Peru, New York

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Peru, New York
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
motto =

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pushpin_map_caption =Location within the state of New York
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New York
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Clinton
government_footnotes =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 239.3
area_land_km2 = 205.5
area_water_km2 = 33.8
area_total_sq_mi = 92.4
area_land_sq_mi = 79.4
area_water_sq_mi = 13.1

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 6370
population_density_km2 = 31.0
population_density_sq_mi = 80.3

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 133
elevation_ft = 436
latd = 44 |latm = 35 |lats = 9 |latNS = N
longd = 73 |longm = 31 |longs = 13 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 12972
area_code = 518
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 36-57375
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0979358
website =
footnotes =

Peru is a town in Clinton County in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 6,370 at the 2000 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.

History

The town was first settled in 1772. The Battle of 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 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 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 Adgate (1767 - 1832), United States Congressman from New York, held several local government positions here. cite book | title = Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896 | publisher = Marquis Who's Who | location=Chicago | date = 1963]

In the year 2001 the Peru football team went undefeated and won the New York state championship game

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 92.4 square miles (239.3 km²), of which, 79.3 square miles (205.5 km²) of it is land and 13.1 square miles (33.8 km²) of it (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 US 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.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 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/sq mi (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.

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 Park -- A state park at the west town line.
*Peasleeville -- A location west of the town.
*Peru -- The hamlet of Peru is at the junctions of NY Route 22 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 Island -- The south end of this island in Lake Champlain is part of the town.

References

External links

* [http://clintoncountyhistorical.org/peru.html Town of Peru history]
* [http://www.perucsd.org Peru Central School District]