One of the best locations to view Fall color along the Illinois River is from Peoria's famous Grandview Drive atop the Illinois River bluffs. Grandview Drive is a two and a half mile scenic road with adjacent parking areas through Peoria and Peoria Heights, Illinois. One of the first "linear parks" of its time, the park was designed by landscape architects Oscar F. Dubius and Frederic Klein. The residential area on the west of Grandview Drive, opposite the river, was added to the National Register of Historic Places as an historic district in 1996.
While in his post-presidency, Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Peoria's Grandview Drive as the "World's Most Beautiful Drive" during a 1910 visit. An exaggeration, the drive nevertheless offers gorgeous views of the Illinois River and its valley, along with views of some of the most prestigious and historic homes in the area.
In this view the camera is pointed toward the ENE, and on the other side of the river is the northwestern Tazewell County. The white tower seen in the distance along the right edge of this frame reveals the location of the Caterpillar Proving Ground. Caterpillar Inc. is the world's largest construction equipment manufacturer, and this location is the company's heavy equipment playground.
With a 2020 population of 113,150 (402,391 metro), Peoria is the seventh largest city in Illinois and is the largest city on the Illinois River. It also is the seat of Peoria County. Prior to prohibition, Peoria was the center of the whiskey industry in the United States. More than 12 distilleries operated in Peoria by the end of the 19th century, more than any other city in the U.S.
A major port on the Illinois River, Peoria is a trading and shipping center for a large agricultural area that produces corn, soybeans, and livestock. Although the economy is well diversified, the city's traditional manufacturing industries remain important and produce earthmoving equipment, metal products, lawn-care equipment, labels, steel towers, farm equipment, building materials, steel, wire, and chemicals. Until 2018, Peoria was the global and national headquarters for heavy equipment and engine manufacturer Caterpillar. The city is associated with the phrase "Will it play in Peoria?", which originated from the vaudeville era and was popularized by Groucho Marx.
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