Editing Peru, Indiana

{{Short description|Town in Indiana}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Peru, Indiana
|native_name              = 
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = Circus Capital of the World
|motto                    = 
|image_skyline            = Peru-indiana-downtown.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Peru downtown
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = Peru, Indiana Seal.jpg
|image_map                = File:Miami County Indiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Peru Highlighted 1859328.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location in Miami County, Indiana
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Indiana]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Indiana|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Miami County, Indiana|Miami]]
|subdivision_type3        = [[List of townships in Indiana|Townships]]
|subdivision_name3        = [[Peru Township, Miami County, Indiana|Peru]], [[Washington Township, Miami County, Indiana|Washington]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Don Sturch ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
|leader_title1            = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager -->
|leader_name1             = 
|leader_title2            = 
|leader_name2             = 
|leader_title3            = 
|leader_name3             = 
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1834
|established_title2       = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
|established_date2        = 
|established_title3       = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
|established_date3        = 
|founder                  = William N. Hood
<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2022">{{cite web |title=2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Indiana |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2022_Gazetteer/2022_gaz_place_18.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=April 18, 2023}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 13.32
|area_land_km2            = 13.09
|area_water_km2           = 2.27
|area_total_sq_mi         = 5.14
|area_land_sq_mi          = 5.06
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.09
|area_water_percent       = 1.69
|area_urban_sq_mi         = 
|area_metro_sq_mi         = 
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=1600000US1859328&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=P1. Race – Peru city, Indiana: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=April 18, 2023}}</ref>
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_total         = 11073
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|pop_est_footnotes        = 
|population_density_km2   = 845.6
|population_density_sq_mi = 2190.1
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_metro_km2   = 
|population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
|population_urban               = 
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EDT]]
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|coordinates              = {{coord|40|45|28|N|86|04|18|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 650
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
|postal_code              = 46970-46971
|website                  = {{URL|www.cityofperu.org}}
|area_code                = [[Area code 765|765]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 18-59328<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2396188<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2396188}}</ref>
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Peru''' is a city in, and the [[county seat]] of, [[Miami County, Indiana|Miami County]], [[Indiana]], United States.<ref name=gnis/> It is {{Convert|73|mi}} north of [[Indianapolis]]. The population was 11,073 at the 2020 census,<ref name="Census 2020"/> making it the most populous community in Miami County.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Peru is located along the [[Wabash River]] and is part of the [[Kokomo, Indiana metropolitan area#Combined Statistical Area|Kokomo-Peru Combined Statistical Area]].

Residents of Peru usually pronounce the name of Peru like the name of the nation of [[Peru]] as it is commonly pronounced in [[American English]]. Elderly [[Hoosier]]s commonly use the archaic pronunciation of {{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|iː|r|u}} {{Respell|PEE|roo}}.{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}}

==History==
{{More citations needed section|date=April 2023}}
[[Image:Peru-indiana-courthouse.jpg|thumb|Miami County courthouse]]
[[Image:Peru-indiana-high-school.jpg|thumb|[[Peru High School]]]]
On August 18, 1827, Joseph Holman bought land near the confluence of the [[Mississinewa River|Mississinewa]] and [[Wabash River|Wabash]] rivers from [[Jean Baptiste Richardville|Jean Baptiste "Pechewa" (Wildcat) Drouet de Richardville]], the chief of the [[Miami people]]. The sale was approved on March 3, 1828, by President [[John Quincy Adams]]. On March 12, 1829, Holman had the land surveyed and laid out the town of Miamisport.<ref name=Bodurtha>{{cite book |last=Bodurtha |first=Arthur L. |title=History of Miami County, Indiana |date=1914 |publisher=Lewis Publishing Company |location=Chicago and New York |url=http://history.rays-place.com/in/miami-peru-1.htm}}</ref>

Peru was founded in 1834 by William N. Hood, who had bought {{convert|210|acre|ha|abbr=off}} of land from Miamisport's founder Joseph Holman five years earlier.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://enjoymiamicounty.org/history/ |title=History of Miami County (archived) |publisher=Miami County Tourism Office |access-date=August 22, 2015 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212103312/http://enjoymiamicounty.org/history/ |archive-date=February 12, 2015 }}</ref> By 1835, court was being held in Peru rather than Miamisport, and the name "Miamisport" quietly disappeared as Peru became the dominant community in the area.<ref name=Bodurtha /> [[Frances Slocum]] was reunited with members of her family near Peru in 1837, after nearly sixty years of living among [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]].

