Flyer Distribution Boise, ID

Boise, the largest city and capital of Idaho, boasts a population of 235,684 people. Situated on the Boise River, the city is positioned 41 miles east of the Oregon border and 110 miles north of the Nevada border. The downtown area is the epicenter of cultural activity, home to numerous small businesses, high-rise buildings, and a diverse range of shops and restaurants. The impressive Idaho State Capitol, the Boise Art Museum, and the Basque Block are also located here. The surrounding area, known as the Treasure Valley, encompasses five counties with a combined population of 749,202. Boise's name has an unclear origin, with theories suggesting that it may have come from French-speaking guide Capt. B. L. E. Bonneville or French Canadian fur trappers who referred to the region as "la rivière boisée" due to the tree-lined valley of the Boise River. The pronunciation of Boise is commonly /ˈbɔɪsiː/ and serves as a shibboleth for locals. History of Boise, ID The Boise Valley was once home to the Boise Valley Shoshone and Bannock tribes, who spent winters in the valley and visited hot springs for bathing and healing. In 1811, Wilson Hunt led the first-ever white American expedition through the valley. After the War of 1812, Snake Country remained free of settler incursions until the 1840s. The Hudson's Bay Company established a fort in the region, and in 1848, the discovery of gold in California led to a surge in settler incursions. Native peoples along the entire length of the Oregon Trail increased their resistance by staging low-intensity attacks against passing caravans. The discovery of gold around the Boise valley in 1863 led to the establishment of a new Fort Boise, a territorial capital in 1864, and a treaty with the Boise Valley Shoshone Tribe in 1866. To this day, the treaty remains unratified by the US Senate, and the tribe has not received any treaty payments. The perceived friendliness of Caleb Lyon led to increased pressure and aggression among white settlers in Boise and print media, leading to violence against native tribes and escalating guerrilla campaigns by native warriors. This marked the start of the "unofficial" Snake War, which lasted until 1868 and resulted in high casualties. In 1868, Fort Hall Indian Reservation was established. Boise's early growth was driven by its role in supplying nearby gold towns and substantial agricultural production. The city became the state capital in 1864 and had over 400 permanent buildings by 1868, providing a wide range of commercial services. Mining, periodic booms, tree planting projects, and agriculture contributed to the city's economic growth, while electrification and transportation improvements expanded over several decades. The 1890s saw Boise experience growth with new services and amenities, including hot water heating, churches, hospitals, schools, and a new railway station. During this time, the population grew from 2,311 to 5,957. In 2017, the mayor declared an annual "Return of the Boise Valley People Day" to reconcile with the indigenous tribes, recognizing that the city is located on unceded indigenous land. In 2019, two parks were renamed with Shoshoni names to acknowledge the spiritual and traditional importance of the site to the natives of Boise valley, which includes a Native American burial ground.