It was named for the Peoria people, a tribe of Native Americans who were removed to Indian Territory from east of the Mississippi River during the 19th century.

Peoria began developing in 1891 as a mining camp for the Tri-State District, made up of parts of southwest Missouri, southeast Kansas, and northeast Indian Territory, now Oklahoma.

In 1897, ore production began moving farther north in Ottawa County.

In 1894 William Holmes conducted the first professional archaeological study in the future state at this site.

[4] The town is about 14.8 driving miles east-northeast of Miami, Oklahoma in the far northeastern corner of the state.

[7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2), all land.

The racial makeup of the town was 65.96% White, 24.11% Native American, 0.71% Pacific Islander, and 9.22% from two or more races.