Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 112,936.
A special census was conducted in 2004 which noted a 5,200 increase in city population, mainly in the northwest corridor. The metropolitan area has a population of 370,000 which includes parts of Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, Stark and Marshall Counties.
Peoria has been awarded the All-America City Award three times.
The city of Peoria is home to Bradley University, a federal courthouse, the Peoria Civic Center (which includes Carver Arena), and the world headquarters for Caterpillar Inc. Medicine has become a major part of Peoria's economy. The USDA's National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, formerly called the USDA Northern Lab, is where mass production of penicillin was developed. The city has three major hospitals plus the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria and the Midwest Affiliate of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Grand View Drive, which Teddy Roosevent is said to have called the "world's most beautiful drive", runs through Peoria and Peoria Heights. In addition to Grand View Drive, the Peoria Park District boasts nine thousand acres of parks, including Glen Oak Zoo and five public golf courses. There are also several private and semi-private golf courses.
The city of Peoria, through its Peoria NEXT initiative is creating Renaissance Park - a collaboration of the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Bradley University, Methodist Medical Center, Caterpillar Inc., and other prominent corporate leadership. This incubator will serve to provide leadership in discovery, innovation aand commercialization in the areas of life sciences, material sciences, and engineering sciences. Several successful ventures have already been created included Firefly Inc ( a recent winner of a lucrative federal contract for new battery technology) and I-Soy - which will provide innovation to the beauty industry.
Peoria is also planning for a new $100 million plus modern and edgy designed Museum Square housing the Central Illinois Regional Museum and Caterpillar Visitors Center in the heart of Downtown Peoria. The Peoria Civic Center is also in the process of a $55 million revitalization and expansion to it's facilities based on demand for larger conventions and entertainment venues.
Peoria also boosts a lively cultural scene. The city maintains a symphony orchestra (10th olderst in the nation), Opera Illinois, two ballet companies - Peoria Ballet and the Illinois Ballet, Peoria Municipal Band, Peoria Area Civic Chorale, several community and professional theatres, including the oldest community theatre in the nation - Peoria Players, Central Illinois Youth Symphony, Lakeview Museum for the Arts and Sciences, Wheels o' Time Museum, The Contemporary Art Center of Peoria, The Peoria Art Guild and Galleries - host of the Annual Art Fair that is rated as one of the best professional art fairs in the nation, comedy clubs, as well as several venues for a variety of traveling shows and concerts including major Broadway touring companies.
Peoria has become famous as a representation of the average American city, because of its demographics and its perceived mainstream Midwestern culture. On the Vaudeville circuit, it was said that if an act would succeed in Peoria, it would work anywhere. The question "Will it play in Peoria?" has now become a metaphor for whether something appeals to the American mainstream public, and Peoria was often used as a test market for new products.
Peoria's sister cities include Friedrichshafen, Germany; Benxi, China; and Clonmel, Ireland. Peoria has also recently adopted Biloxi, Mississippi as a sister city to aid the city in recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Peoria is located at 40°43'15" North, 89°36'34" West (40.720737, -89.609421).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 120.8 km2 (46.6 mi2). 115.0 km2 (44.4 mi2) of it is land and 5.8 km2 (2.2 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 4.78% water.
Peoria is bounded on the east by the Illinois River except for the enclave of Peoria Heights. Four bridges run directly between the city and neighboring East Peoria. On the south end of Peoria's western border are Bartonville and the newly established city of West Peoria. Local municipal plans indicate that the city intends to continue its expansion northwest, into an area unofficially considered part of Dunlap, Illinois.
As of the census of 2000, there are 112,936 people, 45,199 households, and 27,345 families residing in the city. The population density is 982.1/km2 (2,543.4/mi2). There are 49,125 housing units at an average density of 427.2/km2 (1,106.3/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 69.29% White, 24.79% African American, 0.20% Native American, 2.33% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.20% from other races, and 2.16% from two or more races. 2.51% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 45,199 households out of which 29.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.6% are married couples living together, 15.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% are non-families. 33.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.38 and the average family size is 3.04.
In the city the population is spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 85.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $36,397. The per capita income for the city is $20,512. 18.8% of the population are below the poverty line.
Peoria was named for the Peoria, an Illiniwek people who once lived here. Peoria was a major French and Native American city in the 1700s.
Peoria was the English word for the American Indian tribe that resided in the area, the Pimitoui. Pimitoui translates into "fat lake". The Illinois River broadens its width around the Peoria area, forming Peoria Lake.
Source:
PeoriaIllinois.com
HOTELS • REAL ESTATE • JOBS