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(named after the Peoria tribe) is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city was the fifth largest in Illinois and had a total population of 112,936; by 2007 it was the sixth largest city and had population of 113,546. The Peoria Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 372,487 in 2008, making it the third largest metropolitan area in the state after Chicagoland and the Metro-East portion of the St. Louis metropolitan area.
Peoria has become famous as a representation of the average 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 products, services, and public policy polling. It has withstood well the housing market crisis as its housing stock is very affordable in comparison to other markets around the US.
Peoria is the home of Ray LaHood, now serving as Secretary of Transportation in President Obama's cabinet. It is also headquarters for Caterpillar Inc., one of the 30 companies composing the Dow Jones Industrial Average.