Peoria is a city located in Central Illinois along the Illinois River. With a population of 112,883 as of the 2020 census, it is the largest city along Interstate 74 in the state and the 47th most populous city in the United States. Peoria is the county seat of Peoria County and anchors a metropolitan area that includes Woodford, Tazewell, Fulton and Mason counties.
History
Peoria was originally inhabited by Native American tribes including the Peoria tribe, which the city is named after. The first European settlers arrived in 1680 and established Fort Crevecoeur. The current city of Peoria was incorporated in 1845. Early economic drivers in the city included whiskey production and steamboat transport on the Illinois River. Major manufacturing companies like Caterpillar and Keystone Steel & Wire helped the city grow into an industrial hub in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
For more on the history of Peoria, visit the Peoria, Illinois Wikipedia page.
Population and Demographics
According to data from the 2020 US Census, Peoria has a population of 112,883 residents, making it the 47th largest city in the United States. The racial makeup of the city is 62.7% white, 24.9% black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 3.6% Asian, and 5.7% two or more races. Additionally, 6.9% of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino.
The median age in Peoria is 33.8 years old. 22.4% of the population is under 18 years old, while 13.7% is over 65 years old. There are approximately 46,700 households in the city, with an average household size of 2.33 people.
Economy and Major Employers
Some of the major industries in Peoria include healthcare, education, manufacturing, retail, and tourism. The largest employers in the city are OSF Healthcare, UnityPoint Health, Caterpillar Inc., Bradley University, Komatsu, the Peoria Public School District, Advanced Technology Services, Walmart, and Illinois Central College.
For more details on companies headquartered in Peoria and the local economy, visit the Peoria Area Economic Development Council website.
Attractions and Tourism
Popular tourist attractions in Peoria include:
- Riverfront Museum – An art, history, and science museum along the Illinois River.
- Peoria Zoo – A zoo home to over 200 animals.
- Spirit of Peoria Riverboat – Offers cruises on the Illinois River.
- Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum – An interactive children’s museum.
- Caterpillar Visitors Center – Displays and tours related to heavy machinery company Caterpillar Inc.
- Bradley University – A private university with over 5,000 students.
- Peoria Civic Center – Hosts concerts, conferences, and sporting events.
- Shoppes at Grand Prairie – Largest shopping mall in the Peoria area.
The Peoria Park District maintains over 80 parks, pools, golf courses and other recreational facilities within the city. Popular annual events include the Steamboat Classic run, Oktoberfest, Santa Claus Parade, and St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
For more on things to do, places to stay and local events, visit the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau website.
Sports
Peoria is home to one professional sports team, the Peoria Chiefs. The Chiefs are a Class A minor league baseball team affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals. The team plays at Dozer Park in downtown Peoria.
Bradley University also fields several Division I athletics teams that compete in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Bradley Braves men’s basketball team has a storied history, winning two national championships in the 1950s.
For schedules, tickets and more information on Peoria Chiefs baseball, visit the team’s official website.
Government
The city government of Peoria consists of the mayor and ten city council members. The current mayor of Peoria is Rita Ali. The Peoria City Hall is located in downtown Peoria and houses most government offices.
For more on city services, departments, projects and local laws and regulations, visit the City of Peoria website.
Peoria is located within Illinois’ 18th congressional district and is currently represented in the United States House of Representatives by Darin LaHood (R).
Education
Peoria Public Schools District 150 serves most of the city and has over 13,000 students across more than 30 schools. There are over a dozen private and parochial primary and secondary schools in the city as well. Higher education options include Bradley University, Illinois Central College, the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria, the OSF College of Nursing, and the Peoria campus of Midstate College.
For more on Peoria area schools, visit the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce education portal.
You can find the latest news and events going on in Peoria by following the City of Peoria Facebook page.