Peoria is centrally located and a major suburb of Phoenix which is only 13 miles away. Peoria is a city in Maricopa and Yavapai counties. Most of the city is located in Maricopa County, while a tiny portion in the north is in Yavapai County.

The city of Peoria got its name in the late 1880's from early settlers who moved from Peoria, Illinois to this area of Arizona in order to farm the land. According to 2010 the population of the city is 154,065. Peoria is currently the sixth largest city in Arizona for land area, and the ninth largest for population. The sunsets in Peoria are stunning.

Peoria is home to the Challenger Space Center, a Smithsonian Institution affiliate. The facility is over 20,000 square feet in size, which offers simulated space missions and other educational experiences for school students, families, and interested individuals.

Peoria is home to Lake Pleasant, Arizona’s second largest lake. It offers a wide variety of recreational activities. Located on the northern end of Peoria and about 45 minutes from downtown Phoenix, Lake Pleasant covers 10,000 acres. This large body of water is used for all kinds of recreational pursuits, including boating and jet skiing. Fishing is also possible, as are activities such as scuba diving, kayaking, and wake boarding.

The Peoria Center for the Performing Arts is a $13 million facility that is the cornerstone of a five year downtown revitalization project that will eventually bring retail, residential and business additions to the downtown area.