Early in the 20th century, Peru was home to a pioneering automobile maker, [[Model Automobile Company]];<ref>Clymer, Floyd. ''Treasury of Early American Automobiles, 1877–1925'' (New York: Bonanza Books, 1950), p.57.</ref> like many other early automobile manufacturers, Model did not survive.

In 1913, Peru suffered a [[Great Flood of 1913|massive flood]], the worst of its time. Between March 24 and March 27, {{convert|6|in}} of rain fell on Peru, and sent water from the [[Wabash River|Wabash]] and [[Mississinewa River|Mississinewa]] rivers rushing down its streets at speeds of {{convert|20|mph}}, destroying everything in its path. Before the flood of 1913, Peru was a busy town, full of activity and jobs, with 15,000 inhabitants, 100 factories, a trolley service, railroads, a new hospital (Duke's), a circus (which employed 1,000 people on the road), and a new concrete bridge (largest of its kind in the world at the time). The total loss for Peru was estimated at $3,000,000 (1913 figures). Many people died, as well as many of the circus animals.

[[Public enemy]] [[John Dillinger]] and his gang robbed the Peru police department armory on October 21, 1933. They acquired one [[Thompson submachine gun]], two [[Winchester rifle]]s, two shotguns, four .38 revolvers and a half-dozen bulletproof vests.

On June 23, 1972, Martin J. McNally hijacked [[American Airlines]] Flight 119 while in flight from [[St. Louis]] to [[Tulsa]]. After receiving a ransom of $502,500, he jumped out of the back of the [[Boeing 727]] in what was the ninth copycat hijacking in the style of [[D. B. Cooper]]. The entire ransom as well as a weapon were found near Peru. A fingerprint led to his arrest.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_1aac5de6-6eb4-5245-a126-7adf324d5eb2.html |title=A Look Back • Airline hijacking at Lambert in 1972 turns bizarre |first=Time |last=O'Neil |work=St. Louis Post Dispatch}}</ref> The money was found in a {{convert|45|lb|adj=on}} sealed canvas mail bag by local farmer Lowell Elliott while he was working in his soybean field. Another farmer, Ronald Miller, discovered a Spitfire [[submachine gun]] in his corn field when a blade hit it while applying liquid nitrogen fertilizer.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19720627&id=oQoQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2YoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2757,602320 |title=The Free Lance-Star - Google News Archive Search |website=news.google.com}}</ref>

The movie ''[[Little Big Top]]'', which starred [[Sid Haig]], was shot and directed in the town of Peru by Peru native Ward Roberts who also wrote the movie. Scenes show the famous drive up to the "Mr. Weenie" restaurant and the Circus building.

The [[Brownell Block/Senger Dry Goods Company Building]], [[James Omar Cole House]], [[Miami County Courthouse (Indiana)|Miami County Courthouse]], [[Peru High School Historic District]], and [[Shirk-Edwards House]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

===Circuses===
Peru was the winter headquarters for several famous circuses, including [[Hagenbeck–Wallace Circus|Hagenbeck–Wallace]], [[Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show]], and others.<ref>Adkins, Kreig A. ''Peru: Circus Capital of the World'' {{ISBN|9780738560717}}</ref> The [[International Circus Hall of Fame]] is located in Peru. Annually during the third week of July, the Peru Amateur Circus<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.peruamateurcircus.com |title=Peru Amateur Circus - The Circus Capital of the World! |website=www.peruamateurcircus.com}}</ref> holds performances for the whole week, ending with the Circus City Festival and Parade. All of the performers are amateurs, ranging in age from 7 to 21 years. Peru is also the home of the world's only remaining manufacturer of steam [[Calliope (music)|calliopes]].

[[Maria Rasputin|Mariya Rasputina]], daughter of [[Grigori Rasputin]], was mauled by a bear in Peru while working for the Hagenback-Wallace Circus, but survived.<ref>Barry, Rey (1968). "Kind Rasputin". ''The Daily Progress'' (Charlottesville, Virginia, USA). http://www.freewarehof.org/manahans.html. Retrieved February 18, 2007.</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Peru IN 2022h.jpg|thumb|Peru City Hall in 2022]]
Peru is located in north-central Indiana, in central Miami County, {{convert|14|mi}} west of [[Wabash, Indiana|Wabash]] and {{convert|16|mi}} east of [[Logansport, Indiana|Logansport]]. [[Indianapolis]], the state capital, is {{convert|73|mi}} to the south, and [[South Bend, Indiana|South Bend]] is {{convert|71|mi}} to the north.

