As of the census , there were , people residing in the city. On the Boise River in southwestern Idaho , it is 41 miles 66 km east of the Oregon border and miles km north of the Nevada border. The downtown area's elevation is 2, feet m above sea level.
The Boise metropolitan area , also known as the Treasure Valley , includes five counties with a combined population of ,, the most populous metropolitan area in Idaho. It contains the state's three largest cities: Boise, Nampa , and Meridian. Downtown Boise is the cultural center and home to many small businesses alongside a number of high-rise buildings. The area has a variety of shops and restaurants.
Centrally, 8th Street contains a pedestrian zone with sidewalk cafes and restaurants. The neighborhood has many local restaurants, bars, and boutiques. The area also contains the Basque Block, which showcases Boise's Basque heritage. The origin of the name is uncertain. One account credits Capt. Bonneville of the U. Army as its source. After trekking for weeks through dry and rough terrain , his exploration party reached an overlook with a view of the Boise River Valley. The place where they stood is called Bonneville Point, located on the Oregon Trail east of the city.
According to the story, a French -speaking guide, overwhelmed by the sight of the verdant river, yelled " Les bois! Les bois! The woods! The name may also derive from earlier mountain men who named the river that flows through the city. In the s, French Canadian fur trappers associated with the British-owned Hudson's Bay Company set trap lines in the vicinity.
Set in a high-desert area, the tree-lined valley of the Boise River became a distinct landmark, an oasis dominated by cottonwood trees. According to the City of Boise's "History of Boise" report, "they gathered annually in the valley to participate in trading rendezvous with other tribes and catch salmon in the Boise River runs to help sustain them year-round. They spent winters in the valley where the climate was milder and visited the hot springs for bathing and healing.
