East Peoria, IL

East Peoria is a city on the Illinois River directly across from Peoria. Its early settlement followed Illinois statehood, when people crossed from Fort Clark to the river's east side, and its modern story is strongly tied to Caterpillar and regional industry. The city also has a showy seasonal streak through the Festival of Lights, held from after Thanksgiving into early January. East Peoria feels riverfront, industrial, and civic, with bridges, hills, shopping, and Peoria's skyline always part of the scene.