History of Peoria, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois|Peoria County,{{GR|6}} Illinois, in the United States. As of the United States Census, 2000|2000 census, the city had a total population of 112,936. The Peoria Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 369,161 in 2005.[http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metropop/table01.csv US Census Bureau population estimates for Metropolitan Statistical Areas]
Peoria has become famous as a representation of the average United States|American city because of its demographics and its perceived mainstream Midwestern culture. On the Vaudeville circuit, it was said that if an act would succeed in Peoria, it would work anywhere. The question "Will it play in Peoria?" has now become a metaphor for whether something appeals to the American mainstream public, and Peoria is often used as a test market for new Product (business)|products, services, and public policy polling.{{cite news
| first = Stephen
| last = Ohlemacher
| url = http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007May17/0,4670,AverageState,00.html
| title = Early Primaries Don't Reflect U.S. Prefs
| publisher = FoxNews.com
| date = 2007-05-17
| accessdate = 2007-05-17
}}
Peoria is also headquarters for Caterpillar Inc., one of the 30 companies composing the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
source Wikipedia