Peru, New York
Population: 6,370
Located in Clinton County
Nestled between the Adirondack Mountains and Lake Champlain, the Town of Peru was formed from Plattsburgh and Willsborough on Dec. 28, 1792. A part of it was annexed back to Willsborough in 1799 and the towns of Au Sable and Black Brook were taken off in 1839. The area of the town is approximately seventy-nine square miles. Some of the early settlers thought that the mountains surrounding the town resembled those of Peru, South America. Hence, the origin of the town's name. Harvesting abundant timber became Peru's first industry and resulted in several saw-mills being built along the river. A. Mason & Sons lumber mill, located in the heart of the village, flourished for nearly a century, from 1883 to 1972. The mill was the town's largest employer for most of those years. Now, the empty stone Heyworth/Mason building is the only surviving remnant of that once busy mill site. As the lands were cleared of timber the area's rich, fertile soil gave rise to agriculture which persists to this day in the form of dairy farms and several apple orchards. Peru has an exceptionally rich past in the form of military history. Its Lake Champlain shores saw much activity during the French and Indian War period. The lake was the main north-south corridor for war parties of Native Americans and French and British armies. One doesn't have to go far to enjoy a network of hiking and cross-country skiing trails throughout the 80 acres of hills, fields and forested land. Stonewalls lace the wooded areas reminding us of the legacy left behind from the Quaker farmers. There are mountain views almost anywhere you look in Peru, and it is fairly common to see many flower, raspberry, grape, and herb gardens in many of the homes. There is swimming and picnicking at Ausable Point State Park, swimming and hiking at Point au Roche State Park, excellent white and flat-water paddling and superb trout fishing on the famous Ausable River. One could also visit High Falls Gorge and other waterfalls all within a 45-minute drive of Peru. Many people buy homes here and rent them out as vacation properties, yet others choose to buy a piece of land and build their home. Log cabins in all shapes and sizes are fairly common in the region, as they are cost-effective and easy to maintain. With so much to do here, and with such a great ambience, is it any wonder that Peru has grown and developed into the fine community it is today? For the best of New York State, you cannot go wrong with Peru.
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