Boise (pronounced boy-see), the capital and largest city in the State of Idaho, is the hub of commerce, banking and government for the state.
Located along the Boise River and nestled against foothills of the Rocky Mountains, our city offers many outdoor activities to local residents, from skiing at Bogus Basin Ski Resort to biking on the Boise River Greenbelt to boating at nearby reservoirs. The Boise area has it all - desert, rivers, mountains and lakes for hiking, camping, kayaking, river rafting, hunting and fishing.
Many large regional, national and international companies are headquartered here, including Simplot Corporation, Boise Cascade, Albertsons, Micron Technology and Hewlett-Packard.
Boise is home to Boise State University, the state's largest university with an enrollment of over 15,000 students, as well as 34 grade schools, 9 junior high schools, and 5 high schools.
* Best Place for Business and Careers
Forbes magazine. 2005
* Second Best City in America to Do Business
Inc Magazine. 2005
* No. 7 metro area in the nation to do business
Forbes magazine. 2004
* No. 5 city its size in the nation for favorable cost-of-doing-business
KPMG LLP. 2004
* No. 13 best overall city
National Policy Research Council's Gold Guide. May 2004
* Idaho IceWorld one of the Coolest Rinks in America
American Hockey magazine. 2004
* Idaho's Sportstown USA
Sports Illustrated magazine. 2004
* Boise Parks & Recreation Magnet Center for Quality Sports
National Recreation & Parks Association. 2004
* "Oasis for Retirees"
Wall Street Journal. 2004
* "Jewel of the West"
Travel Tips magazine
* No. 1 mountain biking town
Bike magazine. June 2003
* Boise River named one of West's top 12 rivers
Sunset magazine. June 2003
Demographics
Population - City 181,711 City of Boise (APA, June 2000)
Population - MSA 403,817 (MSA - Ada & Canyon Counties)
Elevation 2,842 feet
Land Area 1,645 sq mi (Boise MSA)
Annual Precipitation 12.11 inches
Sunshine Days 234
Temperature Average
January 22-36 degrees F
April 37-61 degrees F
July 58-90 degrees F
October 29-65 degrees F
