Peoria

City Directory
Places USA/Peoria

Peoria is a city in and county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, United States. Established in 1691 by the French explorer Henri de Tonti, Peoria is the oldest permanent European settlement in Illinois according to the Illinois State Archaeological Survey. 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. Prior to prohibition, Peoria was the center of the whiskey industry in the United States. More than 12 distilleries operated in Peoria by the end of the 19th century, more than any other city in the U.S.

Historically, Peoria has been known for its manufacturing sector, particularly the production of agricultural machinery and equipment. For many years, Peoria was home to the headquarters of Caterpillar Inc. a major manufacturer of construction and mining equipment. It is worth noting that in 2017, Caterpillar Inc. announced plans to move its headquarters to Deerfield, Illinois.

Go to Top