Boise Idaho History
Boise, Idaho, boasts more than 50 parks, a number of museums, a Basque market and the restored 1927 Egyptian Theatre. Many early pioneers bypassed Boise to seek their fortunes in the west coast, but those who backtracked were rewarded with the gold and silver that came from the hills around the Boise River and earned the name, the Treasure Valley.
It was the 1862 gold rush to Boise Basin that started the progress of the State of Idaho. On February 4, 1864 Boise County was established.
The name “boise”, comes from the French word “boise” for “wooded”. The story is told of the French-Canadian fur trappers of the early 1800s who came over the mountains. Looking down on the Boise River Valley they exclaimed “Les Bois!” (the trees!). This is the origin of its nickname ‘The City of Trees’.
Today, the Historic Downtown District has numerous brick buildings from the 19th century that have been restored, so the Boise skyline is a blend of old and new.
Boise and the Great Outdoors
Citizens of Boise take much pleasure in the great outdoors and in the western history that surrounds them. One attractive feature of the quality of life here is that much of the prominent outdoor world of Idaho is accessible to citizens and travelers within the city.
Boise’s pride is its more than 50 parks. Three of them, the “Ribbon of Jewels,” are close together, next to the river, and all named after women: Julia Davis, Ann Morrison, and Kathryn Albertson.
Julia Davis Park is home to, a zoo, four museums, a band shell, and a train that tours the city in summer. She houes the Boise Art Museum, the Idaho Historical Museum, and the Idaho Black History Museum, located in an old church next to the depot for the Boise Tour Train. Beyond the park’s Rose Garden is Zoo Boise, and still beyond that lies the interactive Discovery Center of Idaho. She is 87-acres in total.
Ann Morrison Memorial Park is even bigger at153 acres and features baseball, football, and soccer fields, a playground, a pond, tennis courts and walking trails. Kathryn Albertson Park is a 40-acre bird refuge with wide paths, ponds, and gazebos.
However, the gem is the Boise River Green Belt, 16 miles long, connecting Lucky Peak Reservoir to Eagle Island State Park. It has 9.5 miles of biking trails and paved hiking , plus trout fishing, river floating inner tubing, rafting, and picnicking along the shores of the river. Within it is Julia Davis Park and some of the city’s major cultural resources noted above including an outdoor Shakespeare Theater for summer performances.
Boise Today
Boise has an energetic and progressive look to it. There are many major downtown businesses districts and a major shopping center within four miles from the downtown. Boise is the home of several Fortune 500 companies, such as Morrison-Knudsen, Boise Cascade, and Simplot. Boise is home to its share of high-tech business, but earlier its history, agriculture sustained the state.
Recent Reviews on Boise Idaho
Boise ranks fourth on top ten list of best places to live – “To hit the thriving local arts scene, cruise downtown. Boise’s free “Alive After Five” concert series brings musicians and other entertainers to the Grove Plaza each Wednesday during the summer.” | US News, June 2009
Boise makes the grade. Recognized as a top ten city for business and careers – “For the fourth straight year, Boise landed in the top 5 in what may be the most prestigious of city rankings compiled by national business magazines. A high Forbes ranking provides a marketing tool for state and local business recruiters like the Idaho Commerce Department and the Boise Valley Economic Partnership.” | Forbes, March 2009
Boise ranked the best overall town in the Western United States – “Boise, to put it mildly, has been on a roll. Government, education, and health care remain core industries, but dozens of high-tech startups have moved to town, joining behemoths like Hewlett-Packard and Micron Technology.” | Outside Magazine, August 2010
Boise cited as the sixth best city in the United States for business – “It’s four seasons here but it’s not arduous weather. Boise has a diverse economy, and has proven to be an incubator for entrepreneurs, as evidenced by its high concentration of Russell 2000 companies.” | MarketWatch.com, December 2009
Boise recognized as one of the top ten cities in the West – “It’s a high-tech center, one of the best places in the country to start a business. And the great skiing at Bogus Basin doesn’t hurt.” | Life Magazine, June 2010