Peoria is Arizona's ninth largest city with an estimated year 2005 population of 138,732. Peoria is located in the Northwest portion of the Valley of the Sun with the state capital of Phoenix and the neighboring city of Glendale to the east, and the retirement community of Sun City to the west. The total city area is 177.9 sq mi, stretching northward to include Lake Pleasant. Peoria's pleasant desert climate and wide array of attractions make it a very attractive place to live, do business, or visit.