Comments on: Peoria Illinois, 1908 http://peoriaillinoisan.blogpeoria.com/2007/04/20/peoria-illinois-1908/ Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:57:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Peoria Illinois Local Blog » Peoria Police Department Offers information and news on http://peoriaillinoisan.blogpeoria.com/2007/04/20/peoria-illinois-1908/#comment-30402 Peoria Illinois Local Blog » Peoria Police Department Offers information and news on Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:16:36 +0000 http://peoriaillinoisan.blogpeoria.com/2007/04/20/peoria-illinois-1908/#comment-30402 [...] Peoria Illinoisan ” Peoria Illinois, 1908 Peoria Illinois, 1908. Posted in Uncategorized at 4:51 pm by PeoriaIllinoisan … peoplekind) says that the estimated 2003 Peoria city population is 112,000 and … [...] [...] Peoria Illinoisan ” Peoria Illinois, 1908 Peoria Illinois, 1908. Posted in Uncategorized at 4:51 pm by PeoriaIllinoisan … peoplekind) says that the estimated 2003 Peoria city population is 112,000 and … [...]

]]> By: jw http://peoriaillinoisan.blogpeoria.com/2007/04/20/peoria-illinois-1908/#comment-11765 jw Sat, 21 Apr 2007 19:01:43 +0000 http://peoriaillinoisan.blogpeoria.com/2007/04/20/peoria-illinois-1908/#comment-11765 The US Bureau of the Census (which has the most confusing and worthless web site known to peoplekind) says that the estimated 2003 Peoria city population is 112,000 and change (forgot to write down the whole number). This is down like 24 people from the 2000 census. It's worth noting that their census projections, which they do constantly, are very often wrong and based on crappy information. (I worked for the 1980 census in Peoria and LOTS of people were never counted.) In 1908, the year in question above, Peoria had 85,000 people in the city. At that time, Tazewell and Woodford counties were mostly agricultural. Tazewell County now has a population of about 130,000, more than the city of Peoria. Woodford is around 35,000. Had so many people not moved to Tazewell county after WWII, the city would be much larger than it is now, perhaps in the 175,000 range. Why did so many move across the river? Ask your parents, they know. Chicago continues to loose people in huge numbers, which is why Aurora will soon pass Rockford as #2, and Naperville is closing in on #3. Joliet has also passed Peoria. Springfield is just ahead of us, but mostly because there are very few suburbs and the city just keeps annexing westward. Champaign and Urbana combined are now larger than Peoria. So, I think the answer is in geography. Peoria city lost a number of residents to the counties to the east and city government never seemed much interested in doing anything about it. Which is why I think the only solution is to do what Indianapolis did in the 60's, annex everything in the county that isn't already incorporated. That would add about 40,000 people right there. There is also a statistic from about the same era that Peoria industry contributed 1/16th of ALL federal tax revenue. The US Bureau of the Census (which has the most confusing and worthless web site known to peoplekind) says that the estimated 2003 Peoria city population is 112,000 and change (forgot to write down the whole number). This is down like 24 people from the 2000 census. It’s worth noting that their census projections, which they do constantly, are very often wrong and based on crappy information. (I worked for the 1980 census in Peoria and LOTS of people were never counted.)

In 1908, the year in question above, Peoria had 85,000 people in the city. At that time, Tazewell and Woodford counties were mostly agricultural. Tazewell County now has a population of about 130,000, more than the city of Peoria. Woodford is around 35,000.

Had so many people not moved to Tazewell county after WWII, the city would be much larger than it is now, perhaps in the 175,000 range. Why did so many move across the river? Ask your parents, they know.

Chicago continues to loose people in huge numbers, which is why Aurora will soon pass Rockford as #2, and Naperville is closing in on #3. Joliet has also passed Peoria. Springfield is just ahead of us, but mostly because there are very few suburbs and the city just keeps annexing westward. Champaign and Urbana combined are now larger than Peoria.

So, I think the answer is in geography. Peoria city lost a number of residents to the counties to the east and city government never seemed much interested in doing anything about it.

Which is why I think the only solution is to do what Indianapolis did in the 60’s, annex everything in the county that isn’t already incorporated. That would add about 40,000 people right there.

There is also a statistic from about the same era that Peoria industry contributed 1/16th of ALL federal tax revenue.

]]> By: PeoriaIllinoisan http://peoriaillinoisan.blogpeoria.com/2007/04/20/peoria-illinois-1908/#comment-11754 PeoriaIllinoisan Sat, 21 Apr 2007 17:27:55 +0000 http://peoriaillinoisan.blogpeoria.com/2007/04/20/peoria-illinois-1908/#comment-11754 Beautiful Homes, Fine Churches and Hospitible Peoria are about the only things we have left from that list. Beautiful Homes, Fine Churches and Hospitible Peoria are about the only things we have left from that list.

]]> By: C. J. Summers http://peoriaillinoisan.blogpeoria.com/2007/04/20/peoria-illinois-1908/#comment-11747 C. J. Summers Sat, 21 Apr 2007 15:17:26 +0000 http://peoriaillinoisan.blogpeoria.com/2007/04/20/peoria-illinois-1908/#comment-11747 And 100 years later we have, what, 102,000 people? My, how far we've come. In fairness, prohibition really hurt the city. And 100 years later we have, what, 102,000 people? My, how far we’ve come.

In fairness, prohibition really hurt the city.

]]>