With French roots (fur traders from France canoed into the river valley in the 1600s), the oldest European settlement in Illinois and hometown of Betty Frieden is the largest city on the Illinois River, offering spectacular views from its RiverFront district. Agriculture and manufacturing are major economic drivers: Peoria is a major exporter of grain and livestock, while more than 200 companies make nearly 1,000 products, from road machinery to caskets. The city ranked #7 for Convention Center Size: with more than 100,000 square feet of exhibit space, Peoria Civic Center has an arena, theater, ballrooms, and meeting space. With the General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport offering direct flights to 11 destinations, Peoria ranked #18 for Connectivity, those two subcategories earning it #26 spot for Product overall. Things are only going to get better: a $130-million development of OSF HealthCare’s new headquarters in an iconic 114-year-old building downtown is in the works; the same organization is planning to build a $237-million cancer center; a nine-block Innovation District was recently approved; and multimillionaire Kim Blickenstaff is sharing his wealth with his hometown, funding multiple projects from a boutique hotel to a performing arts center.