Peoria County, Illinois

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Peoria County

| state = Illinois

| ex image = Peoria County Courthouse, 2019.jpg

| ex image cap = Peoria County Courthouse

| ex image size = 180px

| seal = Peoria County il seal.png

| flag = Flag of Peoria County, Illinois.svg

| founded = 1825

| seat wl = Peoria

| largest city = Peoria

| coordinates = {{Coord|40.79|-89.76|display=inline,title|type:adm2nd_region:US-IL_source:UScensus1990}}

| area_total_sq_mi = 631

| area_land_sq_mi = 619

| area_water_sq_mi = 11

| area percentage = 1.8

| census yr = 2020

| pop = 181830

| pop_est_as_of = 2023

| population_est = 177513 {{loss}}

| density_sq_mi = auto

| web = www.peoriacounty.gov

| district = 16th

| district2 = 17th

| time zone = Central

| named for = Peoria tribe

|ZIP codes=61451, 61517, 61523, 61525, 61526, 61528, 61529, 61531, 61533, 61536, 61539, 61547, 61552, 61559, 61562, 61569, 61601, 61602, 61603, 61604, 61605, 61606, 61607, 61612, 61613, 61614, 61615, 61616, 61625, 61629, 61630, 61633, 61634, 61636, 61637, 61638, 61639, 61641, 61643, 61650, 61651, 61652, 61653, 61654, 61655, 61656 }}

Peoria County is located in the U.S. state of Illinois. The 2020 United States census listed its population at 181,830.{{Cite web |title=QuickFacts Peoria County, Illinois |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/peoriacountyillinois |website=United States Census |publisher=US Census Bureau}} Its county seat is Peoria.{{Cite web |title=Peoria County, Illinois |url=http://www.peoriacounty.org}} Peoria County is part of the Peoria metropolitan area.

History

Peoria County was formed in 1825 out of Fulton County. It was named for the Peoria, an Illiniwek people who lived there. It included most of the western valley of the Illinois River up to the Chicago river portage.

= Gallery timeline =

File:Peoria County Illinois 1825.png|Peoria County at creation, with unorganized territory attached to it.White, Jesse. Origin and Evolution of Illinois Counties. State of Illinois, March 2010. [http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/ipub15.pdf]

File:Peoria County Illinois 1826.png|Peoria County 1826–1827. The newly created Mercer and Warren Counties were temporarily attached to Peoria.

File:Peoria County Illinois 1827.png|Peoria County 1827–1830. The creation of Tazewell County left Peoria with only a small tract of unorganized territory east of the Illinois River, whose border was not defined.

File:Peoria County Illinois 1830.png|In 1830, Warren County organized a government.

File:Peoria County Illinois 1831.png|In 1831, Peoria County's present borders were established and Mercer County was attached to Warren.

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|631|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|619|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|11|sqmi}} (1.8%) is water. The county is drained by Spoon River, Kickapoo Creek, Elbow Creek, and Copperas Creek.{{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Peoria (county)|display=Peoria, a N. central county of Illinois}}

=Climate and weather=

{{climate chart

|Peoria, Illinois

|14|31|1.50

|20|37|1.67

|30|49|2.83

|40|62|3.56

|51|73|4.17

|60|82|3.84

|65|86|4.02

|63|84|3.16

|54|77|3.12

|42|64|2.77

|31|49|2.99

|20|35|2.40

|float=right

|units=imperial

|clear=both

|source=The Weather Channel{{Cite web |title=Monthly Averages for Peoria IL |url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIL0935 |access-date=January 27, 2011 |publisher=The Weather Channel}}}}

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Peoria have ranged from a low of {{convert|14|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|86|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-27|°F}} was recorded in January 1884 and a record high of {{convert|113|°F}} was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|1.50|in}} in January to {{convert|4.17|in}} in May.

