Map of Peru city, Nebraska

Peru is a city in Nemaha County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 648 at the 2020 census. Peru State College is located in Peru.

Peru city overview:
Name:	Peru city
LSAD Code:	25
LSAD Description:	city (suffix)
State:	Nebraska
County:	Nemaha County
Elevation:	1,027 ft (313 m)
Total Area:	0.53 sq mi (1.36 km²)
Land Area:	0.53 sq mi (1.36 km²)
Water Area:	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km²)
Total Population:	648
Population Density:	1,231.94/sq mi (475.78/km²)
ZIP code:	68421
Area code:	402
FIPS code:	3138960
GNISfeature ID:	2396191

Online Interactive Map

Click on to view map in "full screen" mode.

Peru online map. Source: Basemap layers from Google Map, Open Street Map (OSM), Arcgisonline, Wmflabs. Boundary Data from Database of Global Administrative Areas.

Peru location map. Where is Peru city?

Peru location on the U.S. Map. Where is Peru city. — Peru location on the U.S. Map.

Peru location on the Nebraska map. Where is Peru city. — Location of Peru in Nebraska.

History

The first attempt to settle the community took place in 1853, by some residents of Peru, Illinois. However, troops from Fort Kearny forced them to leave because Nebraska Territory belonged to the Otoe tribe. The settlers then temporarily settled across the Missouri River at Sonora. In 1857, a community formed around a trading post called Mount Vernon on the bluffs above the river on the Nebraska side.

In 1857, settlers founded Peru down the hill from Mount Vernon directly on the Missouri River. In 1861, a Methodist school called Mount Vernon Academy opened. In 1867, the school (which became Peru State College) became the state’s first normal school.

Floods in the 1860s changed the course of the river, pushing it nearly a mile from Peru. An 1867 flood caused the Nebraska community of McKissick Island, northeast of Peru, to be surrounded by Missouri land and precipitated a border dispute that would not be resolved until 1999.

Peru Road Map

Peru city Satellite Map

Geography

Peru is located at 40°28′48″N 95°43′53″W / 40.480055°N 95.731286°W / 40.480055; -95.731286 (40.480055, -95.731286). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.53 square miles (1.37 km), all land.