Peoria has the singular distinction of being the largest city in the Northwest Valley. This is no ordinary accomplishment, as the Northwest Valley is a very expansive area to begin with! The developed areas that are nearby include the city of Glendale to the south. Both El Mirage and Surprise are slightly to the north and west.Due north is barren desert that awaits the arrival of some imaginative developer who can wrestle living space fit for humans from this almost lunar landscape. But you don't have to be any kind of rocket-man to enjoy the happy living in Peoria- one of the most All-American cities you'll be able to find in this rapidly changing state.Peoria Northern Avenue to the south; Lake Pleasant to the west and 67th and 75thAvenues along the shifting eastern grounds.

This oddly shaped city of over 115 square miles continues to grow at unpredictable times and in unexpected manners making living in Peoria an exciting thing to do.Great access to the entire Valley of the Sun has made the city of Peoria a perfect choice for the majority of residents. The Loop gets you to Interstate 17 to the north and Interstate 10 in the south so that you can get into and out of Peoria when you have to. Close proximity to the freeway allows drivers choices of routes to various parts of the metropolitan Phoenix area and beyond.

Climate.The climate is typical of the southwest. There is a mild winter that is balanced by a long hot, dry summer.

Many have claimed that the dry, hot summer conditions have helped to relive many of their allergy symptoms.Summer days are clear and spectacular and the temperatures are truly remarkable. Spring and autumn are mild transitions into the other seasons. There is a brief monsoon season that is truly extraordinary.Peoria History.So how do you think this all happened? The one thing that everybody has always believed is that something was going to happen in Peoria- and id finally has.

It all began in the 1880's, when William J. Murphy quit his journey west and decided to settle in right here in Peoria with a vision. Murphy was hard-pressed for sustenance- he was desperate and realized that his only hope for life was in the development of agriculture through irrigation. In his race against time and the cruel climate Murphy sought to use into a livable situation.

Then he got the idea to try to profit off his experience and sent glowing reports to the east about how happy he was in the middle of the desert. Nobody know anything, as there were neither pictures or phone- so he convinced some people to make this long, treacherous trip just to settle out here.The first eastern families to arrive were from Peoria, Illinois.

TO reward them for their uncommon bravery Murphy made them happy by naming the place after that town. In that way they were not homesick and were more inclined to stay put. From that moment on, the area has turned a profit.In 1889 the post office and a small and barely adequate one classroom school were established.

Peoria remained an agricultural community up until 1954, when it was incorporated.My how things have changed! Today Peoria is a city swelling at the seams with appears to be limitless numbers of highly educated and diverse individuals who are all ready to work together in this alabaster community thereby virtually assuring Peoria's future.Once the city of Peoria was a rural agricultural small town, but today it is a growing suburban community. It is a dynamic desert city. So come and be a part of this sensation.

The feeling is infectious! Get into it and let it get into you.Outdoor Recreation.Peoria's claim to fame is that it is the "Gateway to Lake Pleasant.

" Lake Pleasant Regional Park is known as one of the finest water recreation areas in Arizona. The lake is the second largest lake in the state. It was built to store water from the Agua Fria River and the Central Arizona Project. Most of the lake is encompassed by untouched desert land.

This oasis in the Arizona desert is a sight to see. Just think about it, in a place that is in the middle of a desert to be on the way to water is really noteworthy. Take the route so you can find out.

Lake Pleasant offers a full service marina in Pleasant Harbor.Peoria residents flock like seagulls to Lake Pleasant year round for boating, sailing, swimming, and more water fun. There is also hiking trails, camping, and picnicking. Lake Pleasant Regional Park is one of the many perks to living in the city of Peoria.Peoria Entertainment.Downtown Peoria has revealed a new face so that everybody can know.

The area has been restored, renovated and renewed. "Out with the old and in with the new" is the unofficial motto of this place that provides those coming here from other places their very own piece of the pie.A new city hall, public library, and public safety complex have energized the area. Pioneer Days and Fall Fest are two of the community's activities that are hosted in downtown Peoria. The community is working hard to continue its small town feeling while expanding its entertainment calendar to include the ever increasing number of strange and diverse events.The conveniently located Peoria Sports Complex is home of the baseball spring training games for the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners.

There are 10,000 seats and 12 lighted practice fields. The complex also has concerts, festivals, car shows, an Annual Fourth of July Extravaganza, and other events which create a friendly hometown feeling that Peoria residents enjoy every day.

Steven Thomas Yacono is a legal scholar, educator and writer who has traveled extensively over the course past decade. From Beijing to Barstow and Xiamen to Sedona, his journeys have provided a wealth of experiences about fascinating people and places to share with interested readers. You can find out more about Arizona at http://www.

arizonan.com; and to plan your next trip visit http://www.on-holiday.com.Your comments are welcomed. Please direct correspondence to R.

Steven Thomas Yacono at aztreking@hotmail.com.

By: R. Steven Thomas Yacono