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], Peru has a total area of {{convert|5.14|sqmi|2}}, of which {{convert|5.06|sqmi|2}} are land and {{convert|0.09|sqmi|2}}, or 1.69%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2022"/> The [[Wabash River]] flows east to west through the city, south of the downtown area. Across the river, within the city limits, is the neighborhood of [[South Peru, Indiana|South Peru]]. The [[Mississinewa River]] joins the Wabash {{convert|1|mi}} east (upstream) of the city limits.
 
Peru is the largest town or city in Miami County and is the site of the tribal headquarters of the [[Miami people|Miami Nation]].

Peru's water treatment plant tested negative for PFC in September 2015.<ref name=lin>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |title=Grissom officials: Well tests show no chemical pollution |url=http://wishtv.com/2015/09/17/grissom-officials-well-tests-show-no-chemical-pollution/ |access-date=September 19, 2015 |work=LIN Television Corporation |date=September 19, 2015}}</ref>

==Transportation==
===Highways===
The business route of [[U.S. Route 31]] runs north–south through Peru on North Broadway and West Main Street. The business route of [[U.S. Route 24]] runs east–west through the town on East and West Main Street. Current U.S. 24 follows a four-lane bypass {{convert|1.5|mi|1}} north of downtown, while current U.S. 31 is a four-lane highway  {{convert|3|mi|0}} west of downtown. The Peru city limits extend north as far as U.S. 24 and then west along that highway as far as its interchange with U.S. 31.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/tigerweb/| title=TIGERweb: Peru, Indiana| access-date=April 18, 2023| publisher=Geography Division, U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref>

[[Indiana State Road 19]] passes through the center of Peru on Chili Avenue, North Benton Street, East Main Street, and South Broadway. It leads north {{convert|8|mi|0}} to [[Chili, Indiana|Chili]] and southeast {{convert|14|mi}} to [[Amboy, Indiana|Amboy]]. [[Indiana State Road 124|State Road 124]] (East Riverside Drive) leads east from South Peru {{convert|27|mi}} to [[Mount Etna, Indiana|Mount Etna]].

===Rail===
[[File:Peru IN 2022f.jpg|thumb|Former rail station]]
Peru was a stop on [[Wabash Railroad]] trains between [[St. Louis]] and [[Detroit]]. The last train on that line was the ''[[Wabash Cannon Ball (train)|Wabash Cannon Ball]]'' in 1971.<ref>Wabash 1959 timetable, p. 4, 10 http://streamlinermemories.info/Eastern/Wabash59TT.pdf</ref><ref>Passenger trains operating on the eve of Amtrak http://ctr.trains.com/~/media/import/files/pdf/f/7/7/passenger_trains_operating_on_the_eve_of_amtrak.pdf</ref> The last [[Amtrak]] service was in 1986 when the Chicago–Cincinnati–New York City ''[[Cardinal (train)|Cardinal]]'' was rerouted out of the town.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/logansport-pharos-tribune/126187420/ |title=Peru Amtrak Stop Lost In Routing |newspaper=Logansport Pharos-Tribune |date=March 26, 1986 |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

In 2024 the only remaining railroad in Peru is the [[Norfolk Southern Railway]]. 

===Air===
[[Peru Municipal Airport]], operated by the city, is located approximately {{convert|5|mi|0}} to the northwest of downtown.<ref>{{cite web |title=Peru Municipal Airport |url=http://www.cityofperu.org/airport.html |website=City of Peru, Indiana |access-date=February 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808041202/http://www.cityofperu.org/airport.html |archive-date=August 8, 2014}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 1266
|1860= 2506
|1870= 3617
|1880= 5280
|1890= 7028
|1900= 8463
|1910= 10910
|1920= 12410
|1930= 12730
|1940= 12432
|1950= 13308
|1960= 14453
|1970= 14139
|1980= 13764
|1990= 12843
|2000= 12994
|2010= 11417
|2020= 11073
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the 2010 [[census]],<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web |title=U.S. Census website |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=December 11, 2012}}</ref> there were 11,417 people, 4,791 households, and 2,961 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2234.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 5,704 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1116.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.5% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.4% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.4% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.3% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.4% of the population.

There were 4,791 households, of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.2% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.96.

The median age in the city was 39 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.1% were from 25 to 44; 27% were from 45 to 64; and 15.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 12,994 people, 5,410 households, and 3,397 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,815.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 5,943 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,287.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 92.71% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.95% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.52% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.43% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], and 1.83% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.32% of the population.

