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Click here to view the 2008 - 2009 Chamber Business Directory
Peoria Area Chamber Positions on Ballot Issues
Welcome To The Greater Peoria Region
Peoria. It’s a community, a region, a hometown as unique as its name. We pride ourselves on our firmly rooted heritage and our creativity to carry us forward. Every day we celebrate a swell of local pride, solid Midwest values, and a heartfelt effort to make Peoria the best place in the world to live. We’re blessed with a location that shows off Mother Nature’s finest and allows us to be easily reached from anywhere in the world.
From the Native Americans of centuries ago who loved this land of plenty to the entrepreneurs of today who draw upon the talents of local residents, Peoria is the ideal home that blends the coziness of a smaller community with all the amenities of the largest metropolis.
After the Native Americans came the French inhabitants, and then the American settlers who came for good in 1819. From this humble beginning, the county of Peoria was born in 1825, with the city of Peoria formally organized two decades later. Our forefathers and mothers quickly understood the advantages of this perfect location alongside the Illinois River, which brought many new people to our shores. From the introduction of the train and the western movement, Peoria has long proven to be the perfect place to stop overnight or for a lifetime, the latter to which many generations of Peorians can attest.
Peoria set the stage for cultural diversity and sophistication. It attracted performers from around the world to its stages from the earliest days and entrepreneurs who sought an enthusiastic and vibrant environment in which they could grow their ideas. We were on the map as the site that produced fine distillery spirits and much of the federal tax revenue at one time. We also became the place of choice for a few eager businessmen who planted the roots of what is now known as Caterpillar Inc., the Fortune 500 company first known for making the finest tractors in the world, but now known for its diversity in the global marketplace.
We have been and continue to be a leader in commerce, manufacturing, technology, creativity and the sweeping fields of agriculture that surround us. We have not forgotten our roots and continually search for new ways to show the world our proud heritage. We bring in thousands of visitors every year, and host thousands more convention-goers and business professionals. Who discover, many for the first time, the beauty and potential of Peoria.
We’ve known all along that Peoria is the place to be!