Иллинойс штатындағы Перу қаласының тарихы мен географиясы

Peru is a city in LaSalle and Bureau counties, Illinois, United States. The population was 9,896 at the 2020 census, down from 10,295 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Ottawa, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area. Peru and its twin city, LaSalle, make up the core of Illinois Valley.

The city's first settler was John Hays, who arrived in 1830. The city was organized as a borough in 1838, incorporated as a village February 25, 1845, and incorporated as a city on March 13, 1851. The original plat was between West Street, 4th Street, and East Street (now Pine Street).

Since the first steamboat Traveler reached Peru in 1831, the city had high hopes of being the western terminus for the Illinois & Michigan Canal. LaSalle won that designation, 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, Missouri. 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 pressed between the bluff and the river, leading to the growth eastward of a large industrial district. Developed along the river and the canal, it was served 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 1857 until 1949, were the basis for Peru's rise to an industrial center. Many entrepreneurs grew into prominent businessmen 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, Star Union Brewery, Hebel Brewery, Illinois Zinc (Peru and LaSalle were sometimes referred to as "Zinc City") and many others. Peru's citizens were intent on improving their town, so far as constructing a plank road, northwest of town, a toll road meant to reach Dixon, Illinois. The building caught fire on July 14, 2023.

As of 2021, Peru has a total area of 10.12 square miles (26 km2), of which 9.986 square miles (26 km2) (or 98.68%) is land and 0.134 square miles (0 km2) (or 1.32%) is water. Located on the Illinois River, Peru lies 3 mile (5 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 mile (8 km) south east of the community. Peru has a twin city on its eastern edge, LaSalle.

As of the 2020 census there were 9,896 people, 4,482 households, and 2,760 families residing in the city. The population density was There were 4,825 housing units at an average density of The racial makeup of the city was 86.86% White, 1.31% African American, 0.21% Native American, 1.75% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.68% from other races, and 7.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.43% of the population. There were 4,482 households, out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.81% were married couples living together, 10.95% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.42% were non families. 34.65% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 2.12. The city's age distribution consisted of 19.5% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 21.1% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 26.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males. The median income for a household in the city was $52,635, and the median income for a family was $73,477. Males had a median income of $50,645 versus $24,706 for females. The per capita income for the city was $34,268. About 6.3% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.9% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.

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 Valley Community Hospital, Walmart, James Hardie, Officemax, the American Nickeloid, Liberty Village, Double D Express, Heritage Manor Nursing Home, Eakas, Target, and Horizon Industries. Peru is the home of at least three very old companies. It is 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 one of America's last remaining nail makers. Peru is home to the offices of Carus Chemical Company, started in 1915, today one of the largest manufacturers of potassium permanganate in the world. In 2021, the DuPage Pistol Shrimp baseball team relocated from Lisle, Illinois to Peru, becoming the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp. The Pistol Shrimp are a member of the collegiate Prospect League.

The city operates Illinois Valley Regional Airport.