Editing Peru, Massachusetts

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Peru, Massachusetts
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 
|image_skyline            = Peru - 143 E.JPG
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Entering Peru
|image_seal               = Seal of Peru, Massachusetts.png
|image_flag               = 
|image_map                = Berkshire County Massachusetts incorporated and unincorporated areas Peru highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 
|map_caption              = Location in [[Berkshire County, Massachusetts|Berkshire County]] and the state of [[Massachusetts]].
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Massachusetts]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Massachusetts|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Berkshire County, Massachusetts|Berkshire]]
|established_title        = Settled
|established_date         = 1767
|established_title2       = Incorporated
|established_date2        = 1771
|established_title3       = 
|established_date3        = 
|government_type          = [[Open town meeting]]
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = <!--Board of <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Selectmen-->
|leader_name1             = 
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 67.4
|area_total_sq_mi         = 
|area_land_km2            = 67.1
|area_land_sq_mi          = 
|area_water_km2           = 0.3
|area_water_sq_mi         = 
|population_as_of         = 2020
|settlement_type          = [[New England town|Town]]
|population_total         = 814
|population_density_km2   = auto
|population_density_sq_mi = 
|elevation_m              = 629
|elevation_ft             = 2064
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|coordinates              = {{coord|42|26|17|N|73|02|47|W|region:US-MA|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = ZIP code
|postal_code              = 01235
|area_code                = [[Area code 413|413]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 25-53050
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0619423
|footnotes                = 
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.townofperuma.com/}}
}}
'''Peru''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Berkshire County, Massachusetts|Berkshire County]], [[Massachusetts]], United States. The population was 814 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US2500353050| title=Census - Geography Profile: Peru town, Berkshire County, Massachusetts| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=November 14, 2021}}</ref>

== History ==
Originally known as Northern Berkshire Township Number 2 and including all of [[Hinsdale, Massachusetts|Hinsdale]] and part of [[Middlefield, Massachusetts|Middlefield]], the town was first settled in 1767 and was officially incorporated as '''Partridgefield''' in 1771. Originally named for Oliver Partridge, one of the three purchasers of the town (along with Governor [[Sir Francis Bernard, 1st Baronet|Francis Bernard]]), the name was officially changed to '''Peru''' in 1806, on the suggestion of the [[John Leland (Baptist)|Rev. John Leland]], "because it is like the [[Peru]] of South America, a mountain town, and if no gold or silver mines are under her rocks, she favors hard money and begins with a P."

{{expand section|date=October 2024}}

On August 15, 1942, Garnet Peak (also known as Garnet Hill) in Peru was the site of a crash of a [[C-53]] "Skytrooper" troop transport plane, resulting in the deaths of 16 of the 19 men on board.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-army-announces-names-of/157662196/ |title=Army Announces Names of Peru Crash Victims |agency=[[United Press International|UP]] |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] |page=6 |date=August 19, 1942 |accessdate=October 23, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The plane was one of 11 transports en route from [[Pope Field]], [[North Carolina]], to [[Hyannis, Massachusetts]], and had made stops at [[Mitchel Field]] on [[Long Island]] and [[Warwick, Rhode Island]].<ref name=neah/> The plane crashed at approximately 9:30{{nbsp}}p.m. in low-visibility conditions.<ref name=neah>{{cite web |url=https://newenglandaviationhistory.com/tag/garnet-peak-plane-crash/ |title=Peru, Massachusetts – August 15, 1942 |website=newenglandaviationhistory.com |accessdate=October 23, 2024}}</ref> A monument listing the names of those killed was installed near the site in 1946 and is still extant.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.townofperuma.com/about-us/slideshows/garnett-mountain-peak |title=Garnett Mountain Peak |website=townofperuma.com |accessdate=October 23, 2024}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|67.4|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|67.1|km2|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.3|km2|disp=flip}}, or 0.41%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US2500353050| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212155115/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US2500353050| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Peru town, Berkshire County, Massachusetts| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=December 16, 2013}}</ref> Peru lies on the eastern border of Berkshire County, and is bordered by [[Windsor, Massachusetts|Windsor]] to the north, [[Cummington, Massachusetts|Cummington]] to the northeast, [[Worthington, Massachusetts|Worthington]] to the east, [[Middlefield, Massachusetts|Middlefield]] to the south, [[Washington, Massachusetts|Washington]] to the southwest, and [[Hinsdale, Massachusetts|Hinsdale]] to the west. Peru is {{convert|13|mi}} east of [[Pittsfield, Massachusetts|Pittsfield]], {{convert|40|mi}} northwest of [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]] and {{convert|118|mi}} west of [[Boston]].

Peru has the highest mean altitude in Massachusetts and, along with neighboring [[Windsor, Massachusetts|Windsor]], is one of only two municipalities in the state with a mean elevation above 2,000 feet.<ref>[[Windsor, Massachusetts]]</ref> It lies on high ground in the [[Berkshire Hills]], with three main peaks in the town. Much of Peru is forested, with a large portion of the northern third of town covered by a wildlife management area, and much of the southern third covered by the Peru and Middlefield State Forests. To the west of town, Ashmere Lake flows out into Bennett Brook, eventually reaching the East Branch of the [[Housatonic River]]. To the east, many brooks, including Trout Brook, flow south and east towards the [[Westfield River]], part of the [[Connecticut River]] watershed (Trout Brook is actually one of the main sources of the river).

