Nampa, Idaho
Development
The second largest city in Idaho, Nampa is just 20 miles west of the state capital (and largest city) Boise, Idaho. Nampa is the largest city in Canyon County and started to develop as a city around 1880 when the Oregon Short Line Railroad built tracks through the town. The railway passed from Wyoming to Oregon. In one year, the town grew from 15 to 50 homes and by 1890 the city was incorporated. Today, the Nampa Train Depot is still one of the most beautiful buildings in downtown.
In the early 1920’s Lakeview park was developed along with a band stand. Today it is Nampa’s largest park.
In 1909, a fire burned several blocks of downtown Nampa including the Dewy Palace Hotel. Relics from the hotel, including the chandelier can be found at the Canyon County Historical Museum which is now housed in the Nampa Train Depot.
The first indoor shopping mall in the Treasure Valley, Karcher Mall, was opened mid 1960 in Nampa.
Today, the city has undergone major revitalization with a new library and public safety building as well as public art, street beautification projects, and grants for historic facades. The city of Nampa has 24 parks, a recreation center, and two golf courses. Nampa is home to the Ford Idaho Center which offers a 10,500 seat amphitheater, a 12,000+ seat arena, a horse park, and a sports center. The Ford Idaho Center is used for tradeshows, concerts, the Snake River Stampede Rodeo, BSU track meets, and more.
A farmer’s market brings life to the city every Saturday in the summer time.
Today the city is growing at a rapid pace. Major retailers such as Costco, Walmart, Macy’s, Kohl’s and more are located at the Karcher Interchange.
Lake Lowell
Also in 1909 Theodore Roosevelt established the Deer Flat National Refuge to increase wildlife conservation. Water from the Boise River is channeled through the New York Canal and fills a reservoir known locally as “Lake Lowell.” Residents enjoy the lower dam recreation area which offers boating, bird watching, swimming and fishing as well as nature walks. It is an important refuge for water fowl and Canadian geese as well as breeding grounds for birds and mammals. Lake Lowell’s unique environment includes wetlands, open water, riparian and forest habitats, and grasslands. The northern shore of Lake Lowell also has a visitors’ center.
Rodeo
Since 1937, Nampa has been host to the Snake River Stampede Rodeo (one of the top 12 in the pro rodeo circuit). This renown rodeo began as a bucking contest during a fall festival. In the 1930’s the event changed from a harvest festival to a summer time celebration and joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Country mega stars have been brought in to sing at the halftime including Reba McEntire and Gene Autry.
2010 Census Demographics
“As of the census[24] of 2010, there were 81,557 people, 27,729 households, and 20,016 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,614.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,009.6/km2). There were 30,507 housing units at an average density of 978.1 per square mile (377.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 82.9% White, 0.7% African American, 1.2% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 10.7% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.9% of the population.
There were 27,729 households of which 44.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.8% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.36.
The median age in the city was 30.1 years. 32.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.6% were from 25 to 44; 18.8% were from 45 to 64; and 10.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.”
Source: Wikipedia and Nampa Economic Development: http://id-nampa.civicplus.com/887/Home
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_River_Stampede_Rodeo