Peru, Illinois

Peru
City
Country United States
State Illinois
County LaSalle
Townships Peru, Dimmick
Elevation 597 ft (182 m)
Coordinates 41°20′4″N 89°7′39″W / 41.33444°N 89.12750°W / 41.33444; -89.12750Coordinates: 41°20′4″N 89°7′39″W / 41.33444°N 89.12750°W / 41.33444; -89.12750
Area 9.07 sq mi (23 km2)
 - land 8.96 sq mi (23 km2)
 - water 0.11 sq mi (0 km2)
Population 10,295 (2010)
Density 1,655.5/sq mi (639/km2)
Mayor Scott Harl
Timezone CST (UTC−6)
 - summer (DST) CDT (UTC−5)
Postal code 61354
Area code 815
Location of Peru within Illinois
Wikimedia Commons: Peru, Illinois
Website: City of Peru official website

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 Illinois Valley.

Geography

Peru is located at 41°20′4″N 89°7′39″W / 41.33444°N 89.12750°W / 41.33444; -89.12750 (41.334458, -89.127385).[1] According to the 2010 census, Peru has a total area of 9.068 square miles (23.49 km2), of which 8.96 square miles (23.21 km2) (or 98.81%) is land and 0.108 square miles (0.28 km2) (or 1.19%) is water.[2]

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 (8.0 km) south-east of the community. Peru has a twin city on its eastern edge, LaSalle.

Demographics

Aerial view of Peru, Illinois
Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18501,279—
18603,139145.4%
18703,65016.3%
18804,63226.9%
18905,55019.8%
19006,86323.7%
19107,98416.3%
19208,86911.1%
19309,1212.8%
19408,983−1.5%
19508,653−3.7%
196010,46020.9%
197011,77212.5%
198010,873−7.6%
19909,302−14.4%
20009,8205.6%
201010,2954.8%
Est. 20159,952[3]−3.3%
Decennial US Census

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 9,835 people, 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.

History

The Maud Powell monument that stands on 4th Street in Peru

The city's first settler was John Hays, who arrived in 1830. 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).

River City (1831–1933)

Since the first steamboat, "Traveler" reached Peru in 1831, Peru had high hopes of being the western terminus for the Illinois & Michigan Canal. That designation went to LaSalle, but Peru became a busy steamboat port at the head of navigation on the Illinois River. Captain McCormick was involved in the Five Day Line, making record fast trips between Peru and St. Louis. Senator Gilson reported to land surveyor, Grenville Dodge that the town would soon outstrip Chicago due to its favorable location along the river and railroads.

Water Street was a thin ribbon sandwiched between the bluff and the river and a large industrial district grew up to the east. It was along the river and the canal and was serviced by the Rock Island Railroad and Chicago Burlington and Quincy. These important transportation routes, along with coal mining in at least four mines lasting from at least 1857 until 1949,[5][6] prompted Peru's rise to and industrial center. Many entrepreneurs grew into prominent businessman and advanced the interests of Peru and the region. Prominent Companies from that time included Maze Lumber, Maze Nails, Peru Plow and Wheel Works, Huse and Loomis Ice Co, Brunner Foundry,[7]

Star Union Brewery, Hebel Brewery, Illinois Zinc (Peru and LaSalle were sometimes referred to as "Zinc City") and many others. Peru's citizens were bent on improving their town even constructing a plank road, northwest of town, a toll road meant to reach Dixon, Illinois. Peru's story became a story of two levels. The story of Water Street and the bottoms and the town growing above the bluff. Peru tried hard to link the two. For example, the Peru Horse and Dummy Railroad was driven to dissolution by the city's impossible mandate that it create a loop from Water Street to the upper bluff.

Clock City (1884–1980)

In 1884, Stahlberg started the United Clock Company in Peru. Shortly after it went bankrupt and was reorganized with the help of Frederick William Matthiessen as the Western Clock Company. By 1905 it had grown into a national company, producing over 1 million alarm clocks per year. In 1909, they trademarked "Westclox". In 1917 they became a model for workers' benefits, one of the early companies to pay life insurance and have a safety committee, later limiting the work week and building a company park with tennis court and horseshoe courts, school for watchmakers, and scholarships. The company also developed housing for its workers. In 1935 it was the safest company in the nation with 11 million hours without a lost time accident. Despite these advances, one company that they worked with, the Radium Dial Company, saw its employees get radiation poisoning from working with radium.

During World War II the company made mechanical fuses for the government and saw over 600 employees in the armed forces. At its height it manufacture nearly 2 million clocks and watches annually and employed over 4,000. It closed the Peru factory in 1980, causing a rapid decline in population in LaSalle and Peru.

Education

Both Peru and neighboring LaSalle share a High School, LaSalle-Peru Township High School, 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 Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru, Illinois

There are a number of business districts in Peru. The largest is at the intersection of I-80 and IL-251. Then there are three smaller districts along the US-6 Corridor, including Peru's downtown. The largest employers in Peru are the Peru Mall, the Illinois Vally Community Hospital, Walmart, James Hardie, Officemax, the American Nickeloid, Liberty Village, Double D Express, Heritage Manor Nursing Home, Eakas, Target, and Horizon Industries.[8]

Peru is the home of at least three very old companies. They are the national headquarters of American Nickeloid, started in 1898 and the W.H. Maze Co, dealing in lumber and nails, which started the year the Illinois and Michigan Canal opened in 1848. Maze nails is America's last nail maker. Peru is home to the offices of Carus Chemical Company, started in 1915, today the largest manufacturer of potassium permanganate in the world.

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  2. ↑ "G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  3. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  4. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. ↑ Archived June 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ Archived June 13, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ Details, genealogytrails.com; accessed October 31, 2015.
  8. ↑ Employers: Peru, IL, ivaced.org; accessed October 31, 2015.
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