Avondale, Then and Now

Peoria is a western suburb of Phoenix, but it spills out of Maricopa County in Yavapai County. Its neighbors include Glendale,Youngtown, Surprise, and Sun City.

With some 179 square miles of land, the city stretches from the Salt River Valley to the foothills. The town encompasses the Agua Fria River and New River. However, they are often dry. Lake Pleasant, the Agua Fria reservoir, is located in north Peoria.

Around 1886, some of the first anglo settlers moved to the area from Peoria, Illinois. A few years later, the area was bolstered with spur lines of the railroads. By 1910, the city could claim 300 residents.

In 1917, a fire started in a pool hall, spreading quickly through the downtown. Only one building was left standing.

However, the city managed to rally. In 1918, a number of new buildings were built including Peoria’s first post office, a three-story hotel, a bank, a pharmacy and other commercial buildings. Many remain standing and are protected historic buildings.

The city had a population of 1,925 people when it was incorporated in 1954. It only took 12 years for it to grow in size from 2.9 km2 to 8 km2. By that time, there were 36 miles of streets.

In the 1970s, Peoria’s Greenway Sports Complex was home to a minor league training facility run by the Milwaukee Brewers. This was just the beginning of the town’s involvement with pro baseball.

The town had a major growth spurt in the 1980s, growing from 12,000 to more than 50,000. It more than doubled by the 2000 census. Still growing, it has nearly doubled again between 2000 and 2022.

The Peoria Economy

Peoria is one of the Best Places to Live according to Ranking Arizona. The same group honored Peoria as the 2022 Best City to Live, Work and Play.

Many Peoria drivers commute into Phoenix or other suburbs for work. However, the area has major employers ranging from TYR Tactical to OakCraft. The booming job market caused CNBC to rate Peoria as Number One in 2017

In large numbers, sports fans flock to Peoria because they want to see the San Diego Padres or the Seattle Mariners. Both teams have spring training at the Peoria Sports Complex. The stadium seats 12,300 for Cactus League games in March and April. In the fall, it hosts the Arizona Fall League.

The P83 District was developed to serve both the tourists and the community. It is home to dining, and shopping. Arizona Broadway Theater and an 18-theater movie complex provide entertainment. Another entertainment destination is the Peoria Center for Performing Arts.

Golf courses are another draw to the area. Among its best rated, there’s the Blackstone Country Club and the Quintero Golf Club.

The historic downtown attracts many visitors. The city has kept the area fresh by restoring old buildings and commissioning public art that adds a contemporary vibe.

Scenic Destinations In and Around Peoria

As the largest of 30 area parks in Peoria, Rio Vista, Pioneer and Paloma Community Parks are a fun place to enjoy the outdoors. They offer urban lakes for fishing, splash pads for the kids, and other activities.

Lake Pleasant is known for boating, skiing and fishing opportunities. It’s a great way to cool off when the desert heat gets to be too much.

Inside the same park, there is an unusual flat top hill with steep cliff sides that keep people out. Atop the hill, there are prehistoric ruins of a Hohokam village. Hiking is permitted, but the three-mile trek takes you through the desert and up a steep path with a hundred-foot drop.

If you want to see Hohokam Ruins without the steep climb, you can head up I-17 to see the 20-room cliff dwelling known as Montezuma Castle. Or, you can go a different direction and tour the Casa Grande Ruins. This national monument is home to the largest, most mysterious archeological find to date.

For a look at the old West, you can drive about an hour to Wickenburg. Known for its close proximity to Vulture gold mine, this city is about an hour from Peoria. The Desert Caballeros Western Museum is a fun indoor activity when you tire of sightseeing or hiking.