Peoria is a great place to call home. Located in the Valley of the Sun, Peoria enjoys year round sunshine for outdoor fun in any season. With a population of approximately 133,000 people, Peoria is a growing city with a thriving economy. Peoria is located on Lake Pleasant, which is one of the most beautiful and popular lakes in Arizona and a recreational haven. In addition, Peoria is located close to the desert and the mountains while being just a short drive from all the amenities and cultural opportunities of downtown Phoenix. In Peoria, you get the best of both worlds.
Location
Peoria is located in the northwest Phoenix metropolitan area less than 15 miles from downtown Phoenix. Peoria is located mostly in Maricopa County with a small portion in Yavapai County. Surrounding towns include Glendale (6 miles south) and the retirement communities of Sun City (5 miles south) and Sun City West (7 miles west). Tucson is 121 miles away, Tempe is 22 miles away, Las Vegas is 243 miles away, and San Diego is 290 miles away.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is about 23 miles east. The Hwy-101 loop around Greater Phoenix passes through Peoria. Valley Metro runs both local and express bus routes between Peoria and towns in the greater Phoenix area.
Terrain
Peoria has a total area of 141.7 square miles. 3.5 square miles of it is water.
Peoria is located in a populated area of the Sonoran Desert in the Valley of the Sun. The Sonoran Desert covers approximately 120,000 square miles, and includes southwestern Arizona, southeastern California, most of Baja California, and the state of Sonora, Mexico. It rivals Death Valley as the hottest and driest place in North America. The Sonoran Desert has many eco-regions and the greatest diversity of vegetative growth of any desert in the world.
The entire Phoenix metro area is surrounded by the McDowell Mountains to the northeast, the White Tank Mountains to the west, the Superstition Mountains far to the east, and the Sierra Estrella to the southwest.
Jobs
Industries providing employment in Peoria include educational, health and social services (18.8%), retail trade (13.1%), finance, insurance, real estate (10.2%). Biomedical services are a strong industry in Peoria and include medical laboratories, medical services, and research and development companies. Tourism is thriving, as well, with major league spring training baseball and the pleasant winter weather.
In addition to the biomedical and tourism industries, many types of businesses have been drawn to Peoria, including internet related businesses, call centers, small and medium manufacturers, retail centers, and automotive sales operations.
In addition to a strong local economy, Peoria residents have available to them employment opportunities in the entire Phoenix metro area. As a result, Peoria has the lowest unemployment rate in the valley, which yields a high quality of living for the community.
Education/Colleges
Peoria school children are served by the Peoria Unified School District and the Deer Valley Unified School District. The Peoria District encompasses 30 elementary schools and 6 high schools.
Deer Valley has 25 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, 4 high schools, and an 11th-12th grade education center.
Peoria also has two Montessori schools, excellent private schools, and a charter high school for accelerated learning.
Colleges in the area include Arizona State University-West in Glendale, and Glendale Community College. There are many excellent colleges and trade schools in the Phoenix metro area within a commutable distance of Peoria.
Housing
Peoria neighborhoods are well-planned and spacious. Housing is more affordable in Peoria than in central Phoenix and the homes are newer. Housing prices tend to be a little lower in Peoria than in Glendale. Homes close to the water amenities of Lake Pleasant make Peoria a great place to live. Ranch and Spanish style homes are popular in Peoria. The median price for a home in Peoria is approximately $339,000, with homes ranging from under $100,000 to $750,000. New construction prices in Peoria ranges from $196,000 to over $800,000.
Master planned communities in the area include the beautiful Sonoran Mountain Ranch and Vistancia, one of the largest in the area. West Wing is a new housing community with homes ranging from the high 200’s.
Recreation
The Phoenix metro area is one of the best golfing spots in the world. Peoria courses include Country Meadows Golf Club, Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia, and Westbrook Village Golf Club. With more than 180 of the state's 300 golf courses, greater Phoenix offers a plethora of excellent courses and golf resorts to choose from.
Peoria is the "Gateway to Lake Pleasant," one of the most popular recreation areas for water sports in Arizona. Lake Pleasant is one of the most scenic lakes in the “Valley of the Sun” and Arizona's second largest lake. Bring the whole family to Lake Pleasant for great camping, boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, picnicking, birding, and so much more!
The Lake Pleasant Regional Park has lots of amenities for all kinds of outdoor fun. The Lake Pleasant Visitor Center offers educational exhibits and programs about the history of the area and desert wildlife. The visitor center offers a fantastic view of the amazing new Waddell Dam.
The Pleasant Harbor Marina, on Lake Pleasant, offers easy lake access with public boat launch ramps, boat rentals, store and deli, wet slips, repair services, dry storage, a houseboat center, paddle wheeler cruises, and a dockside bar.
The City of Peoria also has a number of neighborhood parks and community parks with loads of recreational facilities --- a great place for young families as well as all outdoor lovers and fitness buffs!
The Peoria Sports Complex is a Major League Baseball spring training and player development facility and is currently shared by two teams --- the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners. The sports complex amenities include a 12,880 seat stadium, 13 baseball fields, and 2 clubhouses. The Sports Complex is an entertainment venue for the City of Peoria and the entire West Valley.
The Desert Schools Coyotes Center is an ice rink and recreational center in Peoria. It offers hockey and skating programs for kids and adults, as well as a great place for a birthday party.
For the more adventuresome spirit, The Arizona State Parks offer opportunities for Off-Roading. Off-Highway Vehicles allow you to enjoy the beautiful desert and mountain Arizona landscape up close and personal. A training program is offered by the State Parks and highly recommended.
Special Attractions/Events
The Challenger Space Center in Peoria is a world-class space science education complex that serves students and visitors from around the state.
The Maricopa County Parks, including Lake Pleasant Regional Park, offer visitors the opportunity for star gazing. The telescopes are provided. Enjoy and learn about the moon, the planets, nebulae and galaxies.
The Peoria Center for the Performing Arts is now under construction. When completed in late 2006, the facility will include a main stage auditorium with seating for more than 250 people, an 80-seat black box theater, two classrooms, and office space for Theater Works, a local theater company.
Interesting Facts
The City of Peoria was established upon the completion of the Arizona Canal (from the Salt River) in 1885. The region’s original irrigators were the Hohokam people, whose culture died out in the 1400s.
Lake Pleasant Regional Park was inhabited by Hohokam peoples during the prehistoric era. Five archeological sites were located during an archeological study of the Lake Pleasant area including a defensive site, a stone workshop, a farmhouse, and two small villages. The five sites located during the study were occupied during the period A.D. 700 to 1450.
Until about ten years ago, the economic base of Peoria was primarily dependent on the farming and agricultural industry. Today, Peoria has become a business and medical hub for the entire Northwest Valley area.
Peoria is currently the fourth largest city in the State of Arizona relative to land area, and the ninth largest city in the state relative to population.
Peoria was incorporated as a city in 1954. The city was named after the City of Peoria, Illinois, the city left behind by some of Peoria’s early settlers.
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