A Peruvian American

A Peruvian American ( is an immigrant or descendant of immigrants from 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....

 that arrived in the United States. Among Peruvian Americans there are those of White

White people

White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...

 (mostly Spanish

Spanish Peruvian

A Spanish Peruvian is a Peruvian citizen of Spanish descent. Among European Peruvians, the Spanish are the largest group of immigrants to settle in the country.-History:...

), mestizo

Mestizo

Mestizo is a term traditionally used in Latin America, Philippines and Spain for people of mixed European and Native American heritage or descent...

, Amerindian, and Afro-Peruvian

Afro-Peruvian

Afro Peruvians are citizens of Peru mostly descended from African slaves who were brought to the Western hemisphere with the arrival of the conquistadors towards the end of the slave trade.-Early history:...

 descent, as well as others, including Italian, French, and German or a mix of any of these. A significant number are of pure or mixed Chinese or/and Japanese

Japanese Peruvian

Japanese Peruvians are people of Japanese ancestry who were born in or immigrated to Peru. The immigrants from Japan are called the Issei generation. Second and third generation Peruvians are referred to as nisei and sansei in Japanese...

 heritage.

Peruvians emigrate mainly because of political turmoil and economic hardships. Peruvian Americans are a relatively recent ethnic group as most of them moved to the United States after 1990. Peruvians have settled throughout the United States, migrating particularly to Northern New Jersey

North Jersey

North Jersey is a colloquial term, with no precise consensus definition, for the northern portion of the U.S. state of New Jersey. A straightforward, noncolloquial term for the region is northern New Jersey.- Two-portion approaches :...

 and the New York City Metropolitan Area, the Miami metropolitan area, the Washington Metropolitan Area

Washington Metropolitan Area

The Washington Metropolitan Area is the metropolitan area centered on Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. The area includes all of the federal district and parts of the U.S...

, and the Los Angeles metropolitan area

Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

The Los Angeles metropolitan area, also known as Metropolitan Los Angeles or the Southland, is the 13th largest metropolitan area in the world and the second-largest metropolitan area in the United States....

. Notably, a rapidly growing number of Peruvian Americans have established an increasingly prominent community in Paterson, New Jersey

Paterson, New Jersey

Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...

, partially owing to the presence of the Peruvian Consulate. Market Street in downtown Paterson is lined with Peruvian-owned restaurants, bakeries, delicatessens, bodegas

Convenience store

A convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and...

, travel agencies, and other businesses. According to the U.S. 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...

 it is estimated that 435,368 U.S. residents identify themselves as being of Peruvian origin.

The top 25 US communities with the highest percentage of people claiming Peruvian ancestry are:

1. East Newark, New Jersey
   East Newark, New Jersey
   East Newark is a borough in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 2,406. The borough is a suburb of the nearby city of Newark....
   
    10.1%
2. Harrison, New Jersey
   Harrison, New Jersey
   Harrison is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town's population was 13,620. The town is a suburb of the nearby city of Newark, New Jersey.-Geography:Harrison is located at ....
   
    7.01%
3. Paterson, New Jersey
   Paterson, New Jersey
   Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
   
    4.72%
4. Kearny, New Jersey
   Kearny, New Jersey
   Kearny is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. It was named after Civil War general Philip Kearny. As of the United States 2010 Census, the town population was 40,684. The town is a suburb of the nearby city of Newark....
   
    3.82%
5. The Hammocks, Florida
   The Hammocks, Florida
   The Hammocks is an unincorporated census-designated place Miami suburb in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The population was 51,003 at the 2010 census.-Name:The name of the CDP originates from a planned community called The Hammocks...
   
    3.36%
6. Port Chester, New York
   Port Chester, New York
   Port Chester is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The village is part of the town of Rye. As of the 2010 census, Port Chester had a population of 28,967...
   
    3.30%
7. Virginia Gardens, Florida
   Virginia Gardens, Florida
   Virginia Gardens is a village in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,348 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2004 estimates, the village had a population of 2,294.- History :...
   