=Adjacent counties=

Knox County – northwest
Stark County – north
Marshall County – northeast
Woodford County – east
Tazewell County – south
Fulton County – southwest

Transportation

=Transit=

=Major highways=

=Defunct highways=

=Airports=

General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport (PIA), formerly Greater Peoria Regional Airport
Mount Hawley Auxiliary Airport (3MY) – Peoria, Illinois{{Cite web |title=Peoria County Public and Private Airports |url=http://www.tollfreeairline.com/illinois/peoria.htm |access-date=April 17, 2018 |website=www.tollfreeairline.com}}

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1840= 6153

|1850= 17547

|1860= 36601

|1870= 47540

|1880= 55355

|1890= 70378

|1900= 88608

|1910= 100255

|1920= 111710

|1930= 141344

|1940= 153374

|1950= 174347

|1960= 189044

|1970= 195318

|1980= 200466

|1990= 182827

|2000= 183433

|2010= 186494

|2020= 181830

|estyear=2023

|estimate=177513

|estref={{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html |access-date=April 2, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=US Decennial Census{{Cite web |title=US Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=July 8, 2014 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}
1790–1960{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |archive-date=August 11, 2012 |access-date=July 8, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}} 1900–1990{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/il190090.txt |access-date=July 8, 2014 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}
1990–2000{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |access-date=July 8, 2014 |publisher=US Census Bureau}} 2010–2019

}}

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 181,830 people, including 73,253 households. The population density was {{convert|301.2|PD/sqmi}}. There were 83,034 housing units at an average density of {{convert|134.1|/sqmi}}.{{Cite web |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US17143 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212200819/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US17143 |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |access-date=July 12, 2015 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}

The racial makeup of the county was 73.5% white alone, 18.8% black or African American alone, 4.1% Asian alone, 0.4% American Indian alone, .1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, 3.1% listed two or more races, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, and 69.4% were white and not of Hispanic or Latino origin.{{Cite web |title=QuickFacts Peoria County, Illinois |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/peoriacountyillinois/POP010220#POP010220 |website=US Census Bureau}} In terms of ancestry, per the 2010 US Census, 28.3% were German, 14.8% were Irish, 10.4% were English, and 5.5% were American.{{Cite web |title=Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US17143 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213022230/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US17143 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=July 12, 2015 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}

Of the 75,793 households, 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.7% were non-families, and 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.00. The median age was 36.8 years.{{Cite web |title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US17143 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213032815/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US17143 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=July 12, 2015 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}

The median income for a household in the county was $49,747 and the median income for a family was $63,163. Males had a median income of $51,246 versus $32,881 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,157. About 10.3% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.8% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.{{Cite web |title=Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US17143 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213010222/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US17143 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=July 12, 2015 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}

Points of interest

Glasford crater
Jubilee College State Park
WMBD World's Most Beautiful Drive (Grandview Drive/Prospect)[https://www.google.com/maps/search/world's+most+beautiful+drive+peoria+il/@40.7281673,-89.5565858,17z/data=!3m1!4b1 Grandview Drive Google Maps (accessed 27 December 2018)]
Forest Park Nature Center[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Forest+Park+Nature+Center/@40.7573483,-89.5771269,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x880a5a5801810bb7:0xb2452b3441b08f95!8m2!3d40.7573443!4d-89.5749329 Forest Park Nature Center Google Maps (accessed 27 December 2018)]
Peoria Heights Tower Park[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tower+Park/@40.7470115,-89.5767825,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x880a5a5b10570af5:0x4d239e7b960c0de1!8m2!3d40.7470075!4d-89.5745885 Peoria Heights Tower Park Google Maps (accessed 27 December 2018)]
Rock Island Trail

Communities

=Cities=

=Villages=

=Census-designated places=

=Unincorporated communities=

=Townships=

The cities of Peoria and West Peoria are considered independent from all of the townships within this county.

Akron
Brimfield
Chillicothe
Elmwood
Hallock
Hollis
Jubilee
Kickapoo
Limestone
Logan
Medina
Millbrook
Princeville
Radnor
Richwoods
Rosefield
Timber
Trivoli
West Peoria (former, now defunct and part of West Peoria)

=School districts=

Notable residents

People from Peoria County other than in the city of Peoria:

Chris Brackett, host of Arrow Affliction on The Sportsman Channel
Mike Dunne, pitcher for several Major League Baseball teams
Mary Emma Holmes (1839-1937), reformer, suffragist, and educator
Bill Krieg, Major League Baseball player
Lance (Henry) LeGault, TV and movie actor: Colonel Roderick Decker on The A-Team
Zach McAllister, Major League Baseball player: Cleveland Indians pitcher
Johnston McCulley, pulp fiction author: creator of Zorro
Richard Pryor, Actor, Comedian
David Ogden Stiers, actor, Major Charles Emerson Winchester III on M*A*S*H
Josh Taylor, TV actor: Chris Kostichek on the soap opera Days of Our Lives
Jim Thome, first baseman for several Major League Baseball teams

