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Peoria is a city in Maricopa and Yavapai counties in
the U.S. state of Arizona. Located primarily in Maricopa County, it is a
major suburb of Phoenix. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the
population of the city is 142,024. Peoria is currently the fourth
largest city in the state of Arizona in terms of land area, and the
ninth largest city in the state in terms of population. The city was
named after Peoria, Illinois. Peoria is now larger in population than
its namesake. It is the spring training home of the San Diego Padres and
Seattle Mariners who share the Peoria Sports Complex. In July 2008,
Money Magazine listed Peoria in the "Top 100 Places to Live".
Peoria continues to grow successfully. In 1999 most
of the land around Lake Pleasant Regional Park was annexed into the
city. Peoria has gained a world-class educational and cultural
destination, the Challenger Space Center of Arizona. Also in 2007 the
city completed the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts. Today most of
the city’s growth is taking place in North Peoria.
The City of Peoria was established in the 1880’s
when William J. Murphy’s vision of fertile farm lands fed by water from
the Salt River became reality with the completion of the Arizona Canal
in 1885. Once this canal was completed, Murphy went East to interest
people in settling in this new community. Mr. Murphy was successful in
catching people’s attention – over 5,000 acres of land in the new
district was purchased by citizens from Peoria, Illinois. Four families
from Peoria, Illinois were among the first to move to Arizona to occupy
and work their land.
Residences in the new community sprang up, and a school and Post Office
were established by 1889. More people followed the original families and
Peoria continued to grow as a farming community. The farmlands were
fertile and the people made a good living, despite having to battle
swarms of red ants and the occasional rattlesnake in the kitchen.
Peoria was incorporated in 1954, with boundaries covering one square
mile of land. The warm climate and small-town atmosphere of Peoria
continued to attract people, and still do today. Currently, Peoria
covers 162 square miles, and is home to over 120,000 residents. Peoria
is Arizona's 4th largest city in terms of incorporated area, and 9th
largest city in terms of population.
Education
Peoria city limits lie mainly in the Peoria Unified School District,
however, some portions of the northern end of the city lie within the
Deer Valley School District. Peoria has 4 high schools within the city
limits
Demographics:
Population in July 2007: 146,743. Population
change since 2000: +31.4%
Males: 70,495 (48.0%)
Females: 76,248 (52.0%)
Median resident age: 35.6 years
Arizona median age: 34.2 years
Zip codes: 85345, 85380, 85381, 85382, 85385.
Estimated median household income in 2007: $62,458 (it was $52,199 in
2000)
Estimated median house or condo value in 2007: $276,400 (it was $121,100
in 2000)
Mean prices in 2007: All housing units: $313,710; Detached houses:
$343,873; Townhouses or other attached units: $225,972; In 2-unit
structures: $159,559; In 3-to-4-unit structures: $240,267; In
5-or-more-unit structures: $116,547; Mobile homes: $35,893; Occupied
boats, RVs, vans, etc.: $24,408
Median gross rent in 2007: $1,115.
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2007: 6.8%
Races in Peoria:
White Non-Hispanic (77.9%)
Hispanic (15.4%)
Other race (7.1%)
Black (2.8%)
Two or more races (2.5%)
American Indian (1.2%)
For population 25 years and over in Peoria
High school or higher: 88.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 21.7%
Graduate or professional degree: 6.5%
Unemployed: 3.9%
Mean travel time to work: 28.9 minutes
For population 15 years and over in Peoria city
Never married: 18.9%
Now married: 63.2%
Separated: 1.3%
Widowed: 6.5%
Divorced: 10.2%
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