Peru is bisected by [[Massachusetts Route 143]], passing from east to west. No other state roads pass through the town. The nearest interstate, [[Interstate 90]] (the [[Massachusetts Turnpike]]), can be accessed approximately {{convert|20|mi}} away in [[Lee, Massachusetts|Lee]]. The nearest bus stop is in the center of Hinsdale. The nearest coach and rail services can be found in Pittsfield, as can the closest regional airport (at [[Pittsfield Municipal Airport (Massachusetts)|Pittsfield Municipal Airport]]). The nearest national service is located at [[Bradley International Airport]] in [[Windsor Locks, Connecticut]].

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations | type=USA
 | 1850|519
 | 1860|499
 | 1870|455
 | 1880|403
 | 1890|305
 | 1900|253
 | 1910|237
 | 1920|149
 | 1930|108
 | 1940|142
 | 1950|143
 | 1960|197
 | 1970|256
 | 1980|633
 | 1990|779
 | 2000|821
 | 2010|847
 | 2020|814
 | 2022*|803
 | footnote=* = population estimate.  {{Historical populations/Massachusetts municipalities references}}<ref>{{cite web | title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020−2022| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date=November 24, 2023 | url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[census]]<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> of 2000, there were 821 people, 295 households, and 228 families residing in the town.  The town is the ninth-smallest of the 32 cities and towns in the county, and ranks 331st out of the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts by population.

The [[population density]] is listed at 31.7 people per square mile (12.2/km<sup>2</sup>), ranking it 22nd in the county and 328th in the Commonwealth.  There were 378 housing units at an average density of {{convert|14.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the town was 97.93% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.24% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.12% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.49% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.12% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.10% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.12% of the population.

There were 295 households, out of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 16.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.8% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 7.8% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.3 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $44,531, and the median income for a family was $51,071. Males had a median income of $35,469 versus $30,625 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $18,636.  About 4.1% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
Peru employs the [[open town meeting]] form of government, and is led by a [[board of selectmen]]. The town has its own services, including police and fire departments, but does not have its own post office (it shares its post office and [[ZIP code]], 01235, with Hinsdale). The town's public library is connected to the regional library system.

On the state level, Peru is represented in the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]] as part of the Second Berkshire district, represented by Paul Mark, which covers central Berkshire County, as well as portions of Hampshire and Franklin Counties. In the [[Massachusetts Senate]], the town is part of the Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin district, represented by [[Adam G. Hinds|Adam Hinds]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/AGH0|title=Senator Adam G. Hinds|website=malegislature.gov|access-date=June 17, 2018}}</ref> which includes all of Berkshire County and western Hampshire and Franklin counties.<ref>[http://www.mass.gov/legis/citytown.htm Senators and Representatives by City and Town]</ref> The town is patrolled by B4 (Cheshire) Barracks of Troop B of the [[Massachusetts State Police]].<ref>[http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopsterminal&L=5&L0=Home&L1=Law+Enforcement+%26+Criminal+Justice&L2=Law+Enforcement&L3=State+Police+Troops&L4=Troop+B&sid=Eeops&b=terminalcontent&f=msp_divisions_field_services_troops_troop_b_msp_field_troop_b_station_b4&csid=Eeops Station B-4, SP Cheshire]</ref>

On the national level, Peru is represented in the [[United States House of Representatives]] as part of [[Massachusetts's 1st congressional district]], and has been represented by [[Richard Neal]] of [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]] since 2013. Massachusetts is currently represented in the [[United States Senate]] by senior Senator [[Elizabeth Warren]] and junior senator [[Ed Markey]].
<gallery>
Bonny Lane - Peru.jpg|Bonny Lane in Peru
Public Library, Peru MA.jpg|Peru Public Library
</gallery>

==Education==
Peru is one of the seven towns in the [[Central Berkshire Regional School District]], the largest district (by land area) in the Commonwealth. All students in the district travel to [[Dalton, Massachusetts|Dalton]] to attend Nessacus Regional Middle School for sixth through eighth grades and [[Wahconah Regional High School]] for the high grades. There are no private schools in Peru, with the nearest being in the Pittsfield area.

The nearest community college is [[Berkshire Community College]] in Pittsfield.  The nearest state college is [[Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts]] in North Adams, and the nearest state university is the [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]].

==Notable people==
* [[Whipping of Amos Dresser|Amos Dresser]] (1812–1904), Protestant minister
* [[Seraph Frissell]], M.D., (1840–1915), physician, medical writer

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Peru, Massachusetts}}
*[https://www.townofperuma.com/ Town of Peru], official website
*[http://www.peruma.com Peru business guide]
*[https://archive.today/20130202105035/http://perulibrary.selfip.com/ Peru Public Library]
*[http://www.berkshireeagle.com/peru/ci_5992951 ''Berkshire Eagle'': Peru]

{{Berkshire County, Massachusetts}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Berkshire County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Towns in Massachusetts]]