Peoria, AZ

One of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, Peoria, Arizona, lies to the northwest of Phoenix. With its population at just more than 142,000, this Arizona city has surpassed the Illinois locale for which it was named. Rapid, large-scale development has helped Peoria expand into the foothills north and west of the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Peoria sits in the Salt River Valley; the Agua Fria and New rivers run through town, though both are dry for most of the year. Arizona's second-largest lake, Lake Pleasant, sits at the northern edge of town, surrounded by Lake Pleasant Regional Park.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Peoria is laid out within the grid system of Phoenix; it abuts Sun City to the west, Glendale to the south and Phoenix and Scottsdale to the east. Significant districts within the city include:

• City Center: Highway 60 runs right through the historic center of Peoria, called City Centre, at the meeting of 83rd Avenue and Peoria Avenue. A few blocks to the south is the Presbyterian Church. Dating from 1899, it is Arizona's oldest church in continual use. Aside from the church, much of the business district burned down in 1917, so most of Old Town dates from that period. A new performing-arts center opened in 2007, at the previous site of City Hall. It is the centerpiece of a revitalization project for this downtown district.
• Arrowhead Entertainment District: This is Peoria's main commercial center, located a mile or two north of the city center, just east of the Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway), near the intersection of 83rd Avenue and Bell Road. Two major shopping centers, Arrowhead Towne Center and Arrowhead Crossing, stand across the street from each other. Nearby is the Peoria Sports Complex, which two Major League Baseball teams, the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners, share during spring training. The area has been dubbed "Restaurant Row" for its abundance of dining options.
• Vistancia: This master-planned community is home to several smaller, gated communities, with custom homes and country clubs nestled into rolling hills.
• Peoria's first resort, Cibola Vista, is located along Lake Pleasant Parkway, illustrating the furious pace of Peoria's growth into the northern hills.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

For most of the 20th century, Peoria's economy depended primarily on agriculture, but economic development has kept pace with population growth. The city's manufacturing center is located in the southeast quadrant, closest to Glendale and Phoenix; other industrial enterprises are situated along the Loop 101.

The city's largest employers include Peoria Unified School District, the municipal government, Plaza Del Rio and Bell Road Auto Dealers.

BEST BETS

Major contributors to Peoria's cultural scene:

• The stylish, new Peoria Center for the Performing Arts was completed in 2007 as a joint venture between the city and the arts group Theatre Works. In addition to the main stage, an intimate "black box" theater seats 80.
• Arizona Broadway Theatre brings high-quality productions to the West Valley.
• The Challenger Space Center, which opened in 2000, takes its name from the space shuttle that exploded in 1986. Here children and adults can go on simulated space flight missions, complete with a spacecraft and mission control room. The Smithsonian-affiliated center also houses a planetarium and exhibits on aviation and space exploration.
• Peoria Historical Society Museum preserves the city's historical artifacts.
• Peoria Sports Complex holds concerts and festivals throughout the year.

FOR VISITORS

• Baseball: With two major league teams sharing the Peoria Sports Complex, the town is a major player in the Cactus League. Fans can catch a game almost every day in March. The Padres and the Mariners also use the facilities for player development during the regular season.
• Golf: More than 50 golf courses are located within 10 miles of the city center, including four public courses within the city limits.
• Ice-Skating: Next to the sports complex is an ice rink called Polar Ice Peoria.
• Car Racing: Stock cars and modified cars race at Canyon Speedway Park.
• Water Sports: Lake Pleasant Regional Park is open year-round for water activities, such as swimming, sailing, fishing and water skiing.
• Athletic Facilities: Rio Vista Community Park and Recreation Center has a variety of athletic facilities, including batting cages and a skate park.

EDUCATION

Several colleges and universities are located in and around Peoria:

• Arizona State University, West Campus (Glendale)
• University of Arizona, Eller College of Management
• Thunderbird School of Global Management (Glendale)
• Midwestern University (Glendale)
• Western International University

LOCAL MEDIA

Peoria is part of the Phoenix media market, the 12th-largest in the United States. The Peoria Times, as well as the Phoenix-based Arizona Republic, serve the area. There are no radio or television stations broadcasting out of Peoria.