Welcome to Peoria, Arizona, located just northwest of Phoenix. The city of Peoria is Arizona’s ninth- largest city in terms of population, and fourth largest in terms of land area. Peoria offers something for everyone—from a variety of sporting activities to diverse entertainment, top-rated education, excellent housing, new developments and Lake Pleasant with 10,000 acres to enjoy a variety of water activities.
Peoria was named among the Top 100 “Best Places to Live” by Money magazine. Among the factors cited by Money were Spring Training, the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts and the amount of open space the city has set aside for preservation and recreation. The magazine also noted comparatively low property taxes, a rate of job growth double the average of the top 10 cities and the high percentage of days with clear weather.
What could be better than waking up to nearly 325 days of sunshine a year? Situated in Maricopa County, also known as the Valley of the Sun, Peoria offers a picturesque desert setting that abounds in metropolitan resources. Peoria is one of Arizona’s fastest- growing communities. Since 1980 it has grown from a small town of around 12,000 to a dynamic community of more than 147,000, with more than 1.2 million people within a 30-minute commute. Peoria is expected to grow another 15.7 percent. By comparison, the U.S. population is expected to grow 4.9 percent in the next five years. Geographically covering 177.9 square miles, Peoria offers ample room for continued job and population growth. Overall, Peoria is best described as an above-average, all-American city.
Peoria is a diverse community. We are made up of all races, most income levels, and past residents of every state and many towns from around the U.S. In addition, we have areas where retired folks live and other areas that are classified as extremely upscale.
Peoria has more than 175 square miles of land within the city limits, and perhaps half of it is undeveloped. There is one freeway running through our city (101), an outer loop highway (303), and Highway 60 to enhance your ease of access. The future Loop 303 will cut through northern Peoria as it provides a vital West Valley connection between I-17 and I-10. Our streets are laid out on a grid system and are easy to traverse. The Peoria Sports Complex is about one mile east of the Peoria Chamber office—near the intersection of 83rd Avenue and Bell Road. It is in the middle of the Arrowhead Entertainment District.
The City of Peoria is exploding with numerous new business locations and is attracting a variety of new employment opportunities. Peoria has outstanding recreational and extracurricular activities; a reasonable cost of living; and a young, intelligent work force. It is easy to see why individuals, families and businesses are flocking to this desert oasis. It offers reasonable taxation and a progressive attitude toward growth and jobs.
We are known as having one of the best school systems (K-12) in the state. Arizona State University West, Glendale Community College, proprietary universities, and many technical schools and academies are all nearby.