race were 9.43% of the population. There were 4,482 households, out of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.64. In the city the population was spread out, with 19.5% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 21.1% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 26.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males. The median income for a household in the city was $52,635, and the median income for a family was $73,477. Males had a median income of $50,645 versus $24,706 for females. The per capita income for the city was $34,268. About 6.3% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.9% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over. Economy There are a number of business districts in Peru. The largest is at the intersection of I-80 and IL-251. Then there are three smaller districts along the US-6 Corridor, including Peru's downtown. The largest employers in Peru are the Peru Mall, the Illinois Valley Community Hospital, Walmart, James Hardie, Officemax, the American Nickeloid, Liberty Village, Double D Express, Heritage Manor Nursing Home, Eakas, Target, and Horizon Industries. Peru is the home of at least three very old companies. It is the national headquarters of American Nickeloid, started in 1898, and the W.H. Maze Co, dealing in lumber and nails, which started the year the Illinois and Michigan Canal opened in 1848. Maze Nails is one of America's last remaining nail makers. Peru is home to the offices of Carus Chemical Company, started in 1915, today one of the largest manufacturers of potassium permanganate in the world. In 2021, the DuPage Pistol Shrimp baseball team relocated from Lisle, Illinois to Peru, becoming the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp. The Pistol Shrimp, a member of the collegiate Prospect League, will play their first season in Peru during the