Overview
- Boise sits halfway between Salt Lake City and Portland, along the Boise River and foothills of the Rocky Mountains in southwestern Idaho.
- Some recent national recognition:
- Best Towns 2010: #1 Overall Town in Western U.S. (Outside Magazine)
- Ranked #3 in 2011 Top 25 places to retire (CNN)
- 4th Best City to Live, Work and Play (Kiplinger)
- Top Ten Cities to Live In: #10
- One of the Best Places to Live (US News & World Report)
- Best places for business and careers: # 2 (Forbes Magazine)
- Boomtowns: Hottest cities for entrepreneurs (midsize cities): # 9 (Inc.)
- The city’s zoo has over 200 animals representing over 80 species from around the world.
- 4,218.54 acres of parkland, including The Greenbelt, a 25-mile riverfront pathway
Brief History
May 1833 – Captain Bonneville viewed present day Boise
March 3, 1863 – Territory proclamation by Abraham Lincoln
July 5, 1863 – Major Pinkney Lugenbeel founded Fort Boise (military outpost)
July 7, 1863 – City platted by early pioneers
December 7, 1864 – Boise established as the territorial capital
January 11, 1866 – Boise incorporated in a charter by the territorial government
November 18, 1867 – The first major of Boise took office.
Stats
- Population – 214,264
- % over 50: 30%
- Median home price: $120,000
- Top state income tax: 7.8%*
- Cost of living index: 97
- Marital Status 2010:
- Median income: $45,248
- Median home price: $149,386
- Unemployment rate 2010: 8.8% (Average)
- Cost of living: Average
