Peoria, IL

Peoria is a city in and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, United States. The 2010 census recorded a population of 127,912. It is the largest city in central Illinois and the fourth-largest city in Illinois. Peoria is located on the east bank of the Illinois River near its confluence with the Mississippi River.

The first Europeans to visit what would become Peoria were French explorers under LaSalle in 1673. The area was claimed by Spain and ceded to France as part of the Treaty of Paris following their victory in the Seven Years' War. In 1803, after Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo, parts of Westphalia were given to Prussia as part of the Treaty of Tilsit. These areas became known as East Prussia and included present-day Peoria.

In 1816, American forces captured East Prussia during the War of 1812 and incorporated it into America as part of St Clair County (now southern Michigan). American settlers began arriving in this area during 1818–19; however, it was not until 1825 that actual settlement began when Stephen A. Douglas established a land office at what would become downtown Peoria. Douglas also helped establish settlements along both sides of the river that would become important commercial centers: East St Louis on the east bank and Westville on the west bank (now part of Springfield).

The arrival of railroads in 1830 transformed Peoria into a major transportation center for goods arriving from Chicago via riverboats or overland routes through Iowa and Missouri to New Orleans or Memphis. Railroads also stimulated growth along both banks of the river; however, it was not until after World War II that most growth occurred in downtown Peoria due to increased automobile use and development around Interstate 55/Interstate 74 (the Tri-State Freeway). Downtown has since been largely rebuilt with new high-rise buildings including One America Tower (formerly First National Bank Tower) which stands at 1,815 feet (553 meters) tall making it oneof six tallest buildings in Illinois outside Chicago; additionally there are many other large skyscrapers throughout downtown including Wells Fargo Center (formerly Ameritech Center), JW Marriott Hotel & Suites Downtown/ Illinois Center Plaza Hotel & Conference Center , Hyatt Regency McCormick Place , Embassy Suites by Hilton Downtown - IL Central Business District , Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare Airport . There are also many mid-rise buildings such as The Ritz-Carlton Residence Inn - IL Central Business District , Sheraton Grand Prairie O'Hare Airport Hotel & Conference Center .

A number cultural institutions are located within or near downtown including: Symphony Orchestra League Of Illinois Symphony Orchestra ; Museum Of Contemporary Art ; Adler Planetarium ; Field Museum Of Natural History ; University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign . There are also numerous parks throughout downtown including Washington Park , Lincoln Park , Grant Park , Jefferson Park which include baseball fields , tennis courts etc.; additionally there are several golf courses within close proximity such as Riverside Golf Club .

Real estate prices vary greatly depending on location but generally speaking properties closer to I-55/I-74 command higher prices than those further away from I-55/I-74 although there is significant variation depending on location within each district . Properties located near major shopping malls or other commercial districts tend to be more expensive than those located closer to residential areas although there is significant variation depending on location within each district . Additionally properties located near universities or other institutions with high concentrations of young professionals tend to be more expensive than those located nearer suburban neighborhoods although again there is significant variation depending on location within each district . Finally properties located outside urban areas tend to be less expensive than those located inside urban areas although again there is significant variation depending on location within each district