Government

Peoria County is governed by an 18-member County Board which meets on the second Thursday of each month. Each member represents a district with roughly 10,000 residents.{{Cite web |title=County Board {{!}} Peoria County, IL |url=https://www.peoriacounty.org/524/County-Board |access-date=October 8, 2019 |website=www.peoriacounty.org}}

class="wikitable sortable" ! District !! Board Member !! Residence !! In office since !! Party
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|1	Sharon K. Williams	Peoria	2012	Democratic
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|2	Camille Coates	Peoria	2022	Democratic
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|3	Betty Duncan	Peoria	2020	Democratic
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|4	Brandy Bryant	Peoria	2019	Democratic
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|5	James C. Dillon (Chair)	West Peoria	2006	Democratic
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|6	Dr. Eden Blair	Peoria	2019	Democratic
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|7	Phillip Salzer	Peoria	unknown	Democratic
{{Party shading/Republican}} \|8	Nathan Hoerr	Peoria	2022	Republican
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|9	Danny Phelan	Peoria Heights	2022	Democratic
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|10	Rob Reneau	Peoria	2018	Democratic
{{Party shading/Republican}} \|11	Linda E. Daley	Peoria	2019	Republican
{{Party shading/Republican}} \|12	Daniel Kelch	Edwards	2022	Republican
{{Party shading/Republican}} \|13	Terry Ruthland	Chillicothe	2022	Republican
{{Party shading/Republican}} \|14	Brian Elsasser	Princeville	1998	Republican
{{Party shading/Republican}} \|15	Steven B. Rieker	Peoria	2016	Republican
{{Party shading/Republican}} \|16	Matt Windish	Brimfield	2018	Republican
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|17	Jennifer Groves Allison	Peoria	2019	Democratic
{{Party shading/Republican}} \|18	Paul Rosenbohm	Peoria	2010	Republican

The County also elects an Auditor, Circuit Clerk, Coroner, County Clerk, Sheriff, State's Attorney, Regional Superintendent (Education), and Treasurer to four-year terms.

class="wikitable sortable" ! Office !! Current Holder !! In office since !! Party
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|Auditor	Jessica Thomas	2018	Democratic
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|Circuit Clerk	Bobby Spears	2002	Democratic
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|Coroner	Jamie Harwood	2016	Democratic
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|County Clerk	Rachael Parker	2019	Democratic
{{Party shading/Republican}} \|Sheriff	Chris Watkins	2022	Republican
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|State's Attorney	Jodi Hoos	2019	Democratic
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|Regional Superintendent	Elizabeth Crider	2014	Democratic
{{Party shading/Republican}} \|Treasurer	Nicole Bjerke	2017	Republican

Politics

{{PresHead|place=Peoria County, Illinois|source={{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=April 17, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}}}

Prior to 1992, Peoria County, like most of central Illinois, was overwhelmingly Republican. Usually, it only voted for Democratic Party presidential candidates when they won nationally by a landslide. It began trending away from the GOP in the mid-1980s, as evidenced when Ronald Reagan only carried it with 55 percent of the vote in 1984 even as he was winning reelection in a landslide nationally.

From 1992 onward, the county has backed the Democratic candidate in every presidential election, though never by a margin greater than 10 percent aside from 2008 when Illinoisan Barack Obama won it by nearly 14 points. This relative closeness in results was most evident in 2004 when the county backed John Kerry over George W. Bush by only 70 votes.

In Congress, Peoria County is represented by Democrat Eric Sorensen of Illinois's 17th congressional district and Republican Darin LaHood of the Illinois's 18th congressional district.

In the Illinois Senate, Peoria County is represented by Republican Win Stoller of the 37th Legislative District and Democrat Dave Koehler of the 46th Legislative District. In the Illinois House of Representatives, Peoria County is represented by Republican Ryan Spain of the 73rd Representative District, Republican Travis Weaver of the 91st Representative District and Democrat Jehan Gordon-Booth of the 92nd Representative District.

Education

K-12 school districts include:{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st17_il/schooldistrict_maps/c17143_peoria/DC20SD_C17143.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Peoria County, IL|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2024-10-30}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st17_il/schooldistrict_maps/c17143_peoria/DC20SD_C17143_SD2MS.txt Text list]