Boise, Idaho
19 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1892 and the latest in 1981. It stands in the Boise City census division. It lies in ZIP code area 83702. It stands on Freestone Creek. The Survey maps it on the Boise South quadrangle. 235,684 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 2,703 feet above sea level.
Research this city
On record in Boise
Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.
On the National Register 12 of 144 shown
Assay OfficeNational Historic Landmark · listed 1966
Walter Abbs Houselisted 1982
Ada Theaterlisted 1974
Alexander Houselisted 1972
Alexanderslisted 1978
Anduiza Hotellisted 2003
Artesian Water Co. Pumphouse and Wellslisted 1979
Barber Dam and Lumber Milllisted 1978
Boise Capitol Area Districtlisted 1976
Boise City National Banklisted 1978
Boise High School Campuslisted 1982
Boise Historic Districtlisted 1977
Population over time
2 figuresBoise grew from 205,671 to 235,684 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 205,671 | |
| 2020 | 235,684 | +30,013 (+15%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
9 surveys from 19 printed sheetsMatched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.
- 1892 USGS Boise quadrangle1:125000
- 1897 USGS Boise quadrangle1:125000, 4 printings
- 1954 USGS Boise quadrangle1:62500, 2 printings
- 1954 USGS Boise South quadrangle1:24000, 2 printings
- 1955 USGS Boise quadrangle1:250000
- 1958 USGS Boise quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1962 USGS Boise quadrangle1:250000
- 1972 USGS Boise South quadrangle1:24000, 4 printings
- 1981 USGS Boise quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings
Fires near this place
42 since 1992Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 42 fires within 5 miles of Boise between 1992 and 2019, burning about 18,634 acres in total. 4 started naturally. 3 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 16 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 6 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 5 |
| Natural | 4 |
| Fireworks | 4 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 3 |
| Debris and open burning | 1 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 1 |
| Smoking | 1 |
| Other causes | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 September 2018 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 70 acres | Boise District | RA 11 ADA CO |
| 27 September 1999 | Fireworks | 2.0 acres | Boise District | OVERLOOK |
| 25 September 2001 | Natural | 1.0 acres | Boise District | 8THSTXTENS |
| 21 September 2014 | Smoking | 3.0 acres | Boise District | SUNNY |
| 13 September 2007 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 8.0 acres | Boise District | BOGUS BASIN |
| 9 August 2001 | Equipment and vehicle use | 2.0 acres | Boise District | BLUE CAR |
| 30 August 1999 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 24 acres | Boise District | ROCKY CANY |
| 28 August 2016 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Boise District | RA11 BFD |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
10 of 62 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 62 workings within 5 miles of Boise: 41 past producers, 10 producers, 5 unknowns, 4 occurrences. 10 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Gold, Stone, Dimension, Diatomite. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geothermal Location | Geothermal | Occurrence | ||
| Golden Star Group | Gold, Copper, Lead, Silver | Past Producer | ||
| Picket Pin Mine | Gold, Lead, Zinc | Past Producer | Vein | |
| Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Diatomite Occurrence | Diatomite | Occurrence | Sedimentary | |
| Keltic Gold Mine | Gold, Silver | Past Producer | Vein | |
| Morning Star Mine | Gold, Silver | Past Producer | Vein | |
| Old Boise Stone Company Quarry | Stone, Dimension | Past Producer | Sandstone | |
| Perlite Deposit | Perlite | Occurrence | ||
| Rip Rap Pit-Gowen Field | Stone, Dimension | Unknown |
Storms near this place
48 since 1993Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Boise in 48 storm reports between 1993 and 2024: 23 thunderstorm wind, 10 hail, 5 flash flood, 4 flood. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2023 | Flash Flood | Boise | $1,000,000 | Thunderstorms produced heavy rain across portions of the Lower Treasure Valley, including the city of Boise. Social media, weather spotter, and emergency manager reports indicated localized flooding. |
| September 1997 | Flash Flood | Boise | $60,000 | During the evening of September 11, a flash flood occurred in the foothills of the Boise Mountains. The foothills had received significant rainfall all day long. Between 500 pm and 600 pm MST a heavy shower dumped 4 tenths of an inch of rain in 9 minutes on the foothills triggering flash flooding into the north end of Boise. The wall of mud and debris was estimated at 15 feet high as it breached six flood control dams and washed over a golf course. While most of the damage consisted of mud and debris on local roadways, the golf course sustained damage and 12 houses were slightly damaged at the foundations. No injuries were reported. As of publishing , damages to roads in the city and clean up costs were estimated at at least 60,000 dollars. |
| September 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Boise | $20,000 | no account filed |
| July 2015 | Flash Flood | Boise | $10,000 | Heavy rain from slow moving thunderstorms caused flash flooding in the Boise metro area. Over an inch of rain fell in less than an hour across portions of Boise. Flash flooding was reported in the downtown area and in the north and northwest parts of the city. |
| September 1998 | Lightning | Boise | $10,000 | no account filed |
| September 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Boise | $8,000 | no account filed |
| April 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Boise | $5,000 | no account filed |
