Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and largest city of Idaho, a state in the United States of America. As of the 2000 census, it has a population of 199,787. It is the county seat of Ada County, and the primary city of the Boise metropolitan area. Boise's elevation is 2,842 feet.
North End: The Beat of Boise Tree-lined Harrison Boulevard's historic mansions set the tone for this old neighborhood. Including the downtown area, this northern district is referred to by locals as the North End. Young couples looking for charm are fixing up North End homes, creating a renewed interest in one of Boise's original neighborhoods.
East End: Mixing Old With New Like the North End, the area northeast of downtown Boise also boasts a historic street, Warm Springs Avenue. Posh Victorian homes make the avenue a tourist attraction. Many of the houses are geothermally heated, taking advantage of hot water sources for heat. Stretching high into the foothills, the East End also includes many modern homes with enviable views of the city.
Northwest: Horses and High Prices Merging farmland with modern subdivisions, this northwestern district is a good example of the changes Boise is undergoing. From its eastern boundary near Eagle, the district touches the Boise River to the south and stretches north to include some of Boise's most exclusive subdivisions and the Quail Hollow Golf Course.
Garden City: City Within City Named for historic gardens raised by Chinese immigrants, this small city within Boise's boundaries stretches along Chinden Boulevard, also named for a Chinese garden. The 50-year-old city has a tarnished past from legalized gambling in the late 1940s to adult bookstores. Today, its main attraction is the Western Idaho Fairgrounds, home to the Western Idaho Fair. Les Bois Park offers horse racing, while professional baseball is found at the Hawks Memorial Stadium. Park and history lovers enjoy Centennial Park, honoring Garden City's original Chinese residents.
Boise Bench: 1950s Suburbia Meets High-Tech Not that long ago, the Boise Bench was a mishmash of 1950s brick bungalows and grander homes overlooking downtown Boise and its string of parks. Today, the Bench's character has changed because of Hewlett-Packard (HP), one of Boise's largest private employers, and the Boise Towne Square Mall.
Southeast: Micron One word says it all for this southeastern district: Micron. Micron Technology's complex dominates the far eastern corner of this Boise neighborhood. Growing along with Micron, the area has sprouted subdivisions, housing Micron employees, and attractive greenspaces.
Southwest: Big Sky Just across Interstate 84, this southwestern neighborhood unfolds across a high desert plain. There is less of everything in this area, less development, less shopping and less services. The Boise Municipal Airport, Idaho Military History Museum, and National Interagency Fire Center are the tourist highlights.
Who would have predicted Boise's growth? From the butt of late night comedians' jokes to repeated listings on best places to live lists, Boise defies classification. Its humble homesteading beginnings continue to be seen in the friendly approach its residents take to visitors. Regardless of its future, Boise will always offer visitors historic and modern neighborhoods that brush up against spectacular scenery.
Downtown Boise, Idaho, as seen from the train depot
Boise City is located at 43°36'49" North, 116°14'16" West (43.613739, -116.237651)
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 165.7 km² (64.0 mi²). 165.2 km² (63.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.5 km² (0.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.33% water.
Demographics
Boise is now the third largest city in the Northwest, behind only Seattle and Portland, and ahead of Spokane and Tacoma. The city of Boise itself (not including the metro) has a greater population than Salt Lake City.
The median income for a household in the city is $42,432, and the median income for a family is $52,014. Males have a median income of $36,893 versus $26,173 for females. The per capita income for the city is $22,696. 8.4% of the population and 5.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 9.7% of those under the age of 18 and 6.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Boise is also rich in culture. It is home to the largest concentration of Basque people living outside of the Basque Country (encompassing parts of Spain and France) in the world, numbering about 20,000. There is a large Basque festival (known as Jaialdi) once every 5 years, and a vibrant Basque section of the city. Boise's mayor, David H. Bieter is of Basque descent.
Boise is also a regional hub for jazz and theater. The Gene Harris Jazz Festival is hosted in Boise each spring.
The city is home to a number of museums, including the Boise Art Museum, Idaho Historical Museum and the Discovery Center of Idaho. Several theater groups operate in the city, including the Idaho Shakespeare Festival. Boise Little Theatre and the Boise Contemporary Theatre among others.
On the first Thursday of each month, a gallery stroll is hosted in the city's core business district by the Downtown Boise Association.
The State Capitol in Boise, Idaho
A number of recreational opportunities are available, including extensive hiking and biking in the foothills to the immediate north of downtown and an extensive urban trail system called the Boise River Greenbelt that runs along the river. The Boise River itself is a common destination for fishing, swimming and rafting.
Bogus Basin Mountain Resort hosts several winter activities, including cross-country and downhill skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing. "Bogus" is just 16 miles outside city limits (less than an hour drive from downtown).
Minor professional sports teams in Boise include the short-season Class A Boise Hawks (Minor League Baseball), the Idaho Steelheads of the East Coast Hockey League, and the Idaho Stampede of the Continental Basketball Association.
The Boise State University campus is home to Velma V. Morrison Center for the Performing Arts, home to local and national fine arts performances; Bronco Stadium, the 30,000 seat football stadium known for its blue AstroTurf; and Taco Bell Arena, a 12,000 seat basketball and entertainment venue.
The MPC Computers Bowl football game is held in late December of each year, and pairs a team from the Western Athletic Conference with an at-large team.
The World Center for Birds of Prey is located just outside city limits, and is a key part of the re-establishment of the Peregrine falcon and the subsequent removal from the Endangered Species list. The center is currently breeding the very rare California condor, among many other rare and endangered species.
The city has been cited by publications like Forbes, Fortune and Sunset for quality of life.
