Boise is the most heavily populated city within the U.S. state of Idaho and it is also the capital city. In addition, Boise forms the county seat of Ada County. The city of Boise is situated on the Boise River and serves as an anchor of the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area. It is the biggest city between Portland, Oregon and Salt Lake City, Utah.
The population of the city of Boise was 205,671 according to the 2010 Census Bureau. The metropolitan area of the city of Boise is home to approximately 616,500 inhabitants and is the 3rd most populous metropolitan region in the U.S. Pacific Northwest area. By population, it is likewise the 104th largest U.S. city.
Prior to the establishment of Fort Boise, the region was referred to as Boise for a long time. At first, Fort Boise was located 40 miles or 64 km west near Parma, the confluence of the Snake River with the Boise River at the Oregon border. The Hudson Bay Company built this defense in the 1830s.
The city of Boise is the major economic center for the area and the state. Presently, the city of Boise is home to main firm headquarters, such as the supermarket chain Albertson's Inc, URS Corp, J.R. Simplot who specializes in phosphates, frozen foods and cattle, Morrison Knudsen, a construction and engineering firm, Idaho Timber, Micron Technology, a semiconductor manufacturer, Boise Cascade LLC, a wood and paper product manufacturer, Idaho Pacific Limber Company, Washington Group International and WinCo Foods.
The high-tech business has increasingly become essential within Boise. The companies operating in this sector, consists of Mobile Data Force, Sybase and Balihoo.com. Manufacturing facilities can likewise be found throughout the city of Boise. Furthermore, the city of Boise has become a prominent location for call centers. Businesses like DIRECTV, Teleperformance and T-Mobile operate within the city of Boise. Another important part of the economy is tourism. Additionally, since Boise is the capital state, state government is another main employer.
The area surrounding Boise supports a wide range of outdoor activities, with several biking and hiking trails situated north of the downtown area. The urban trail system operated by the city of Boise has been known as the Boise River Greenbelt. Furthermore, the Boise River serves as a recreational venue for rafting, fishing and swimming. For those individuals seeking some outdoor fun during the winter time, Bogus Basin Mountain Resort provides tubing, snowboarding, downhill and cross-country skiing. The mountain is located 16 miles from the city of Boise, perfect for the whole family.
The Boise River is a place that provides opportunities to enjoy river tours and rafting during the warmer weather months. There are also various guest ranches intended for people who want to celebrate the great outdoors and try some horseback riding adventures. Fishing and hunting are other popular activities within the foothills near the city of Boise.
Boise hosts several popular theatre and jazz festivities, and there are numerous theatre groups operating within the city like for instance Prairie Dog Productions, the Boise Little Theatre, Boise Contemporary Theatre and the Idaho Shakespeare Festival. Each spring, the Gene Harris Jazz Festival is hosted. The city of Boise is home to various museums such as the Boise Art Museum, the Idaho Historical Museum, the Discovery Centre of Idaho, the Idaho Black History Museum, the Boise Watershed and the Basque Museum and Cultural Center.