the United States national average of 12.3% that same year. Activism The Peruvian American Coalition in Passaic, New Jersey functions as an activist organization on behalf of the overall welfare of Peruvian Americans. Demographics 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 Metropolitan Area, and the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Notably, a rapidly growing number of Peruvian Americans, about 10,000 in 2018, have established an increasingly prominent community in Paterson, New Jersey, which is considered by many to be the capital of the Peruvian Diaspora in the United States, partially owing to the presence of the Peruvian Consulate. Market Street, the Little Lima in downtown Paterson, is the largest Peruvian American enclave and is lined with Peruvian-owned restaurants, bakeries, delicatessens, bodegas, travel agencies, and other businesses. The Peruvian American community has expanded into Paterson's neighboring areas of Fair Lawn, Elmwood Park, Clifton, and Passaic in Northern New Jersey as well, all within the New York City Metropolitan Area. The annual Peruvian Independence Day Parade is held in Paterson. States with highest Peruvian population The 10 states with the largest Peruvian population were (Source: Census 2017): Florida – 100,965 (0.5% of state population) California – 91,511 (0.2% of state population) New Jersey – 75,869 (0.9% of state population) New York – 66,318 (0.3% of state population) Virginia – 29,096 (0.4% of state population) Texas – 22,605 (0.1% of state population) Maryland – 18,229 (0.3% of state population) Connecticut – 16,424 (0.5% of state population) Georgia – 10,570 (0.1% of state population) Illinois – 10,213 (0.2% of state population) The U.S. state with the smallest Peruvian population (as of 2010) was North Dakota with 78 Peruvians (less than 0.1% of state population). Metro Areas The top 5 US metropolitan areas with the largest Peruvian population were: New Jersey-New York Greater Area – 182,672 Miami Metropolitan Area – 81,729 Washington, D.C. – 53,961 Los Angeles metropolitan area – 48,380 San Francisco Bay Area – 26,969 Notable people Artists Alex Acuña – drummer and percussionist Miguel Harth-Bedoya – conductor Roberto Eyzaguirre – classical pianist and famed piano pedagogue Gabriela Lena Frank – American pianist and composer of contemporary classical music Josh Keaton – actor, singer and musical producer Isabela Moner – actress, voice actress, singer, songwriter, dancer and ukulele player Adele Morales – American painter and