Peru, Vermont

Peru is a town in Bennington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 375 at the 2010 census.[3] Originally known as Bromley, the town name was changed to "Peru" by the land grantees as a way of attracting land buyers to an area that had been described as 36 square miles (93 km2) of "trees, bears and mountain lions".

Peru, Vermont
Town
Peru, Vermont
Peru, Vermont
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 43°14′38″N 72°53′54″W
CountryUnited States
StateVermont
CountyBennington
Area
 • Total37.3 sq mi (96.7 km2)
 • Land37.2 sq mi (96.4 km2)
 • Water0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)
Elevation
1,647 ft (502 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total375
 • Density10/sq mi (3.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
05152
Area code802
FIPS code50-55000[1]
GNIS feature ID1462172[2]
Websitehttp://www.peruvt.org/

History

The town was chartered with the name Bromley in 1761 by Benning Wentworth, governor of the Province of New Hampshire. The first white settlement is said to have been in 1773, by William Barlow of Woodstock, Connecticut.[4] The town of Bromley was organized at a town meeting in March 1802.[4][5] As of the autumn of 1802 there were 14 families living in the town.[4] In late 1803 or early 1804 the name of the town was changed to Peru. The new name was adopted to attract more people to the town by associating it with the South American province of Peru, which was considered to be a place of great wealth,[4] apparently due to the rich silver mining industry there.

Geography

Peru is located in northeastern Bennington County, bordered by Rutland County to the north. The crest of the Green Mountains runs from north to the south through the western half of the town, traversed by the Long Trail/Appalachian Trail. 3,300-foot-high (1,000 m) Bromley Mountain and its ski area are in the southern part of the town, and 3,392-foot (1,034 m) Styles Peak and 3,428-foot (1,045 m) Peru Peak are to the north. The village or town center of Peru is in the southeastern part of town, at elevation 1,706 feet (520 m).[6] Vermont Route 11 crosses the southeastern part of the town, through the town center and past Bromley Mountain Ski Area.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 37.3 square miles (96.7 km2), of which 37.2 square miles (96.4 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km2), or 0.32%, is water.[3]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
179071—
180013083.1%
181023983.8%
182031431.4%
183045544.9%
184057827.0%
1850567−1.9%
1860543−4.2%
1870500−7.9%
188055611.2%
1890445−20.0%
1900373−16.2%
1910242−35.1%
1920216−10.7%
1930156−27.8%
1940142−9.0%
195019738.7%
1960194−1.5%
197024325.3%
198031228.4%
19903243.8%
200041628.4%
2010375−9.9%
Est. 2014365[7]−2.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 416 people, 157 households, and 118 families residing in the town. The population density was 11.1 people per square mile (4.3/km2). There were 445 housing units at an average density of 11.9 per square mile (4.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.84% White, 0.24% Asian, and 1.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.72% of the population.

There were 157 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.2% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the town, the age distribution of the population shows 25.7% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $47,188, and the median income for a family was $54,063. Males had a median income of $31,000 versus $25,208 for females. The per capita income for the town was $28,546. None of the families and 0.7% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.

The town appeared as "Hadleyville" in the 1987 film Baby Boom starring Diane Keaton.

Climate

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Peru has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.[9]

References
  1. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Peru town, Bennington County, Vermont". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  4. Haynes, Nancy (1867). Abby Maria Hemenway (ed.). "Peru". The Vermont Historical Gazetteer, A Magazine Embracing a History of Each Town. Burlington, Vermont. 1: 206–212.
  5. Batchelder, Ira K. (1891). Reunion Celebration Together with an Historical Sketch, Peru, Bennington County, Vermont. Its Inhabitants from the First Settlement of the Town. Brattleboro, Vermont: Phoenix Job Print, E. L. Hildreth & Co. p. 84-85.
  6. "Peru Town Center". topoquest.com. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  7. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Archived from the original on May 23, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  9. "Peru, Vermont Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase.

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