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.

Nearby Cities and Towns

High Points

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

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