The great forests and rich soil drew the first Europeans to northeast Indiana, in what is today known as Miami County. Here resided the most powerful Indian tribe east of the Mississippi, the Miami. In 1829, Joseph Holman had established a site known as Miamisport, which became the first County Seat. In 1835, the Indiana Legislature approved Peru's city incorporation status.

The first settlers pitched their homes around Gabriel Godfroy's trading post and put in saw mills, carriage factories, wool mills and taverns. The taverns not only provided food and drink for travelers, but a place for them to stay and a place for locals to entertain friends. Beds were often filled with prairie hay and food meant fish, turkeys, squirrels, pheasants and other animals. The Catholic church was established in 1835 and the First Presbyterian and Methodist churches had buildings by 1837. Samuel Pike published the first county newspaper in 1837 - the Peru Forester. The first steamboat arrived in 1835 and the first canal boat arrived in 1837. We had a courthouse and jail by 1843. Peru's first post office was established in a log cabin called McGregor's. Jacob Linzee was the first sheriff and John Crudison, John Miller and Alexander Jameson were the first county commissioners. The first fire engine was purchased in 1860 and an ordinance establishing a paid fire department was passed in 1872. The Baptist Church was organized in 1866. Peru's water works was established in 1871 and the gas works in 1874.

Shortly after the Civil War, the Pan Handle Railroad crisscrossed the area and in 1881, Peru had its first telephone in operation. In 1885, the first electric lights appeared in Peru. Seven of the world's major circuses chose Peru for their winter headquarters so it's no wonder that Peru was the first city in Indiana to hold a street fair in 1894. In 1897, oil was struck in Peru. In 1902, Peru built its first public library and purchased about 20 acres for it's first City Park. Captain Aaron Dukes began digging the foundation of Dukes Memorial Hospital in 1909 and in 1913 Peru had its worst ever flood.

In 1933, John Dillinger robbed the Peru police station. The first Peru Little League tryouts and games were held in 1955 and the first Peru Amateur Circus was organized in 1959. In 1963, two of Peru's most famous members passed away - Ole Olsen and Cole Porter.