Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River. Located on Interstate 74, we’re home to Bradley University, the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (where mass production of penicillin was developed), the Midwest Affiliate of St. Jude Research Hospital and the headquarters of Caterpillar, Maui Jim, RLI, and others.
Peoria is globally connected. The Illinois River is used heavily by barges to transport bulk goods. More than 3 million tons of cargo pass through local locks each year, providing access from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico and beyond. The Peoria area is served by three Interstate highways: Interstate 74, which runs from northwest to southeast through the downtown area, Interstate 474, a southern bypass of I-74, and Interstate 155, which runs south from I-74 in Morton to Interstate 55 in Lincoln which connects to Springfield and St. Louis.
For more information on any of these programs please contact:
City of Peoria
Economic Development Office
419 Fulton St. Ste 207
Peoria, IL 61602
Phone: (309) 494-8640
