What is the history of Peoria, IL?

The Native Americans: Archaeologists can trace early man in Peoria as far back as 10,000 B.C.E. Artifacts and burial mounds yield evidence of a Native American civilization that was highly organized, ritualistic, and in harmony with nature. By 1650, the Illini Indians, a part of the Algonquin Nation, populated the area. read more

History of Peoria, Illinois Peoria is a city in northcentral Illinois, situated on the Illinois River where it widens into Lake Peoria, midway between Chicago and St. Louis. In 1673, the French explorers Marquette and Jolliet, on their return trip from their historic exploration of the upper Mississippi River, stopped at Lake Peoria. read more

In Sufjan Stevens' album Illinois, Peoria is the subject of the song titled "Prairie Fire That Wanders About." Stevens makes reference to multiple figures in Peoria's history, including Lydia Moss Bradley, and also speaks of Peoria's Santa Claus parade, the longest running in the nation. read more

Peoria Today: Peoria, Illinois, today, is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria CountyGR6, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 112,936. The Greater Peoria Metro area, including suburbs and surrounding, has a population of 370,000. read more