Before Peoria, the first thing there was a French fort built in 1680 by the explorer La Salle, a French explorer.  Later settlements in the area where Peoria would one day stand included more by the French, Indians, and other colonists in the area.  Peoria was incorporated as the city we know today in 1845.  Peoria is a major shipping center, port, and trade route for a large agricultural area!  Peoria is highly industrialized.  Some of the products made in Peoria are earth-moving equipment and chemicals!