Peru, New York
Encyclopedia
Peru is a town
in Clinton County
in the U.S. state
of New York
. The population was 6,998 at the 2010 census. The town was named Peru
because its mountainous nature suggested that country.
The Town of Peru is in the eastern part of the county and is south of Plattsburgh
.
was fought in Lake Champlain in the eastern part of Peru in 1776.
Peru was formed from parts of the Town of Plattsburgh
and the Town of Willsboro
(the latter now in Essex County
, New York
) in 1792. Part of Peru was returned to Willsboro in 1799. In 1838, part of the town was used to form the Towns of Au Sable
and Black Brook
.
On April 20, 2002, around 6:50 am, a magnitude 5.2 earthquake was centered in Keeseville, approx. 15 miles south of Peru. The earthquake was felt as far north as Montreal, as far west as Michigan and Ohio, as far south as Washington, D.C., and as far east as Boston, MA and Maine. No injuries or deaths were reported, however moderate damage in the epicentral area was common to include partial road collapses, fallen chimneys, and broken windows.
In the year 2001 the Peru football team went undefeated and won the New York state Class B championship game.
, the town has a total area of 92.4 square miles (239.3 km²), of which 79.3 square miles (205.5 km²) is land and 13.1 square miles (33.8 km²) (14.12%) is water.
The eastern part of the town ends at Lake Champlain
, and that town line is the border of Vermont
. The Ausable River forms part of the south town line, and the Little Au Sable River flows eastward through the south part of Peru.
The Northway (Interstate 87
) and U.S. Route 9
are north-south highways through the town. New York State Route 22
, New York State Route 22B, and New York State Route 442
(an east-west highway) intersect at Peru village.
of 2000, there were 6,370 people, 2,309 households, and 1,777 families residing in the town. The population density
was 80.3 people per square mile (31.0/km²). There were 2,510 housing units at an average density of 31.6 per square mile (12.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.22% White, 0.91% Black or African American
, 0.08% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.16% from other races
, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.85% of the population.
There were 2,309 households out of which 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.4% were married couples
living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.0% were non-families. 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $39,051, and the median income for a family was $47,853. Males had a median income of $32,196 versus $23,984 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,676. About 7.6% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.3% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Clinton County
Clinton County, New York
Clinton County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 82,128. Its name is in honor of the first Governor of New York as a state, George Clinton. Its county seat is Plattsburgh.-History:...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The population was 6,998 at the 2010 census. The town was named Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
because its mountainous nature suggested that country.
The Town of Peru is in the eastern part of the county and is south of Plattsburgh
Plattsburgh (city), New York
Plattsburgh is a city in and county seat of Clinton County, New York, United States. The population was 19,989 at the 2010 census. The population of the unincorporated areas within the Town of Plattsburgh was 11,870 as of the 2010 census; making the population for the immediate, urban Plattsburgh,...
.
History
The town was first settled in 1772. The Battle of Valcour IslandBattle of Valcour Island
The naval Battle of Valcour Island, also known as the Battle of Valcour Bay, took place on October 11, 1776, on Lake Champlain. The main action took place in Valcour Bay, a narrow strait between the New York mainland and Valcour Island...
was fought in Lake Champlain in the eastern part of Peru in 1776.
Peru was formed from parts of the Town of Plattsburgh
Plattsburgh (town), New York
Plattsburgh is a town in Clinton County, New York, United States. The population was 11,870 at the 2010 census. The town is named after Zephaniah Platt, an early land owner.The Town of Plattsburgh borders the City of Plattsburgh...
and the Town of Willsboro
Willsboro, New York
Willsboro is a town in Essex County, New York, in the United States, and lies thirty miles south of the city of Plattsburgh. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 1,903...
(the latter now in Essex County
Essex County, New York
Essex County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 39,370. Its name is from the English county of Essex. Its county seat is Elizabethtown...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
) in 1792. Part of Peru was returned to Willsboro in 1799. In 1838, part of the town was used to form the Towns of Au Sable
Au Sable, New York
Au Sable, or Ausable, is a town in Clinton County, New York, United States. The population was 3,146 at the 2010 census. The name is from a river that flows through the town and means "Of the sand."...
and Black Brook
Black Brook, New York
Black Brook is a town in Clinton County, New York, United States. The population was 1,497 at the 2010 census. The town is named after an important waterway in the town....
.
On April 20, 2002, around 6:50 am, a magnitude 5.2 earthquake was centered in Keeseville, approx. 15 miles south of Peru. The earthquake was felt as far north as Montreal, as far west as Michigan and Ohio, as far south as Washington, D.C., and as far east as Boston, MA and Maine. No injuries or deaths were reported, however moderate damage in the epicentral area was common to include partial road collapses, fallen chimneys, and broken windows.
