“ On a bluff north-east of the city is Glen Oak Park (103 acres) , modelled after Forest Park, St Louis, Missouri; in the south-western part of the city is Madison Park (88 acres) ; and in the lower part of the city is South Park (10 acres) . ”

“ In 1900 and in 1905 Peoria ranked second among the cities of Illinois in the value of its manufactures. The invested capital amounted in 1905 to $22,243,821, and the factory products were valued at $60,920,411. The principal industry is the manufacture of distilled liquors, which were valued in 1905 at $42,170,815. ”

“ Other important manufactures are agricultural implements ($2,309,962) , slaughter-house and meat-packing products ($1,480,398) , glucose, cooperage ($1,287,742) , malt liquors ($887,570) , foundry and machine-shop products, strawboard, automobiles, brick and stone, and flour and grist mill products. Peoria is also an important shipping point for grain and coal.
Peoria was named from one of the five tribes of the Illinois Indians. In 1680 La Salle, the explorer, built Fort Crèvecœur, on the lake shore bluffs, opposite the present city ”