peoria

Peoria most commonly refers to the city of Peoria, Illinois, the county seat of Peoria County in central Illinois. The city sits along the Illinois River and is a principal city of the Peoria metropolitan area. The name derives from the Peoria, a Native American tribe from the area, who were members of the Illinois Confederation.

Peoria, Illinois is a regional center for healthcare, education, manufacturing, and services. It is home to Bradley University, a private research university founded in 1897, and to several medical facilities, including a major teaching hospital. The city has a riverfront district with parks, museums, and venues such as the Peoria Riverfront Museum and the Peoria Civic Center.

Two other communities bearing the name Peoria in the United States include Peoria, Arizona, a city in Maricopa County within the Phoenix metropolitan area, and Peoria Heights, Illinois, a village adjacent to Peoria along the Illinois River.

The name Peoria is derived from the Peoria people, a Native American tribe of the Illinois Confederation that historically lived along the Illinois River.