Peoria, Miami County, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peoria, Indiana
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 Peoria, Miami County, Indiana
Location in Indiana
Peoria, Miami County, Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Miami |
| Township | Butler |
| Elevation | 709 ft (216 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
46970
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| FIPS code | 18-58860 |
| GNIS feature ID | 441011 |
Peoria is a small, unincorporated community in Miami County, Indiana. This means it is a group of homes and businesses that is not officially a town or city with its own local government. It is located in Butler Township.
Contents
The Story of Peoria
Peoria was started in 1845 by a person named Isaac Litzenberger. He soon opened a store there. However, when the railroad was built in Miami County, it did not go through Peoria. Because of this, the community started to become less important.
Peoria was named after the Peoria Clan. This group is part of the Miami Indian Nation. They still live in Miami County today. The community has strong ties to how Native Americans and early settlers lived together in the mid-1800s. The settlers found good opportunities, much like the Native Americans, in this area near the Mississinewa River. Peoria became a helpful stop for travelers between the nearby communities of Peru, Wabash, and Marion. This was because it had a place to cross the river (a ford) and a trading post. It is also close to a historic Miami Indian trading spot called "Seven Pillars."
Peoria Church and Cemetery
The Peoria Church and Peoria Cemetery are the only remaining places from the early pioneer days. The Peoria Church was started by Benjamin Hahn, an early settler in Butler Township. Benjamin and his wife Anna decided to stay in the area after losing their first son there.
In 1856, Benjamin Hahn had a special religious experience. He then started a church on his own land. The church is an independent community church. It still has many connections to the Hahn family and other early settler families.
Mississinewa Lake and Other Fun Places
In 1962, the Army Corps of Engineers started a big project. They built the Mississinewa Lake Dam. As part of this project, the church and cemetery in Peoria were moved about a quarter of a mile away. Mississinewa Lake is still a popular spot all year round. People enjoy hunting and fishing there. In the summer, it is a great place for boating, swimming, camping, and hiking. There are also several state recreation areas next to the lake.
Other interesting places to visit in the area include:
- The Frances Slocum Burial Site and Cemetery, which is a special Miami Indian shrine.
- The Chief Richardville home.
- The Peru Circus Hall of Fame, which celebrates circus history.
- Cole Porter's family farm.
- The "Old Fashioned Garden," made famous by Cole Porter.
- The historic "Seven Pillars" site.
Students from Peoria attend schools in the Maconaquah Schools district.
Geography of Peoria
The land around Peoria is hilly. The Mississinewa River flows through it. Areas that are not used for farming are mostly covered with native Indiana hardwood trees.
