Peoria County, IL News | NewsBreak Peoria County, IL (2025)

FAQs

Why is Peoria Illinois famous? ›

Peoria was made famous by an old vaudeville line—“Will it play in Peoria?”—that suggested the city was a bellwether for “heartland” values of the entire country.

The Peoria speak a dialect of the Miami–Illinois language, a Central Algonquian language in which these two dialects are mutually intelligible. The name Peoria, also Peouaroua, derives from their autonym, or name for themselves in the Illinois language, peewaareewa (modern pronunciation peewaalia).

Traditionally, Chicago, East Saint Louis, and the Quad Cities region have tended to vote heavily Democratic, along with the Central Illinois population centers of Peoria, Champaign-Urbana and Decatur.

Peoria is 12.6% more affordable than the national average of 100. Grocery expenses are 5% below the national average, housing expenses are 25% below the national average, and healthcare expenses are 11% below the national average.

Peoria is the oldest non-native settlement in Illinois, established in 1691 by French explorers. The first documented Black person to live in Peoria was Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, a French-speaking settler from Santo Domingo, Haiti.

Peoria was once known as the alcohol distilling capital of the world — From 1844 to 1919 there were at least 73 distilleries on the Peoria County tax roll. By 1890, Peoria distilleries accounted for 40% of all alcohol produced in the United States.

The Peoria crime rate is 2,039 per 100,000 residents. Locals have a 1 in 49 chance of becoming the victim of a crime. Just like in any city, crime is present in Peoria. However, there are many safe places to live in Peoria.

Living in Peoria offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Peoria there are a lot of bars, restaurants, and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Peoria and residents tend to have moderate political views. The public schools in Peoria are above average.

Over 43 percent of the population of Peoria is Christian. However, over 10 percent of those in the Central Illinois city are Muslims. Imam Kamal Mufti is concerned about feelings against Muslims. He is a scholar and religious leader at the Islamic Foundation of Peoria.

It's A River City

Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River, giving its downtown picturesque views that only a riverfront can provide. The Peoria RiverFront district is one of the state's oldest urban areas, and is home to great restaurants, live entertainment, cultural centers and more.

What is the population by race in Peoria Illinois? ›

Originally known as Fort Clark, it received its current name when the County of Peoria was organized in 1825. The city was named after the Peoria people, a member of the Illinois Confederation. On October 16, 1854, Abraham Lincoln made his Peoria speech against the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

The average household income in Peoria is $88,419 with a poverty rate of 19.53%.

Living In Illinois

The study also found you need about $95,000 a year to live comfortably in Illinois. That means being able to cover your basic needs, pay for common desires and sustain your savings.

In addition to its agricultural heritage, Peoria is also known for its outdoor activities. There are several parks located within the city limits that offer a variety of recreational opportunities including hiking trails and fishing spots.

Peoria was named the "Rose Capital of the World" in 1956. Peoria takes its name from Peoria, Illinois. The city was founded by four families from Illinois who moved to Arizona in 1886 and named the new settlement after their home town.

The discovery of penicillin and the recognition of its therapeutic potential occurred in England, while discovering how to mass-produce the drug occurred in the US -- at the Peoria lab. Penicillin was discovered in 1928 by bacteriologist Alexander Fleming, working at St.