Canyon County, Idaho

History

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.

Discovery of gold in the Boise Basin in 1862 brought settlement to the region again. The 1870 Census for Ada County listed 76 residents of the Boise Valley, excluding Boise City and the 1880 Census listed 44 residents at Middleton. The arrival of the railroad at Caldwell led to the establishment of a town there as of August 1883.

Businessmen James A. McGee and Alexander Duffes filed the plat for nearby Nampa in 1886. Parma was settled around the same time, with the Old Fort Boise post office being moved to the town's location; it was incorporated in 1904. Ada County established precincts for each of the settlements with a combined 1890 Census population of 2,311. Significant settlement of Greenleaf and Notus started around 1904 with the two settlements listed as precincts at the 1910 census. Notus was incorporated in 1921 while Greenleaf was incorporated prior to 1980. Melba was incorporated in 1912 while Wilder was incorporated in 1919. The City of Star annexed a portion of territory in northeast Canyon County prior to 2007, becoming the county's ninth incorporated city. The majority of Star is located within Ada County.

The Idaho Legislature created Canyon County from Ada County in an act approved March 7, 1891, effective at the November 26, 1892, election. Caldwell was established as the county seat. The county originally contained all of Canyon and Payette counties and part of Gem; Gem County formed in 1915 and Payette County in 1917. Some sources attribute the name to the canyon of the Boise River near Caldwell, while western writers John Rees and Vardis Fisher believed it was named for the Snake River canyon, which forms a natural boundary with Owyhee County to the south and west.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 604 sqmi, of which 587 sqmi is land and 16 sqmi (2.7%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Payette County (north)
• Gem County (northeast)
• Ada County (east)
• Owyhee County (south)
• Malheur County, Oregon (west)

National protected areas

• Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge (part)
• Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area (part)

Major highways

• [[File:I-84.svg|25px]] Interstate 84
• [[File:US 20.svg|25px]] US 20
• [[File:US 26.svg|25px]] US 26
• [[File:US 30.svg|25px]] US 30
• [[File:US 95.svg|25px]] US 95
• [[File:Idaho 19.svg|25px]] SH-19
• [[File:Idaho 44.svg|25px]] SH-44
• [[File:Idaho 45.svg|25px]] SH-45
• [[File:Idaho 55.svg|25px]] SH-55

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 231,105. The median age was 34.5 years. 28.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.9 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 73.3% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 1.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% Asian, 0.3% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 11.4% from some other race, and 12.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 25.6% of the population.

81.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 18.7% lived in rural areas.

There were 77,829 households in the county, of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 21.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 81,013 housing units, of which 3.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.2% were owner-occupied and 26.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.3%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 188,923 people, 63,604 households, and 47,481 families living in the county.{{cite web |access-date=January 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213031833/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US16027 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213184928/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US16027 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213035355/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US16027 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

Of the 63,604 households, 42.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 25.3% were non-families, and 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.36. The median age was 31.6 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,218 and the median income for a family was $48,219. Males had a median income of $38,132 versus $28,356 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,366. About 12.7% of families and 17.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.8% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web |access-date=January 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213011126/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US16027 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 131,441 people, 45,018 households and 33,943 families living in the county. The population density was 223 /mi2. There were 47,965 housing units at an average density of 81 /mi2. 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.

There were 45,018 households, 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.

30.90% of the population were 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 household income was $35,884 and the median family income was $40,377. Males had a median income of $29,418 compared with $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.

Communities

Cities

• Caldwell
• Greenleaf
• Melba
• Middleton
• Nampa
• Notus
• Parma
• Star (partially)
• Wilder

Unincorporated communities

• Bowmont
• Huston
• Roswell
• Sunnyslope
• Walters Ferry, Idaho

Politics

Like the majority of Idaho, Canyon County is reliably Republican by comfortable margins. The last time a Democratic candidate carried the county was in 1936 by Franklin D. Roosevelt. In elections, Republican candidates usually achieve approximately two-thirds of the vote from Canyon County.

Education

School districts include:

• Caldwell School District 132
• Homedale Joint School District 370
• Kuna Joint School District 3
• Marsing Joint School District 363
• Melba Joint School District 136
• Middleton School District 134
• Nampa School District 131
• Notus School District 135
• Parma School District 137
• Vallivue School District 139
• West Ada School District (Meridian Joint School District 2)
• Wilder School District 133

Residents are in the area (and the taxation zone) for College of Western Idaho.

Healthcare

The county is served by the Southwest Idaho Health District.

References

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
4. Bird, Annie Laurie. (May 3, 1962). "Canyon County has roots in a violent past". Lewiston Morning Tribune.
5. [http://www.idaho.gov/aboutidaho/county/canyon.html Idaho.gov - about Idaho - Canyon Co.] {{webarchive. link. (December 20, 2004 accessed May 3, 2009)
6. "City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan". City of Middleton Planning and Zoning.
7. (1872). "Ninth Census—Volume I: The Statistics of the Population of the United States". Government Printing Office.
8. (June 1, 1880). "Statistics of the Population of the United States at the Tenth Census". Department of the Interior.
9. "City of Caldwell 2030 Comprehensive Plan". City of Caldwell, Idaho Planning and Zoning Department.
10. "Nampa 2035 Comprehensive Plan". City of Nampa, Idaho Planning and Zoning Department.
11. "History fan names Parma after town in Italy". Idaho Press.
12. (1895). "Report on Population of the United States at the Eleventh Census: 1890". Department of the Interior.
13. "The hazy history of Notus". Idaho Press.
14. (1913). "Thirteenth Census of the United States, Taken in the Year 1910". Department of Commerce.
15. "City of Wilder Comprehensive Plan". City of Wilder, Idaho.
16. "History of Melba". Melba Idaho.
17. "The Comprehensive Plan for the City of Star". Star City, Idaho.
18. (2010). "Atlas of Idaho Historical County Boundaries". The Newberry Library.
19. (February 12, 2011). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
20. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
21. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
22. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
23. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
24. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
25. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
26. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
27. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
28. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
29. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Canyon County, ID". [[United States Census Bureau]].
30. (January 26, 2022). "College of Western Idaho, pg. 1-77". [[Idaho Legislature]].
31. Luchetta, Julie. (2024-10-23). "Southwest Idaho Health District Board pulls COVID vaccines from its clinics". Boise State Public Radio.