Peoria, Ohio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peoria, Ohio
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A park in Peoria
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 Peoria, Ohio
Location in Ohio
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| Country | United States |
| State | Ohio |
| Counties | Union |
| Elevation | 1,027 ft (313 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
43067, 43040
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| Area code(s) | 937, 326 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1049075 |
Peoria is a small community in Union County, Ohio. It's not a city or a town with its own government. Instead, it's an "unincorporated community." This means it's a group of homes and buildings that are part of a larger area, like Liberty Township.
You can find Peoria along Raymond Road. It's about 1.75 miles south of Raymond. It's also about 6.5 miles northwest of Marysville.
A post office opened in Peoria on September 26, 1872. It helped people send and receive mail for many years. However, this post office closed on August 11, 1967. Today, mail for Peoria comes from larger sorting centers. It is then delivered through the post offices in Marysville and Raymond.
How Peoria Began
Peoria was first planned out in 1870 by a person named Joseph K. Richey. He created a map showing 28 "town lots." These lots were plots of land where people could build homes or businesses. Most of them were about 66 feet wide and 165 feet deep. Each lot was about a quarter of an acre.
The community started at an important spot. This was where the new Marysville-Newton Road met the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad. Newton was the old name for Raymond. This location was perfect for a new settlement.
The Railroad's Role
By the early 1880s, another railroad line was built. This was the Ohio Central Railroad. It later became known as the Toledo and Ohio Central Railway. This new line crossed the first railroad line in Peoria.
The Peoria railroad station was very important. It was the only station in Liberty Township that could handle both cargo and passengers. Trains would stop there to pick up and drop off goods and people. The station also had a water tank and a coaling tower. These were used to refuel the steam engines that powered the trains. You can still see parts of these old structures today.
A Busy Center
Because of the railroad station and the post office, Peoria grew quickly. It became a busy place for business. People could find many things there, including:
- Stores
- Churches
- Warehouses for goods
- Hotels
- Small businesses, like a barber shop
- A mill
- A public school
In 1910, about 150 people lived in Peoria. It was a lively village with many services.
Peoria Today
Many things have changed in Peoria since its early days. The businesses that once thrived there are now gone. The old school and churches are also no longer active.
After the post office closed in 1967, Peoria became mostly a place where people live. Most of the shopping and services moved to nearby Raymond and Marysville. The population of Peoria today is still around 150 people. It remains a quiet residential community.
