Nampa, Idaho
Encyclopedia : N : NA : NAM : Nampa, Idaho
Nampa (IPA: [næm pə]) is the largest city in Canyon County, Idaho, and the second largest in the state. Only the capital city Boise is larger. As of the 2000 census, Nampa population was 51,867 (2003 estimate: 64,269). [link] Nampa's population has grown by well over 20 percent since 2000, making it one of the fastest-growing cities in Idaho.
Nampa is located 26 miles west of Boise along Interstate 84. The city is considered part of the Boise metropolitan area.
Nobody knows for sure where Nampa got its name. The belief is that it came from a Native American word for moccasin. Native Americans stuffed their moccasins with sagebrush to keep warm, making a larger footprint. There is also a Nampa in Canada.
Visitors to Nampa may notice a certain odor about the city, especially on foggy days. This is a by-product of the [Amalgamated Sugar Factory], a sugar beet processing plant. When the beets are cooked, they emit an odor. Though it may be unpleasant at first, long-time residents grow to like the smell, and always think of it as home, similar to the smell of gingerbread for others.
History
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, 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 1891.
Nampa was built with a similar plan to its "twin city," Caldwell, Idaho. Both cities have similar train depots and the streets were laid out in relation to the railroad tracks rather than compass directions. Thus, the northside is really the northeast side of the tracks, and the southside is really the southwest side of the railroad tracks.
The first elementary school was built in the 1890's. Lakeview school was located on a hill on 6th Street and 12th Avenue North, with a view of the Lake. Just after the school's centennial celebration, it was condemned as a school and sold to the First Mennonite Church. The building still stands to this day.
Lake Ethel in north Nampa was drained because it caused some flooding in neighboring homes. The area was converted to a public park. Lakeview Park is Nampa's largest park and many community celebrations are held there.
Colonel William H. Dewey, a man who made a fortune mining in Silver City, seeing the advantage of 4 railroad lines, built the elegant Dewey Palace Hotel in 1902 for a quarter of a million dollars. Colonel Dewey died in his hotel in 1903, leaving his son a million dollars. The hotel burned down in 1909 in a fire that took several blocks of downtown Nampa. Relics from the hotel, such as the chandelier and the hotel safe can be found at the Canyon County Historical Museum, which is housed in the old train depot on Front Street.
A Carnegie library was built downtown in 1908. It continues to be used to this day.
A large reservior for irrigation was built in 1909 at Deer Flat. Called Lake Lowell, it is surrounded by the Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge.
Idaho State School and Hospital was built in Nampa in 1910, for the state's developmentally challenged population. It opened in 1918. The institution was largely self sufficient. It had a large farm which was worked by the residents. The higher functioning residents also cared for residents who couldn't do anything for themselves.
Nampa held an annual harvest festival and farmers' market from about 1908. It was a time of celebration and community fun. From this festival emerged the Snake River Stampede Rodeo in 1937, which continues to this day. It is one of the top twelve rodeos in the pro rodeo circuits.
The Nazarene Church built a small elementary school in 1913, later growing to Northwest Nazarene College in 1915 and finally to Northwest Nazarene University.
In 1965, the Karcher Mall was built, becoming the first indoor shopping mall in the Treasure Valley. Many area residents have memories of having an Orange Julius, sitting on Santa's lap (Arthur Yensen), or playing games at the Red Baron arcade in the mall. Karcher Mall was "the place to gather" for several decades until the Boise Towne Square was built in Boise in 1988, drawing the business and the people away. Karcher Mall is now struggling to remain in operation.
Attractions
- [Nampa's Historic Downtown]
- Idaho Center
- [The Hispanic Cultural Center of Idaho]
- [Nampa Civic Center]
- [Nampa Recreation Center]
- [Warhawk Air Museum]
- [Canyon County Historical Museum]
- [Farmers’ Market]
- [Deer Flat Wildlife Refuge/Lake Lowell]
- [The Berry Ranch]
- [Wilson Ponds] & [Fish Hatchery]
- Downtown Nampa Nights -- every Thursday night during the summer
- Northwest Nazarene University
Community Events
March
- Mercy Community Sale- A large yard sale to benefit youth.
- Bull Riding Blow Out
- No Greater Love Easter pageant- presented by the Church of the Nazarene
- Horse Expo
- Cinco de Mayo
- Parade America
- Spring Fling Community Festival
- Downtown Nampa Nights- outdoor concerts begin and run through September
- God & Country Rally- timed around the 4th of July at the Idaho Center. An evening of motivational speakers, with a grand fireworks finale'.
- [Snake River Dayz] in conjunction with the Snake River Stampede Rodeo
- Griddles and Fiddles
- Farm City Night
- Fiesta Idaho
- Canyon County Festival of Trees
- Living Christmas Tree
External links
- [Official Nampa website]
- [City of Nampa]
- [Nampa Chamber of Commerce]
- [nampaidaho.net]
- [city-data.com]
- [Idaho Press Tribune]- local newspaper
- [Nampa Police]
- [Nampa Fire Department]
Geography
Nampa is located at (43.574807, -116.563559)[Geographic references#1GR1].According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 51.5 km² (19.9 mi²). 51.4 km² (19.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.10%) is water.
ZIP codes: 83651, 83686, 83687.
Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there were 51,867 people, 18,090 households, and 13,024 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,008.9/km² (2,612.3/mi²). There were 19,379 housing units at an average density of 376.9/km² (976.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.45% White, 0.40% African American, 0.94% Native American, 0.93% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 11.25% from other races, and 2.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.90% of the population.There were 18,090 households out of which 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.0% under the age of 18, 12.5% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 15.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,758, and the median income for a family was $39,434. Males had a median income of $28,580 versus $22,022 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,491. About 8.7% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.
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