| May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Boise | - | A strong outflow boundary from a thunderstorm damaged several power lines around the Boise metropolitan area and Garden Valley. Around 2,000-3,000 people were estimated to be without power in both of those regions due to wind damage. |
| September 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Boise | - | A large spruce tree was knocked down at Morris Hill Cemetery. |
| September 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Boise | - | The public reported a large spruce tree was knocked down along with old juniper trees. Idaho Power reported that this caused 2000 customers to be without power in the Boise North End. |
| June 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Boise | - | A tree fell on Park Center Boulevard and Highland Street, which blocked several lanes. |
| June 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Boise | - | An NWS employee measured a wind gust of 50 knots in downtown Boise. |
| June 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Boise | - | An NWS employee reported 50 knots of wind in southeast Boise. |
| May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Boise | - | A couple of large trees were knocked down near Quinn's Pond on the Boise Greenbelt. |
| March 2023 | Heavy Rain | Boise | - | The mesonet station GW0891 in Boise measured 1.09 inches of rain. |
| March 2023 | Heavy Rain | Boise | - | The mesonet station at BSUI1 measured 1.32 inches of heavy rain. |
| August 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Boise | - | The KBOI ASOS at The Boise airport measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 60 MPH. Downed trees and power poles were reported across Ada County. |
| August 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Boise | - | Thunderstorms that moved across Ada County caused damage around the Boise area, including tree tops torn off, a large tree snapped at its base, and residential fences blown down. |
| August 2009 | Hail | Boise | - | A trained spotter reported large chunks of hail a little smaller than golf balls. |
| May 2008 | Hail | Boise | - | A trained spotter reported 50 MPH winds and hail averaging three quarters of an inch and a few stones larger than one inch. |
| September 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Boise | - | Gusty winds and rain ripped through the Treasure Valley, causing power outages and knocking down huge trees. KBCI TV reported numerous trees and power lines down across the Boise metro area. |
| May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Boise | - | Boise 7 SE Gust 60K |
| May 2004 | Hail | Boise | - | No know damage |
| June 2004 | Flash Flood | Boise | - | Flooding downtown Boise...see narrative below. |
| June 2004 | Hail | Boise | - | See narrative below. |
| August 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Boise | - | Trees and Power lines down. |
| August 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Boise | - | Microburst winds...semi truck overturned, trees uprooted and roofs damaged. |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Boise | - | Swan Falls Dam...Gust to were also observed 14SE of Boise. |
| February 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Boise | - | A line of thunderstorms produced wind gusts to 44 knots (51 mph) and hail up to 3/4 inch diameter from 10 miles west of Boise into the city of Boise. Numerous trees and power lines were brought down by the storm. |
| May 1999 | Lightning | Boise | - | During the afternoon of May 3rd a thunderstorm over Boise sent a bolt of lightning onto the Crane Creek Country Club golf course. Three golfers were knocked down when a the lightening struck the ground near by. None of the golfers felt an electric shock but the explosion knocked them to the ground. Medical authorities summoned to the scene determined that there were no injuries to the golfers. |
| July 1998 | Hail | Boise | - | A severe thunderstorm produced 3/4 to 7/8 inch hail in Boise. 7/8 inch hail was observed at the Boise National Weather Service Office. |
| April 1993 | Hail | Boise | - | A severe weather spotter reported hail, measuring 1.00 inch in diameter, falling from a thunderstorm 7 miles north of Boise. The storm also produced heavy rains and frequent lightning that lasted for almost an hour. |
| June 2006 | Hail | Boise | - | no account filed |
| June 2006 | Hail | Boise | - | no account filed |
| July 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Boise | - | no account filed |
| July 2002 | Flash Flood | Boise | - | no account filed |
| July 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Boise | - | no account filed |
| May 2000 | Hail | Boise | - | no account filed |
| September 1998 | Flood | Boise | - | no account filed |
| September 1998 | Flood | Boise | - | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Flood | Boise | - | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Flood | Boise | - | no account filed |
| July 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Boise | - | no account filed |
| July 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Boise | - | no account filed |
| July 1997 | Lightning | Boise | - | no account filed |
| June 1997 | Funnel Cloud | Boise | - | no account filed |
| July 1995 | Hail | Boise | - | no account filed |
| July 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Boise | - | no account filed |
Nearest settlements
The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.
| Map | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise Hills Village | 1.5 miles | 18 | |
| Garden City | 1.9 miles | 19 | |
| Highlands | 2.3 miles | 18 | |
| Vernon | 2.8 miles | 19 | |
| Boise Junction | 2.9 miles | 16 | |
| South Boise (historical) | 3.2 miles | 19 | |
| Hillcrest | 3.6 miles | 19 | |
| Perkins | 3.8 miles | 16 |
Elsewhere
Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.
| Wikipedia article on Boise | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q35775 | The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0). |
Provenance
This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 400590. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.








