Peru is a town in Bennington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 375 at the 2010 census. 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 of "trees, bears and mountain lions".
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. Bromley Mountain and its ski area are in the southern part of the town, and Styles Peak and Peru Peak are to the north. Vermont Route 11 crosses the southeastern part of the town, past Bromley Mountain Ski Area. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of, of which is land and, or 0.32%, is water.
Demographics
As of the census 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. There were 445 housing units at an average density of 11.9 per square mile. 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 couplesliving 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.
In popular culture
The town appeared as "Hadleyville" in the 1987 film Baby Boom starring Diane Keaton.
