Nicknamed the "City of Trees," Boise is the state capital of Idaho and its largest city. If you are considering getting a new start in life, you can't do much better than this emerging technology center within a fast-growing, mid-sized city.
Also the seat of Ada County, Boise has an estimated 193,161 residents. Census figures show tremendous growth since 1990, with the city's population increasing 41.7% in 15 years. As the anchor of the metropolitan area known as Treasure Valley, roughly 527,000 inhabitants can be found. Boise's racial make-up is primarily white non-hispanic residents with 88.6% of the population. According to U.S. Census reports, the average resident age was 35.2 years in 2005. The average household size was 2.3 people. Families made up 61% of the homes, including 48% married-couple families. The largest ancestries claimed by city residents were German (20.6%) and English (17.3%). Numbering about 15,000 people, Boise's Basque community is the largest in the nation and third largest in the world.
In 2004, Forbes magazine ranked Treasure Valley as the seventh best place to do business in the country. At the heart of this metro region, Boise is considered the commercial, financial, and cultural center of the northern Rockies. The city is sixth in the country for its number of corporate headquarters. Among these, semiconductor manufacturer Micron Technology is the top job provider with 9,500 employees. The high tech industry has become vital in recent years, with many people moving to Boise for work. Unemployment has been relatively low at just 4.4% in February of 2005. Household income in Boise holds near the national average, just 100 dollars above the ,242 annual figure in 2005. Per capita income is slightly below the mean, but Boise families fare much better at ,000 higher than the U.S. Roughly, four out of every five residents work in the city. That helps a low commute time averaging 18 minutes, seven below the nation.
Downtown, a blend of historic and modern buildings greets Boise's visitors, as the city remains close to its western heritage. Affordable housing was in great supply in 2005 with a median home value of 3,700. Housing prices were up over 27% from the reported average in 2000. Two-thirds of city dwellings were single-unit structures, 63% of homes being owner occupied. Median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners was ,144, while renters paid 7. Rates for electricity and natural gas are deemed among the lowest in the country. Despite fast population growth, the criminal element does not appear to be a factor with a low number of murders for a city of this size. Boise has been below the U.S. crime index for many years. The city boasts more high school and college graduates than the national average. Over 92% of adults age 25 and older have a high school diploma, nearly 34% hold a bachelor's degree. Post-secondary schools here include Boise State University with full-time enrollment topping 12,000 students.
At 2,704 feet above sea level in a wide river valley, Boise rests at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. The Boise River runs through the heart of the city. The climate is tempered by Pacific Ocean air streams. Summers are dry with a few hot periods. Warm Chinook winds bring periods of mild weather to commonly cold winters. The average temperature in January is 29.9 degrees, 72.2 in August. July records the hottest temps with highs averaging 89 degrees. The average annual precipitation is 12.11 inches. Once a remote, dry region, moving to Boise was difficult. But then, the area became livable. The efforts of many brought irrigation from dams and reservoirs to help farming and provide water and hydroelectric power. The city is now amid a fertile agricultural area. The river is popular for tubing, canoeing and fishing. The nearby mountains provide skiing, hiking, fishing and camping locations.
