Boise
[key], city (2020 pop. 235,684),
state
capital and seat of Ada co., SW Idaho, on the Boise River; inc. 1864. The
largest city in Idaho, Boise is an important trade and transportation
center. Food processing and the manufacture of paper and wood products,
computer hardware and software, semiconductors, and electronics are the
major industries. Many state and federal government offices are there, as
are Boise State Univ. and the Idaho State Historical Musuem. A gold rush in
the Boise valley and the establishment of a military post in 1863 led to the
founding of Boise City, which grew as a distribution center for miners and
became the capital of Idaho Territory in 1864. Later, particularly with the
building of Arrow Rock Dam (1911–15), the region was developed for
farming, and Boise drew wealth from orchards and fields rather than mines.
Increased irrigation, hydroelectric power, and flood control projects
associated with the Boise River have increased the area's agricultural
yield. The city has enjoyed strong population growth since the 1990s.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: U.S. Political Geography
