, John Dixon , it is the county seat of Lee County. Located on the Rock River, Dixon was the boyhood home of former U.S...
.
The city is the birthplace and hometown of world renowned violinist Maud Powell
Maud Powell
Maud Powell was an American violinist who gained international acclaim for her skill and virtuosity. She was born in Peru, Illinois. She was the first American violinist to achieve international rank...
, who was born on 1112 Bluff Street, where the 251 bridge currently stands. The city was home to Turn Hall
Turners
Turners are members of German-American gymnastic clubs. A German gymnastic movement was started by Turnvater Friedrich Ludwig Jahn in the early 19th century when Germany was occupied by Napoleon...
, which was the location of Maud Powell's first performance.
Industry
Early on, Peru had a vibrant ice harvesting industry.The city was also the world headquarters of Westclox
Westclox
Westclox was a former manufacturer and is a current brand of clocks and alarm clocks.-Early history as United Clock Company:Charles Stahlberg and others from Waterbury, Connecticut originally formed as "United Clock Company" on December 5, 1885 in Peru, Illinois, intending to manufacture clocks...
clock company. When Westclox closed, in the late 1970s, the population fell. The city is also the headquarters for Maze Lumber and Maze Nails - founded in 1848. The city was also home to Star Union Brewery, which closed in 1963 when it was bought out by Canadian Ace. The city also was home to James Barton, the inventor of the polygon mill, which stood in the north eastern section of town between 12 street, and Pulaski. Barton's home, which was called by local residents the "castle" due to its stone central turret, was adjacent to the mill, and still stands today.
Early industries on Water Street include:Brunner Foundry and Machine Co, started 1868, Illinois Zinc Works, and the Peru Plow and Wheel Company.
Mining
There was coal mining in Peru. Known mines include:- Union Mine, 1874-1949
- Illinois Zinc No. 3 Mine, 1879-1947
- McClernon Mine, 1909-1913
- Merrick Mine, 1857-1873
Education
Both Peru and neighboring LaSalle share a High School, LaSalle-Peru Township High SchoolLaSalle-Peru High School
LaSalle-Peru Township High School, also known as LaSalle-Peru High School, LPHS, or simply LP, is a public four-year high school located at 541 Chartres Street in LaSalle, Illinois, a small city in LaSalle County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States. LPHS serves the communities and...
, affectionately called L-P. L-P has the Cavaliers and Lady Cavaliers as its mascots, referencing Cavelier Rene Robert de LaSalle, who discovered and established forts in the area.
Economy
The area's coal deposits helped make Peru a zinc manufacturing center in its early history (the manufacture of zinc requires large amounts of coal). Originally zinc ore was brought down from Galena, IllinoisGalena, Illinois
Galena is the county seat of, and largest city in, Jo Daviess County, Illinois in the United States, with a population of 3,429 in 2010. The city is a popular tourist destination known for its history, historical architecture, and ski and golf resorts. Galena was the residence of Ulysses S...
, by route of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. In terms of transportation cost, Peru was the closest point to the Galena mines with readily available coal.
In recent years, Peru has evolved into a regional commercial center, boasting a 76-store shopping mall (the largest within 75 miles) as well as several other national retailers. The area has also enjoyed the arrival of several small industrial/manufacturing firms. The completion of Interstate 39 in the early 1990s helped foster much of this new growth, making the city especially attractive to prospective distribution centers.
Peru is home to the offices of Carus Chemical Company, the largest manufacturer of potassium permanganate
Potassium permanganate
Potassium permanganate is an inorganic chemical compound with the formula KMnO4. It is a salt consisting of K+ and MnO4− ions. Formerly known as permanganate of potash or Condy's crystals, it is a strong oxidizing agent. It dissolves in water to give intensely purple solutions, the...
in the world. Maze Nail, one of America's last nail makers, is located in Peru, Illinois as well. Started in 1848, it is also one of the oldest continuously-operating businesses in Peru.
Peru is also home to the national headquarters of American Nickeloid.
Notable people
- John Virginius BennesJohn Virginius BennesJohn Virginius Bennes was an American architect in Baker City and Portland, Oregon. In Baker City he designed the Geiser Grand Hotel, several homes, and a now-demolished Elks building...
, architect. - William P. BettendorfWilliam P. BettendorfWilliam P. Bettendorf invented the power lift sulky plow, the Bettendorf metal wheel and the one-piece railroad truck frame. By the age of 53 he held 94 patents. With his younger brother, Joseph W. Bettendorf, he founded the Bettendorf Axel Company. His first wife and children preceded him in death...
and Joseph W. Bettendorf, industrialists. - Zez ConfreyZez ConfreyEdward Elzear "Zez" Confrey was an American composer and performer of piano music. His most noted works were "Kitten on the Keys," and "Dizzy Fingers."-Life and career:...
, (1895–1971) composer and pianist. - Franklin CorwinFranklin CorwinFranklin Corwin was a United States Representative from Illinois.Born in Lebanon, Ohio, he attended private schools, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1839, practicing in Wilmington, Ohio...
, US Representative. - Gary G. DahlGary G. DahlGary G. Dahl was a Republican member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 38th district from 2005 until his December 2010 resignation for personal reasons....
, politician. - Simon Ford, lion tamer.
- Mike GoffMike Goff (American football)Michael J. Goff is a retired American football guard. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Iowa....
, offensive lineman for the Kansas City ChiefsKansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
. - Ken GorgalKen GorgalKenneth Gorgal was an American football safety in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns, the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers. He played college football at Purdue University....
, halfback for the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
. - Leo Laub, great American.
- Donold LourieDonold LourieDonold B. Lourie was an American businessman, government official, and college football player. He served for many years as the president of the Quaker Oats Company, and held various other executive positions there and for several other businesses. President Dwight D...
, businessman, government official, and college football player. - Thomas LynchThomas Lynch (pitcher)Thomas S. Lynch was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for Chicago White Stockings in the season.-External links:*...
, pitcher. - Russ Meyer, baseball player.
- Esther Hobart MorrisEsther Hobart MorrisEsther Hobart Morris , a Tioga County, New York native, distinguished herself as the first female Justice of the Peace in the United States. A mother of three boys, she began her tenure as justice in South Pass City, Wyoming, on February 14, 1870, and served a term of less than nine months...
, Justice of the Peace in Wyoming. - Maud PowellMaud PowellMaud Powell was an American violinist who gained international acclaim for her skill and virtuosity. She was born in Peru, Illinois. She was the first American violinist to achieve international rank...
, (1867–1920) violinist. - Howard C. RyanHoward C. RyanHoward C. Ryan was an elected judge of the Supreme Court of Illinois from 1970 to 1990, and the Chief Justice of this court in 1982–1985.A native of Tonica, Howard C...
, Illinois Chief Justice. - John Skibinski, fullback for the Chicago BearsChicago BearsThe Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. - Frank VlastnikFrank VlastnikFrank Vlastnik is an American theatre and television actor. He is best known as an original cast member in the short lived musicals Big, The Sweet Smell of Success, and A Year with Frog and Toad on Broadway. His big break came when he was cast as the original understudy for the leading role in Big...
, theatre and television actor.