    3.24%
8. Prospect Park, New Jersey
   Prospect Park, New Jersey
   Prospect Park is a borough in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 5,779....
   
    3.22
9. Bay Harbor Islands, Florida
   Bay Harbor Islands, Florida
   Bay Harbor Islands is a town in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,146 at the 2000 census. It is separated from the mainland by Biscayne Bay, with which it is connected via the Broad Causeway. On the mainland side, BHI is bordered by the city of North Miami, while to...
   
    3.11%
10. Doral, Florida
    Doral, Florida
    Doral is a city located in north-central Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. A suburb of Miami, it lies north-west of Miami International Airport. It takes its name from the famous golf and spa resort located within its municipal boundaries. The Doral Golf Resort & Spa was originally built...
    
     2.95%
11. Haledon, New Jersey
    Haledon, New Jersey
    Haledon is a borough in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,318.Haledon was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 8, 1908, replacing the now-defunct Manchester Township, based on the...
    
     2.71%
12. Garfield, New Jersey
    Garfield, New Jersey
    Garfield is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 30,487.When the area that is now Garfield was first developed in 1873, it was known as East Passaic. In 1881, the community's name was changed to Garfield in honor of...
    
     2.55%
13. Union City, New Jersey
    Union City, New Jersey
    Union City is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. According to the 2010 United States Census the city had a total population of 66,455. All of the city is on land, an area of...
    
     2.53%
14. Both Key Biscayne, Florida
    Key Biscayne, Florida
    Key Biscayne is a village in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States on the island of Key Biscayne. The population was 10,507 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 10,324....
    
     and Glen Cove, New York
    Glen Cove, New York
    Glen Cove is a city in Nassau County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 26,964....
    
     2.48%
15. Passaic, New Jersey
    Passaic, New Jersey
    Passaic is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 69,781, maintaining its status as the 15th largest municipality in New Jersey with an increase of 1,920 residents from the 2000 Census population of 67,861...
    
     2.42%
16. White Plains, New York
    White Plains, New York
    White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
    
     2.39%
17. Elizabeth, New Jersey
    Elizabeth, New Jersey
    Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
    
     2.35%
18. Rye, New York
    Rye (city), New York
    Rye is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is separate from the town of Rye, which is larger than the city. Rye city, formerly the village of Rye, was part of the town until 1942, when it received its charter as a city, the most recent to be issued in New York...
    
     2.33%
19. Ojus, Florida
    Ojus, Florida
    Ojus is a census-designated place and formerly incorporated town in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The population was 16,642 at the 2000 census. Ojus borders Aventura to the east, I-95 to the west, North Miami Beach to the south and Broward County to the north...
    
     2.29%
20. Clifton, New Jersey
    Clifton, New Jersey
    Clifton is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 84,136. The 2010 population represented an increase of 5,464 residents from its population of 78,672 in the 2000 Census, making it the state's 11th largest...
    
     2.27%
21. Elmsford, New York
    Elmsford, New York
    Elmsford is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. Roughly one mile square, the village is fully contained within the borders of the town of Greenburgh...
    
     2.25%
22. Perth Amboy, New Jersey
    Perth Amboy, New Jersey
    Perth Amboy is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. The City of Perth Amboy is part of the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 50,814. Perth Amboy is known as the "City by the Bay", referring to Raritan Bay.-Name:The Lenape...
    
     2.20%
23. North Bay Village, Florida
    North Bay Village, Florida
    North Bay Village is a city located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 6,733. As of 2010, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 7,137.North Bay Village is located at ....
    
     2.17%
24. Kendale Lakes, Florida
    Kendale Lakes, Florida
    Kendale Lakes is a census-designated place Miami suburb in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The population was 56,901 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Kendale Lakes is located at ....
    
     2.03%
25. Kendall, Florida
    Kendall, Florida
    Kendall is a suburban neighborhood of metropolitan Miami, Florida, United States. As of the 2000 census, the area had a total population of 75,226....
    
     and the borough
    Borough
    A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
    
     of Carteret, New Jersey
    Carteret, New Jersey
    Carteret is a borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 22,844.Carteret was created as the borough of Roosevelt on 11 April 1906, incorporating Woodbridge Township, and was a result of a referendum on 22 May 1906...
    
