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Peoria, AZ


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Peoria, Arizona

Introduction to Peoria, Arizona

The city of Peoria got its name in the late 1880’s from early settlers who moved from Peoria, Illinois to this area of Arizona in order to farm the land. Incorporated in 1954, Peoria has steadily grown from a farming community into what is now the 9th largest city in the state of Arizona. Peoria is centrally located, only 13 miles from the city of Phoenix. Other nearby cities include Glendale (approximately 4 miles southeast), Surprise (approximately 9 miles to the northwest), Tempe (approximately 22 miles to the southeast), Scottsdale (approximately 25 miles to the east), and Mesa (approximately 30 miles to the east).

Peoria is governed by a mayor and a city council consisting of six district representatives, all of whom are elected.

Peoria Arts and Culture

Peoria is home to Lake Pleasant Regional Park, a large water recreation area housing campgrounds and offering a variety of fishing and boating activities. Another major recreational facility is the Peoria Sports Complex, which serves as the spring training site for both the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres. Built in 1994, the complex was the first Major League Baseball facility to be shared by two teams for spring training games and year-round player development. Peoria is also home to the Challenger Space Center, a facility over 20,000 square feet in size, which offers simulated space missions and other educational experiences for school students, families, and interested individuals. Additional attractions in and around Peoria include:

  • Canyon Raceway
  • Turf Soaring School
  • Peoria Historical Society Museum
  • Polar Ice Peoria
  • Cave Creek (nearby Phoenix)
  • Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum (nearby Phoenix)
  • Deer Valley Rock Art Center (nearby Phoenix)

Sports fans have a lot to choose from, both within the boundaries of Peoria and a short drive away. These include the following:

  • Baseball:
    • Cactus League – The Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres share the Peoria Sports Complex for their spring training games in March. Several other MLB teams hold spring training at nearby sites:
      • Texas Rangers/Kansas City Royals (Surprise)
      • Oakland A’s/Milwaukee Brewers (Phoenix)
      • Chicago Cubs (Mesa)
      • Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (Tempe)
      • San Francisco Giants (Scottsdale)
    • Major League Baseball: MLB – Arizona Diamondbacks (Phoenix)
  • Basketball:
    • National Basketball Association: NBA – Phoenix Suns
    • Women’s National Basketball Association: WNBA – Phoenix Mercury
  • Football:
    • National Football League: NFL – Arizona Cardinals (Tempe)
  • Hockey:
    • National Hockey League: NHL - Phoenix Coyotes
  • Lacrosse:
    • National Lacrosse League: NLL – Arizona Sting (Glendale)
  • National Collegiate Athletic Association: NCAA
    • Arizona State Sun Devils (Tempe)

Also, the NCAA College Football Fiesta Bowl and Insight Bowl are both located in nearby Tempe, Arizona.

High Points

Peoria strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Arizona):

CategoryTrophy
Low Rate of Poverty
(vs. State)
Top 8%Peoria Low Rate of Poverty
People in Middle Class or Better
(vs. State)
Top 11%Peoria People in Middle Class or Better
Well-Paid Single Women
(vs. State)
Top 13%Peoria Well-Paid Single Women
Median Family Income
(vs. State)
Top 14%Peoria Median Family Income
Well-Paid Single Men
(vs. State)
Top 14%Peoria Well-Paid Single Men

Comparative Profile of Peoria, AZ

Comparing Peoria to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Arizona (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Senior Citizens76
Children Under 5 Years Old75
Female Share of the Population79
Age of the Population66
Well-Paid Single Men69
Well-Paid Single Women59
Racial Diversity57
Male Share of the Population42

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Portion of People Married98
Average Household Size86

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
People Above Poverty810
People in Middle Class or Better89
Median Family Income79
College Educated Adults58

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Working at Home74
Walking and Biking to Work53
Short Commute Times22
Public Transportation Use26

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Housing Recently Built109
Seasonal and Vacation Housing106
Affordability of Property Taxes82
People Living Alone34
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals23
Affordability of Rents21

Crime

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Low Violent Crime68
Low Property Crime35

Detailed pages on related topics: Peoria collegesPeoria travelPeoria mortgage and property.

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Additional Details

Peoria CollegesPeoria Colleges
Peoria colleges and trade schools.
Peoria Hotels & TravelPeoria Hotels & Travel
Peoria hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation.
Peoria MortgagePeoria Mortgage
Peoria property, mortgage, and real estate.

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