Canyon County, Idaho
Encyclopedia
Canyon County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Idaho
. As of the 2010 Census the county had a population of 188,923. The county seat
is Caldwell
, and its largest city is Nampa
.. Canyon County is part of the Boise City
–Nampa, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
near Caldwell. However, both John Rees
and Vardis Fisher
believed it was named for the Snake River
canyon which forms a natural boundary for the county with Owyhee County
. The Hudson's Bay Company
established Fort Boise
in 1834 near what is now Parma
, but abandoned it in 1855. Emigrants traveled through Canyon County on the Oregon Trail
.
The Oregon Short Line Railroad was completed in 1883.
of 2000, there were 131,441 people, 45,018 households, and 33,943 families residing in the county. The population density
was 223/square mile (86/square km). There were 47,965 housing units at an average density of 81/square mile (31/square km). The racial makeup of the county was 83.10% White
, 0.32% Black
or African American
, 0.85% Native American
, 0.80% Asian
, 0.13% Pacific Islander
, 12.17% from other races
, and 2.62% from two or more races. Hispanic
or Latino
of any race were 18.61% of the population. 15.9% were of German, 12.7% English
, 10.3% American
and 7.6% Irish
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 45,018 households out of which 39.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.70% were married couples
living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.60% were non-families. 19.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.28.
In the county the population was spread out with 30.90% under the age of 18, 10.70% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 19.10% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 98.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,884, and the median income for a family was $40,377. Males had a median income of $29,418 versus $22,044 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $15,155. About 8.70% of families and 12.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.50% of those under age 18 and 10.70% of those age 65 or over.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. As of the 2010 Census the county had a population of 188,923. The county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Caldwell
Caldwell, Idaho
Caldwell is a city in and the county seat of Canyon County, Idaho, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population to be 43,281, as of July 2009.Caldwell is the home of the College of Idaho. It is considered part of the Boise metropolitan area....
, and its largest city is Nampa
Nampa, Idaho
Nampa is the largest and the fastest growing city in Canyon County, Idaho, USA. The population of Nampa was 81,557 at the 2010 census. Nampa is located about west of Boise along Interstate 84, and six miles west of Meridian. Nampa is part of the Boise metropolitan area...
.. Canyon County is part of the Boise City
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
–Nampa, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area
Boise metropolitan area
The Boise City-Nampa, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area , as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of five counties in southwestern Idaho, anchored by the cities of Boise and Nampa...
.
History
The county was established on March 7, 1891, with its county seat at Caldwell. Current sources attribute the name to the canyon of the Boise RiverBoise River
The Boise River is a tributary of the Snake River in the northwestern United States. It drains a rugged portion of the Sawtooth Range in southwestern Idaho northeast of Boise, as well as part of the western Snake River Plain...
near Caldwell. However, both John Rees
John Rees
John Rees may refer to:*John Rees , British political activist *John Rees , American journalist*Conway Rees, John Conway Rees, Welsh rugby union international...
and Vardis Fisher
Vardis Fisher
Vardis Alvero Fisher was a well-respected writer best known for historical novels of the old West and the monumental 12-volume Testament of Man series of novels, depicting the history of humans from cave to civilization....
believed it was named for the Snake River
Snake River
The Snake is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...
canyon which forms a natural boundary for the county with Owyhee County
Owyhee County, Idaho
Owyhee County is a county located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Idaho. In area it is the second largest county in Idaho, behind Idaho County. As of the 2000 Census, Owyhee County had a population of 10,644...
. The Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
established Fort Boise
Fort Boise
Fort Boise refers to two different locations in southwestern Idaho. The first was a Hudson's Bay Company trading post near the Snake River on the Oregon border, dating from the era when Idaho was part of the fur company's Columbia District. After several rebuilds, it was ultimately abandoned in...
in 1834 near what is now Parma
Parma, Idaho
Parma is a city in Canyon County, Idaho, United States. The population was 1,771 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Boise City–Nampa, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Parma is located at ....
, but abandoned it in 1855. Emigrants traveled through Canyon County on the Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
.
The Oregon Short Line Railroad was completed in 1883.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 603.51 square miles (1,563.1 km²), of which 589.72 square miles (1,527.4 km²) (or 97.72%) is land and 13.79 square miles (35.7 km²) (or 2.28%) is water.Adjacent counties
- Payette CountyPayette County, IdahoPayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. The county was established in 1917, and at the 2000 Census the county had a population of 20,578 . The county seat is Payette....
- north - Gem CountyGem County, IdahoGem County is a county in the U.S. state of Idaho. The population was 15,181 at the 2000 census; it was estimated at 16,496 in 2007. The county seat is Emmett.Gem County is home to the Idaho ground squirrel....
- northeast - Ada CountyAda County, IdahoAda County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 Census, the county had a population of 392,365. The county seat and largest city is Boise, which is also the state capital. Other cities in the county with over 10,000 residents include Meridian, Eagle,...
- east - Owyhee CountyOwyhee County, IdahoOwyhee County is a county located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Idaho. In area it is the second largest county in Idaho, behind Idaho County. As of the 2000 Census, Owyhee County had a population of 10,644...