     2.01%

History

Small but significant waves of immigration occurred in San Francisco

San Francisco, California

San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...

 during the gold rush

Gold rush

A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers to an area that has had a dramatic discovery of gold. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States, while smaller gold rushes took place elsewhere.In the 19th and early...

 (along with Chilean

Chilean American

Chilean Americans are United States citizens or residents of Chilean origin. They number about 124,116 in 2009.In 2000, close to 14,000 lived in the states of Florida and California, while around 16,330 lived in the states of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and other New England states...

 miners beginning in 1848) and the Metro Detroit

Metro Detroit

The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is the metropolitan area located in Southeast Michigan centered on the city of Detroit which shares an international border with Windsor, Ontario. The Detroit metropolitan area is the second largest U.S. metropolitan area...

 area in the 1950s.

Religious affiliation

Over 90% of Peruvian Americans are Roman Catholic. They celebrate en masse to the Señor de los Milagros (The Lord of the Miracles

Lord of Miracles

Lord of Miracles is a mural painted of Jesus Christ that is venerated in Lima, Peru. It is the main Catholic festivity in Peru and one of the biggest processions around the world....

) in large street-processions every October. Their chief saints are San Martín de Porres

San Martín de Porres

San Martín de Porres is a district in Lima, Peru, located in the area known as Cono Norte. It is bordered by the district of Callao on the west; Los Olivos on the northeast; and the Rímac and Independencia districts on the east...

 and Santa Rosa de Lima

Santa Rosa de Lima

-Description:The city is named after St. Rose of Lima, born on 1586 in Lima . Its "fiestas patronales" are during the month of August, when the city gets full of vendors from around the country selling a wide range of articles and food. The city is also known as the "capital of commerce" in La...

.

Culture

The most famous and first aspect of Peruvian culture that deals with the United States is the book, "The Incas's Florida" [La Florida del Inca] written at the end of sixteenth century by the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. Garcilaso's book details the travels of the explorer Hernando de Soto who had participated in the Forty-Years War between the Incas and the Spanish (1531–1571) and who later came to the lands that would become the United States and that the Spanish called "Florida."

The most popular dishes of Peruvian food in the U.S. include cebiche (raw fish "cooked" in lime juice), papa a la huancaina, and anticuchos y tamales. Peruvian cuisine is often recognized for being one of the most diverse and appreciated of the Latin American cuisines, with influences including European, Native American, and African. Since there is a sizable Chinese and Japanese minority in Peru, an Asian influence has also been deeply incorporated in Peruvian cuisine. There are Chifas, or Asian style Peruvian restaurants that serve typical Chinese or Japanese food with a Peruvian culinary influence. Inca Kola

Inca Kola

Inca Kola is a soft drink created in Peru in 1935 by British immigrant José Robinson Lindleyhttp://www.urosario.edu.co/urosario_files/12/12e72337-b358-45ac-9228-bb9ba34ffa2c.pdf...

, a soda that originated in Peru, is sold in many heavily concentrated Latino areas. Pisco

Pisco

Pisco is a colorless or yellowish-to-amber colored grape brandy produced in winemaking regions of Chile and Peru. Pisco was developed by Spanish settlers in the 16th century as an alternative to orujo, a pomace brandy that was being imported from Spain...

, a clear grape brandy, is the national liquor of Peru and the main ingredient of its national cocktail, the Pisco Sour

Pisco Sour

A Pisco Sour is a cocktail containing pisco, lemon or lime juice, egg whites, simple syrup, and bitters- Culture :The national origin of the pisco sour is debated. Both Chile and Peru lay claim to the drink. In both countries, the variety of lime used is what North Americans would call Persian lime...

.

