NampaPopulation: 51,867
Elevation: 2,516 ft
Nampa began its life as a small railroad town in the early 1880s. More railroad lines sprung up running through Nampa, making it a very important railroad town.
Nampa was founded in 1886 by Europeans, and a year later had grown from 15 homes to 50. As new amenities were added to the town, Nampa continued to grow. It was incorporated in 1890.
Unlike most towns in that historic era with streets running true north and south, Nampa's historic roads run perpendicular to the railroad tracks that travel northwest to southeast through the town. Thus, the northside is really the northeast side of the tracks, and the southside is really the southwest side of the railroad tracks. Founder Alexander Duffes laid out Nampa's streets this way to prevent an accident like one that occurred earlier in a town he had platted near Toronto, Canada. In that town, a woman and her two children were killed by a train when they started across the railroad tracks in a buggy and the wheel got stuck. Nampa has the fanciest of many Oregon Short Line Railroad depots built in the area.
PayettePopulation: 7,054
Elevation: 2,149 ft
Payette was originally named Boomerang signifying a roundhouse on the Oregon Shortline railroad. The city changed its name for François Payette, a French-Canadian fur trapper and later the head the Fort Boise trading post for the British Hudson's Bay Company from 1835-44.
A large merry man, he was highly regarded for his helpful assistance to the many travelers who came through the fort. After his retirement in 1844, Mr. Payette returned to Montreal, but the rest of his life is a mystery.
CambridgePopulation: 360
Elevation: 2,661 ft
Cambridge was originally going to be called Lewisville after Albert Lewis, who was the head engineer of the railroad project that came through and helped make the town. Originally a town called Salubria was where most residents resided but in the early days there was a land dispute with the railroad. The new settlement absorbed the populace of Salubria, and in time, Salubria faded away, and Cambridge was born. The name Cambridge came in place of the suggested Lewisville. Lewiston, Idaho already existed and during this time the postal service deemed it confusing to have too many towns with closely related names. Albert Lewis attended Harvard at Cambridge, Massachusetts and so the town was aptly named Cambridge.
Cambridge is a community strong in spirit but weak in infrastructure. There is little industry in the town aside from Farm/Ranch and Logging/Timber to entice younger people to settle there. It is still one of the most beautiful settings in Idaho and will give a person access to a multitude of recreational activity in terms of fishing, hunting, water sports, snowmobiling, hiking, and camping.
McCallPopulation: 2,084
Elevation: 5,013 ft
McCall is a resort city named after its founder, Tom McCall, it is situated on the southern shore of Payette Lake and near the center of the Payette National Forest. Traditionally a logging community whose last sawmill closed in 1977, McCall is now an all-season tourist destination for outdoor recreation. The resort town is known for its Winter Carnival, extended winters, and the highest average snowfall in the state. Nicknamed "Ski Town U.S.A.", McCall is the home to many past winter Olympic athletes.
Native Americans were the first inhabitants of the land in and around McCall. Three tribes, the Tukuaduka Shoshone, a sub-band of the Shoshone known as the "Sheepeaters," and the Nez Perce, inhabited the land primarily in the summer and migrated during the harsh winter months.
In the early 1800s, the nomadic French Canadian fur trapper, François Payette, roamed the area alongside other mountain men like Jim Bridger, Peter Skene Ogden and Jedediah Smith.
The settlement of McCall was established by Thomas and Louisa McCall circa 1889-1891. For a cabin and assumed rights to the 160 acres of land, they traded a team of horses with Sam Dever, who held the squatter rights. Tom, his wife, four sons and a daughter lived in the cabin located on the shore of the lake near present day Hotel McCall. He established a school, hotel, saloon and post office, naming himself as postmaster. McCall purchased a sawmill from the Warren Dredging company and later sold it to the Hoff & Brown Lumber Company, which would become the driving economic force until its closure in 1977.
During this time Anneas "Jews Harp Jack" Wyatte provided the first recreational sailboat rides around the lake for tourists and advertised in the Idaho Statesman a "30-foot sailing yacht for the use of parties who might visit the lake". The Statesman referred to McCall as a "pleasure resort".
Tourism continued in the early 1900s. In June 1902, the Boydstun Hotel in nearby Lardo opened as a "place to stay and camp on Payette Lake". In 1906, Charlie Nelson opened a tented camping area known as Sylvan Beach Resort along the west side of Payette Lake. In 1907, Lardo Inn opened for business. The arrival of the Oregon Short Line railroad (later named the Idaho Northern and Pacific Railroad) in 1914 secured McCall as a viable community and tourist destination. Three years later McCall was incorporated as a village. In the 1920s, the state land board started leasing homesites along the lake.
The now famous winter carnival started in 1923-24. Reports vary between hundreds to thousands of tourists visiting the festivities.
In 1943, the U.S. Forest Service opened the McCall smokejumper base. It is one of only eight smokejumper training bases in the nation. The site includes a smokejumper training unit, paraloft, dispatch office, and the McCall air tanker base.
Garden ValleyPopulation: 154
Elevation: 3,048 ft
Garden Valley is nestled along Idaho State Highway 17, which is a National Scenic Byway. Designated the "Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway", it hosts exceptional wildlife viewing, hot springs and picturesque mountain scenery.
This beautiful Idaho road winds through country so striking that it has achieved this special status. It passes through breathtaking scenery, historic places, and intriguing landscapes. It offers incomparable glimpses of wilderness, yet is easily and safely traveled.
The wild and turbulent South Fork of the Payette River crashes through the deep river canyons along the scenic byway, and creates unforgettable opportunities for rafters, and kayakers alike. There is also abundant wildlife along the way. Soaring eagles, as well as, chukkers, wild turkeys, ospreys, cougars, bears and wolves frequent the valley. Herds of elk, nearly one hundred strong, can be seen in their winter range at the Danskin Station river access.
The historic town of Crouch, a short mile up the Middlefork Road from the highway, has long been the center of commerce in the valley. The rustic old wooden town center buildings house a variety of gift and food establishments, as well as the mercantile and commodities shops needed to support the community residents, and provide refreshment and supplies to the numerous visitors to the area. The new City Park is the start of a non-motorized bike and pedestrian path that winds through the park as well as other scenic Garden Valley areas.
Idaho CityPopulation: 458
Elevation: 3,907 ft
Idaho City was founded near the confluence of Elk and Mores Creeks as Bannock (sometimes given as West Bannock) in December 1862 amidst the Boise Basin gold rush. As its population swelled, the Idaho legislature changed the town's name to Idaho City to avoid confusion with Bannock, Montana.
In 1863, St. Joseph's Catholic Church was established; it was the first Roman Catholic parish in the territory.
Idaho City is an important location in local Masonic history. The Grand Lodge of Idaho was founded in Idaho City in 1867. Idaho Lodge No. 1 was originally located in Idaho City, but is now located in Boise.
At its peak, Idaho City's population numbered in the tens of thousands, but most departed once mining declined. The modern economy relies mainly on hunting and fishing tourism and visits to the many historic buildings which remain in town.
BoisePopulation: 198,638
Elevation: 2,700 ft
Boise (pronounced ['boi·si] locally, or ['boi·zi] by non-locals) is the capital and most populous city of Idaho.
It is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon and thus serves as the primary government, economic, cultural, and transportation center for the area.
