Reviews & Comments
Peoria, IL
The Caterpillar mining town -
5/27/2007Well for some, Peoria is a great large town (It is not quite a city) to live in. I have lived here off and on for 18 years and I have seen it decline rapidly. The town is getting more slum-like as time goes on. Now it looks like the South Side has expanded all the way out to the Northwoods Mall area. Businesses are closing and nothing is coming in to replace them. Nothing says decline of civilization like vacant boarded up buildings. Also the only real employment in this area is Caterpillar. If you work in any of the plants (or if you plan to) expect 10-12 hour days 6-7 days a week. Caterpillar knows it is the only job in town so it tends to exploit their employees. There is no real art and culture here. Sure there is a big new art museum coming, but guess who is sponsoring it... Yep! Caterpillar. Nothing says fine art than tractors and truck engines!!! Really the only thing to do around here is stay boozed up. The 4 o' clock bars are great and really fun IF YOU ARE 21... After 25, the "bar scene" is overkill. Yes there are sporting events (Baseball, hockey)... Peoria could stand to get a professional basketball team here, that might increase some tourism dollars to come in and that Peoria's city council might think about working on its future entertainment visions. They fought the gambling boat and they fought Hooters from coming in. The city council here must all be 75 year old conservative right-wing religious fanatics... They are worried about what kind of image Hooters sends out... Old out dated values, declining city care and upkeep (sure the interstate looks great, but have you seen the inner-city streets?). It is no wonder that the only increasing commodity in this area is methamphetamine. When meth/crank is becoming the drug of choice for entertainment, means the city is dying or already dead... I would compare Peoria Illinois to Marysville/Yuba City California. If you plan on moving here, I would consider somewhere else. I have tried this town and stuck it out as long as I could stand (combined total of 18 years) and I have seen this town in its highs and lows (Remember; "Last one out, turn out the lights" era of the early 80's... Peoria was a nicer city to live in then! There is a reason the housing costs are cheap here... And it is NOT for positive reasons. To those that love it here, good luck to you... I am turning out the lights where I am at because I am out of here...