BOISE

boise, a city and the county-seat of ada county, idaho, u.s.a., and the capital of the state, situated on the n. side of the boise river, in the s.w. part of the state, at an altitude of about 2700 ft. pop. (1890) 2311; (1900) 5957; (1910) 17,358. it is served by the oregon short line railway, being the terminus of a branch connecting with the main line at nampa, about 20 m. w.; and by electric lines connecting with caldwell and nampa. the principal buildings are the state capitol, the united states assay office, a carnegie library, a natatorium, and the federal building, containing the post office, the united states circuit and district court rooms, and a u.s. land office. boise is the seat of the state school for the deaf and blind (1906), and just outside the city limits are the state soldiers' home and the state penitentiary. about 2 m. from the city are federal barracks. hot water (175 deg. f.) from artesian wells near the city is utilized for the natatorium and to heat many residences and public buildings. the boise valley is an excellent country for raising apples, prunes and other fruits. the manufactured products of the city are such as are demanded by a mining country, principally lumber, flour and machine-shop products. boise is the trade centre of the surrounding fruit-growing, agricultural and mining country, and is an important wool market. the oldest settlement in the vicinity was made by the hudson's bay fur company on the west side of the boise river, before 1860; the present city, chartered in 1864, dates from 1863. after 1900 the city grew very rapidly, principally owing to the great irrigation schemes in southern idaho; the water for the immense boise-payette irrigation system is taken from the boise, 8 m. above the city. (see idaho.)