- south - Malheur CountyMalheur County, OregonMalheur County is a county located in the southeast corner of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is included in the eight-county definition of Eastern Oregon. Most of the county observes the Mountain Time Zone, although the southern quarter of the county observes the Pacific Time Zone along with the...
, OregonOregonOregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
- west
National protected areas
- Deer Flat National Wildlife RefugeDeer Flat National Wildlife RefugeThe Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge is an important breeding area for mammals, birds, and other animals. The National Wildlife Refuge is located on land surrounding Lake Lowell, just outside Nampa, Idaho...
(part) - Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation AreaSnake River Birds of Prey National Conservation AreaThe Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area has one of the densest populations of nesting raptors. The National Conservation Area is located south of Boise, Idaho along of the Snake River, and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The NCA covers...
(part)
Highways
|
 - SH-19 - SH-44Idaho State Highway 44 State Highway 44 is a road that travels through the Treasure Valley from Interstate 84 to Garden City, Idaho.-Route description:State Highway 44 starts at the junction of Interstate 84 north of Caldwell at Exit 25. The highway heads eastward staying mostly to the north of the Boise River. The...  - SH-45 - SH-55Idaho State Highway 55 State Highway 55 is an Idaho highway from Marsing to New Meadows, connecting with US-95 at both ends.From Marsing it travels east to Nampa, Meridian, and Eagle, then north to Horseshoe Bend. SH-55 then climbs the Payette River to Banks, then its north fork to the Long Valley, through the towns of... |
- 
- US 20
- US 26
- US 30
- Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 131,441 people, 45,018 households, and 33,943 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 223/square mile (86/square km). There were 47,965 housing units at an average density of 81/square mile (31/square km). The racial makeup of the county was 83.10% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.32% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.85% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.80% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.13% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 12.17% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.62% from two or more races. Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race were 18.61% of the population. 15.9% were of German, 12.7% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, 10.3% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and 7.6% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 45,018 households out of which 39.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.70% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.60% were non-families. 19.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.28.
In the county the population was spread out with 30.90% under the age of 18, 10.70% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 19.10% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 98.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,884, and the median income for a family was $40,377. Males had a median income of $29,418 versus $22,044 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $15,155. About 8.70% of families and 12.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.50% of those under age 18 and 10.70% of those age 65 or over.
Construction
According to Canyon County Development Services, during 2007 there were approximately 926 building permits issued in the county, 63 approved subdivisions in the County, and 3 rezones. 99 conditional use permits were issued.Cities
- CaldwellCaldwell, IdahoCaldwell is a city in and the county seat of Canyon County, Idaho, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population to be 43,281, as of July 2009.Caldwell is the home of the College of Idaho. It is considered part of the Boise metropolitan area....
- GreenleafGreenleaf, IdahoGreenleaf is a city in Canyon County, Idaho, United States. The population was 862 at the 2000 census. Named after Quaker poet and abolitionist John Greenleaf Whittier.Greenleaf is part of the Boise City–Nampa, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area....
- MelbaMelba, IdahoMelba is a city in Canyon County, Idaho, United States. The population was 439 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Boise City–Nampa, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Melba is located at ....
- MiddletonMiddleton, IdahoMiddleton is a city in Canyon County, Idaho, United States. The population was 2,978 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Boise City–Nampa, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
- NampaNampa, IdahoNampa is the largest and the fastest growing city in Canyon County, Idaho, USA. The population of Nampa was 81,557 at the 2010 census. Nampa is located about west of Boise along Interstate 84, and six miles west of Meridian. Nampa is part of the Boise metropolitan area...
- NotusNotus, IdahoNotus is a city in Canyon County, Idaho, United States. The population was 458 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Boise City–Nampa, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Notus is located at ....
- ParmaParma, IdahoParma is a city in Canyon County, Idaho, United States. The population was 1,771 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Boise City–Nampa, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Parma is located at ....
- WilderWilder, IdahoWilder is a city in Canyon County, Idaho, United States. The population was 1,462 at the 2000 census. The home of former Idaho State Governor Phil Batt, Wilder is primarily an agricultural community, with onions, hops, seed corn, beans and alfalfa seed among the major crops...
Unincorporated communitys
- BowmontBowmont, IdahoBowmont is a small rural farming community in Canyon County, in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. It is located north of Melba and south of Nampa....
- HustonHuston, IdahoHuston is an unincorporated community in Canyon County, Idaho, United States. Huston is north-northeast of Marsing. Huston has a post office with ZIP code 83630....
- Riverside
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Canyon County, IdahoNational Register of Historic Places listings in Canyon County, IdahoThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Canyon County, Idaho.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Canyon County, Idaho, United States...
- Vallivue School DistrictVallivue School DistrictVallivue School District is a school district in Idaho. It is mostly based in Caldwell and Nampa, with locations in Canyon County. The Vallivue boundaries go as far as the Snake River...
External links
- County website
- Western Canyon Chronicle - Official newspaper for Parma, Notus, Wilder & Greenleaf, in Canyon County, Idaho