The population was 22, at the census. It is home to many Caterpillar Inc. Located just east of the Illinois River, East Peoria has many points of access to and from the Peoria area. It is also the location of the Festival of Lights, an annual Christmas light display that runs from November to January and draws thousands of visitors from all over central Illinois.
This settlement was originally named "Fondulac Township", with fondulac meaning "bottom of the lake" in French. Over the course of a few years, more settlers arrived. Jacob L. Wilson, Thomas Camelin, and a man simply known as "Donohue" established themselves in the new township, with Wilson eventually becoming the Justice of the Peace. In February , an additional plat of land was laid out for a town named "Bluetown" by William C.
Cleveland, who was the Tazewell County Surveyor. The petition for this plat was filed by Joseph Schertz and accepted April 1, The origins of the name "Bluetown" are claimed to be from Joseph Schertz, who "always wore blue smocks at their work. On July 1, , citizens of both Fondulac and Bluetown held a referendum at the public school to propose both towns be incorporated as one.
This proposition passed by a vote of 30—12, and the two towns were merged into the Village of Hilton. Nicholas Slagle was named the first president, and he appointed Thomas J. Floyd and Joseph Moseman as the village clerk and treasurer, respectively. Peter Schertz, H. Cappo, J. Vogelgesang, Samuel Allen Sr. The village existed as Hilton for five years.
In October, , the name was changed to the "Village of East Peoria", since it was east of the city of Peoria. The name underwent a final change in April , when it became the "City of East Peoria". According to the census, East Peoria has a total area of Within East Peoria, there are 22, people, 9, households, and 5, families residing in the city. The population density is 1, There are 10, housing units.