There were 5,410 households, out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.1% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,668, and the median income for a family was $39,440. Males had a median income of $31,631 versus $20,440 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $17,497. About 9.5% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
[[File:Peru IN 2022b.jpg|thumb|Peru Public Library in 2022]]
The city has a lending library, the Peru Public Library.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.in.gov/library/files/countyindex13.pdf | title=Indiana public library directory | publisher=Indiana State Library | access-date=March 10, 2018}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Mary Newbury Adams]], suffragist and education advocate<ref>{{cite web | last =  Knight | first =  R. Cecilia | title = Adams, Mary Newbury (or Newberry) | publisher = University of Iowa | url = http://uipress.lib.uiowa.edu/bdi/DetailsPage.aspx?id=3 | access-date = January 15, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Richard Antrim]], Medal of Honor recipient
* [[Alfred Bergman]], former five-sport letterman at [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish|Notre Dame]]
* [[Dutch Bergman|Arthur Bergman]], football player and coach
* [[Arthur G. Elvin]], engineer, businessman, and the former mayor of 2 New York cities<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=1934-10-13 |title=A. G. ELVIN IS DEAD; INVENTED RAIL AIDS; Began Work at 16 in Indiana as Machinist in Railroad Shop -- Served Many Lines. LED IN PNEUMATIC DEVICES Formerly Headed Own Concern Here -- Had Been Mayor of Plandome, L. I. |language=en-US |page=13 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1934/10/13/archives/-6-elnilq-is-dead-invented-rail-aids-began-work-at-16-in-indiana-as.html |access-date=2022-08-23 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
* [[Frank Fetter]], economist
* [[Albert Fredrick Ottomar Germann]] (1886–1976) and [[Frank Erhart Emmanuel Germann]] (1887–1974), physical chemists<ref>{{Cite book |title=Parallel Lives: Two Hoosier Chemists from Peru |last=Fleck |first=George |publisher=The Impress Group |year=2016 |isbn=9781532326172 |location=Williamsburg, Massachusetts |pages=1–62}}</ref>
* [[Bob Gibbs]], Former Congressman from Ohio
* [[Emmett Kelly]], circus clown, [[Ringling Brothers Circus]], [[International Circus Hall of Fame]], actor
* [[Kyle Macy]], former basketball player and coach; raised in Peru
* [[Keith O'Conner Murphy]], singer and songwriter, member of the [[Rockabilly Hall of Fame]]<ref>''Peru Daily Tribune'', June 30, 2012, front page</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rockabillyhall.com/KeithOConnerMurphy.html |title=Keith O'Connor Murphy |publisher=Rockabillyhall.com |access-date=April 30, 2013}}</ref> 
* [[Ole Olsen (comedian)|Ole Olsen]], comedian and member of [[Olsen and Johnson]]
* [[B. J. Penn (U.S. Navy)|B. J. Penn]], briefly served as United States Secretary of the Navy in 2009
* [[Cole Porter]], songwriter; born in Peru<ref>{{cite news |access-date=September 21, 2011| title=Cole Porter Is Dead; Songwriter Was 72|newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |year=1964|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/98/11/29/specials/porter-obit.html?scp=1&sq=cole%20porter%20obit&st=cse}}</ref>
* [[Ralph Richeson]], actor <ref name=thr>{{cite news|first=Mike|last=Barnes|title='Deadwood' Actor Ralph Richeson Dies at 63 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ralph-richeson-dead-deadwood-actor-835086 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=October 28, 2015 |access-date=November 21, 2015}}</ref>
* [[Emil Schram]], president of the [[New York Stock Exchange]]
* [[Amy Shuman]], played women's professional baseball
* [[G. David Thompson]] (1899–1965), investment banker, industrialist, and modern art collector<ref name=MetMuseum>{{cite web |title=Thompson, G. David |url=http://www.metmuseum.org/research/leonard-lauder-research-center/programs-and-resources/index-of-cubist-art-collectors/thompson |website=MetMuseum |access-date=September 25, 2015}}</ref>
* [[Robert Edward Weaver]], artist, professor emeritus Herron School of Art, Indianapolis
* [[Nancy Wilson-Pajic]], artist, named Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture
* [[John Ross Woodring]], newspaper editor
* [[Carol Lou Woodward]], pianist

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|www.cityofperu.org}}

{{Miami County, Indiana}}
{{County Seats of Indiana}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Indiana]]
[[Category:Cities in Miami County, Indiana]]
[[Category:Micropolitan areas of Indiana]]
[[Category:County seats in Indiana]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1834]]
[[Category:1834 establishments in Indiana]]