Notable residents
- Asa AdgateAsa AdgateAsa Adgate was an iron manufacturer, farmer, and local government official who was selected to fill the vacancy in the United States House of Representatives caused by the death of Benjamin Pond....
(1767–1832), United States Congressman from New York, held several local government positions here.
- Francis A. PrattFrancis A. PrattFrancis Ashbury Pratt was a Connecticut mechanical engineer, inventor, and co-founder of Pratt & Whitney.Pratt was born in Peru, New York. In the early 1850s, he designed a milling machine for George S...
(1827–1902), was a Connecticut mechanical engineer, inventor, and founder of Pratt & WhitneyPratt & WhitneyPratt & Whitney is a U.S.-based aerospace manufacturer with global service operations. It is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation . Pratt & Whitney's aircraft engines are widely used in both civil aviation and military aviation. Its headquarters are in East Hartford, Connecticut, USA...
.
In the year 2001 the Peru football team went undefeated and won the New York state Class B championship game.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 town has a total area of 92.4 square miles (239.3 km²), of which 79.3 square miles (205.5 km²) is land and 13.1 square miles (33.8 km²) (14.12%) is water.
The eastern part of the town ends at Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
, and that town line is the border of Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. The Ausable River forms part of the south town line, and the Little Au Sable River flows eastward through the south part of Peru.
The Northway (Interstate 87
Interstate 87
Interstate 87 is a Interstate Highway located entirely within New York State in the United States of America. I-87 is the longest intrastate Interstate highway in the Interstate Highway System. Its southern end is at the Bronx approaches of the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge in New York City...
) and U.S. Route 9
U.S. Route 9
U.S. Route 9 is a north–south United States highway in the states of Delaware, New Jersey, and New York in the United States. It is one of only two U.S. highways with a ferry connection ; the other being US 10. US 9 is signed east–west in Delaware and north–south on the rest of...
are north-south highways through the town. New York State Route 22
New York State Route 22
New York State Route 22 is a north–south state highway in eastern New York in the United States. It runs parallel to the state's eastern edge from the outskirts of New York City to a short distance south of the Canadian border. At , it is the state's longest north–south route and...
, New York State Route 22B, and New York State Route 442
New York State Route 442
New York State Route 442 is a state highway located within the town of Peru in Clinton County, New York, in the United States. It is an east–west highway that connects the hamlet of Peru with the Adirondack Northway . The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with...
(an east-west highway) intersect at Peru village.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 6,370 people, 2,309 households, and 1,777 families residing in the town. 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 80.3 people per square mile (31.0/km²). There were 2,510 housing units at an average density of 31.6 per square mile (12.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.22% White, 0.91% Black or African American
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...
, 0.08% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.16% 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 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.85% of the population.
There were 2,309 households out of which 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.4% 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, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.0% were non-families. 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $39,051, and the median income for a family was $47,853. Males had a median income of $32,196 versus $23,984 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 town was $19,676. About 7.6% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.3% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Peru
- Clark Corners – A location west of Peru village.
- Coffey Corners – A location near the north town line, north of Peru village.
- Cromie Corners – A location northwest of Peru village.
- Day Point – A location on the shore of Lake Champlain opposite Valcour Island.
- Lapham Mills (formerly "Bartonville") – A hamlet northeast of Peru village, near the Northway.
- Macomb Reservation State ParkMacomb Reservation State ParkMacomb Reservation State Park is in the Town of Schuyler Falls in Clinton County, New York, United States. The park is outside the Adirondack Park, two miles west of Schuyler Falls village on Norrisville Road.The park is located on the Salmon River....
– A state parkState parkState parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
at the west town line. - Peasleeville – A location west of the town.
- PeruPeru (CDP), New YorkPeru is a hamlet within the Town of Peru in Clinton County in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 1,591 at the 2010 census.The community is located at the junction of Route 22 and Route 22B....
– The hamletHamlet (place)A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
of Peru is at the junctions of NY Route 22New York State Route 22New York State Route 22 is a north–south state highway in eastern New York in the United States. It runs parallel to the state's eastern edge from the outskirts of New York City to a short distance south of the Canadian border. At , it is the state's longest north–south route and...
and NY Route 22B. It was first settled around 1795. - South Junction – A hamlet at the northeast town line.
- Valcour (formerly "Port Valcour") – A hamlet on the shore of Lake Champlain and US-9.
- Valcour IslandValcour IslandValcour Island is an island in Lake Champlain in Clinton County, New York, USA. The island is mostly in the Town of Peru and partly in the Town of Plattsburgh, southeast of the City of Plattsburgh....
– The south end of this islandIslandAn island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
in Lake Champlain is part of the town.