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Peoria is a city located primarily in Maricopa County, Arizona, with a small
portion in Yavapai County.
As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 108,364, but a July 1,
2002 Census estimate put
the fast-growing suburb's population at 123,239. 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's
namesake is Peoria, Illinois.
History
The City of Peoria began as a small farming community near Phoenix, Arizona in
the 1880s. 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
travelled east to
interest people in settling in this new community. He was successful in catching
people’s attention –
over 5,000 acres (20 km˛) 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. The founders decided to name the new area Peoria to bring a sense of home
to this unfamiliar area.
Residences in the new community quickly sprang up, and by 1888, the population
of the town was 27.
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.
By 1910, the city's population was 300, and by 1920, the population had reached
2,370. The population
did not grow too much until the 1990s, and in 1998 it had reached 87,048 and in
1999 was 101,235.
Peoria was incorporated as a city in 1954, with boundaries covering one square
mile (2.6 km˛) of land.
The warm climate and small-town atmosphere of Peoria continued to attract
people, and still do today.
There are 39,184 households out of which 37.7% have children under the age of 18
living with them,
62.0% are married couples living together, 9.1% have a female householder with
no husband present,
and 25.2% are non-families. 20.5% of all households are made up of individuals
and 10.3% have
someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size
is 2.73 and the
average family size is 3.16.
In the city the population is spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 6.7%
from 18 to 24, 30.6% from
25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The
median age is 36 years.
For every 100 females there are 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and
over, there are 88.0 males.
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