Peruvian American

Peruvian American, is an immigrant or descendant of immigrants from Peru that arrived in the United States. Among Peruvian Americans there are those of White (mostly Spanish), mestizo, Amerindian, and Afro-Peruvian descent, as well as others, including Italian, French, and German or a mix of any of these. A significant number are of pure or mixed Chinese or/and Japanese heritage.

Peruvians emigrate mainly because of political turmoil and economic hardships. Peruvian Americans are a relatively recent ethnic group as most of them moved to the United States after 1990. Peruvians have settled throughout the United States, migrating particularly to Northern New Jersey and the New York City Metropolitan Area, the Miami metropolitan area, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area, and the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Notably, a rapidly growing number of Peruvian Americans have established an increasingly prominent community in Paterson, New Jersey, partially owing to the presence of the Peruvian Consulate. Market Street in downtown Paterson is lined with Peruvian-owned restaurants, bakeries, delicatessens, bodegas, travel agencies, and other businesses. According to the U.S. Census Bureau it is estimated that 435,368 U.S. residents identify themselves as being of Peruvian origin.

The top 25 US communities with the highest percentage of people claiming Peruvian ancestry are:

East Newark, New Jersey 10.1%

Harrison, New Jersey 7.01%

Paterson, New Jersey 4.72%

Kearny, New Jersey 3.82%

The Hammocks, Florida 3.36%

Port Chester, New York 3.30%

Virginia Gardens, Florida 3.24%

Prospect Park, New Jersey 3.22

Bay Harbor Islands, Florida 3.11%

Doral, Florida 2.95%

Haledon, New Jersey 2.71%

Garfield, New Jersey 2.55%

Union City, New Jersey 2.53%

Both Key Biscayne, Florida and Glen Cove, New York 2.48%

Passaic, New Jersey 2.42%

White Plains, New York 2.39%

Elizabeth, New Jersey 2.35%

Rye, New York 2.33%

Ojus, Florida 2.29%

Clifton, New Jersey 2.27%

Elmsford, New York 2.25%

Perth Amboy, New Jersey 2.20%

North Bay Village, Florida 2.17%

Kendale Lakes, Florida 2.03%

Kendall, Florida and the borough of Carteret, New Jersey 2.01%