Social aspects

Despite being a relatively recent ethnic group, the median household income for Peruvians meets the average American household income http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-reg=DEC_2000_SF4_U_PCT089:001|420&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF4_U&-CONTEXT=dt&-mt_name=DEC_2000_SF4_U_PCT089&-redoLog=true&-geo_id=01000US&-format=&-_lang=en&-SubjectID=11762858 and 25% of all Peruvians over the age of 25 have college degrees http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-reg=DEC_2000_SF4_U_PCT064:001|420&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF4_U&-CONTEXT=dt&-mt_name=DEC_2000_SF4_U_PCT064&-redoLog=false&-geo_id=01000US&-format=&-_lang=en&-SubjectID=11762640 slightly exceeding the US national average of 24%.

Notable Peruvian-Americans

• Benjamin Bratt
  Benjamin Bratt
  Benjamin Bratt is an American actor. He is most famous for his role as Rey Curtis on the TV series Law & Order; and his appearances in the movies Blood in Blood Out, Miss Congeniality, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Traffic, and Piñero.-Early life:Bratt was born in San Francisco, California,...
  
  , indigenous actor
• Manuel Pablo Arnao, actor/model
• Carlos Castaneda
  Carlos Castaneda
  Carlos Castaneda was a Peruvian-born American anthropologist and author....
  
  , philosopher
• Q'orianka Kilcher
  Q'Orianka Kilcher
  Q'orianka Waira Qoiana Kilcher is a U.S. actress, singer and activist. She is best known for her role as Pocahontas in the 2005 film The New World, directed by Terrence Malick. Her second memorable film role is Princess Kaiulani in Princess Kaiulani.-Early life:Kilcher was born in Schweigmatt,...
  
  , indigenous actress
• Carlos I. Noriega
  Carlos I. Noriega
  Carlos Ismael Noriega is a Peruvian born NASA employee, a former NASA astronaut and a retired U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant colonel.-Personal:...
  
  , astronaut
• Ginger Reyes
  Ginger Reyes
  Ginger A. Pooley , also known by her stage name as Ginger Sling, is an American rock musician of Peruvian heritage. She is best known as the former touring bassist and a backing vocalist for the Chicago alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins...
  
  , rock musician
• Alex Kuczynski
  Alex Kuczynski
  Alexandra Louise Kuczynski is a reporter for the New York Times, a columnist for the New York Times Magazine and the author of the award-winning 2006 book Beauty Junkies about the cosmetic surgery industry...
  
  , journalist
• Kenny Florian
  Kenny Florian
  Kenneth Alan Florian is a Peruvian-American mixed martial artist who competes as a featherweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He has a background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai, and is known for his cerebral approach to the sport based on his meticulous game plans and...
  
  , mixed martial artist
• Josh Keaton
  Josh Keaton
  Joshua "Josh" Keaton is an American actor, voice actor, singer and music producer.-Early life:Keaton was born Joshua Luis Wiener in Hacienda Heights, California. He has three sisters: Danielle, Alitzah , and Sabrina...
  
  , actor, singer and musical producer
• Yma Sumac
  Yma Súmac
  Yma Sumac was a noted Peruvian soprano. In the 1950s, she was one of the most famous proponents of exotica music. She became an international success based on her extreme vocal range, which was said to be "well over four octaves" and was sometimes claimed to span even five octaves at her peak.Yma...
  
  , indigenous soprano
• Immortal Technique
  Immortal Technique
  Felipe Andres Coronel , better known by the stage name Immortal Technique, is an American rapper of Afro-Peruvian descent as well as an urban activist. He was born in Lima, Peru and raised in Harlem, New York. Most of his lyrics focus on controversial issues in global politics...
  
  , rapper
• Thes One
  Thes One
  Thes One, born Christopher Cesar Portugal in Torrance, California, on October 18, 1977, to an American mother and immigrant Peruvian father, is one half of hip hop duo People Under the Stairs, serving as a vocalist/MC, producer, engineer and business manager...
  
  , rapper

Websites

• http://www.peruanosenusa.net
• http://www.peruvian-americans.tv
• http://www.peruvianamericans.com
• http://www.peruvianamerican.com
• http://www.curito.com