Nampa Real Estate

Nampa, City Guide

Nampa Community

Nampa, the largest city in Canyon County, is also second largest in Idaho just behind Boise. Home to just over 50,000 residents, Nampa has grown over 20% since the year 2000 alone! Boise is a quick 25 miles to the east on I-84 and the two cities are generally thought to be part of the same great metropolitan area.

The City of Nampa, incorporated in 1891, encompasses 11 1/2 square miles. The local government operates as with a Mayor and four-member City Council. There are no local City taxes or inventory taxes and the property tax rate is the lowest among major Idaho cities at .0067 of cash value.

Nampa is a wonderful place not only to live and work, but to enjoy life! There are plenty of choices when it comes to local companies old and new, and great entertainment options as well. To find out more about doing business and local recreation, visit the Nampa Chamber of Commerce.

Nampa Culture

Take in a musical performance or attend a business convention at the Nampa Civic Center located right in the heart of the city itself. This all-in-one venue is 42,500 square feet of community gathering space! The center is the host to anything from small meetings to large conventions and performing arts events. Special events at the Nampa Civic Center include their own Performaing Arts Series, the Music Theatre of Idaho Broadway Series, Canyon County Festival and Community Fun Night and more!

The Idaho Center is another large local venue offering several types of environment for the needs of almost any kind of event. Athletics and motorsports, equestrian events and rodeos, concerts and tradeshows - they all have a home at the Idaho Center. Unique venues available through the Idaho Center include a gigantic Outdoor Amphitheatre capable of holding 10,500 spectators, a 120,000 square foot Arena, a 98,000 square foot Horse Park and a 100,000 square foot Sports Center. This huge entertainment complex is located easily off Interstate 84 with lots of parking onsite and close to almost anything else you could need!

Nampa Education

Education is important in Nampa and there are lots of places to learn from preschool all the way through the university level!

Young students are served by the Nampa School District encompassing some 21 schools from elementary through high school. These schools include:

Nampa is also the home to institutions of higher education including Northwest Nazarene University and Boise State University's Selland College of Applied Technology.

Nampa Employment

With so many businesses located in Nampa, there is also plenty of opportunity for employment. Industries providing jobs are primarily in manufacturing (around 20%), education or health services (around 18%) and retail (around 12%). The median family income in the area is approximately $35,000 with per-capita income near $15,000. Approximately half of the population of Nampa both lives and works here! Another 3,000 people commute into the city every day for work proving this is really the place to be!

If you're looking for local business information, visit the Nampa Chamber of Commerce.

Nampa History

The Oregon Short Line Railway, a subsidy of the Union Pacific, changed Canyon County when it laid track from Granger, Wyoming to Huntington, Oregon. Originally covered with brush, the land was cleared and leveled for the trackbed and as was typical with railroading growth, towns began establishment almong the tracks - and Nampa was one of them. Thought to be taken from an unusual name of one of the train stations, the origin of the word Nampa could also have come from the Native American word "namb" which translates as 'footprint' or 'moccasin'. In 1885, homesteading began in order to create a town with the initial development of 160 acres. The Nampa Land and Home Improvement Company was founded by Alexander and Hannah Duffes and James McGee in order to lot the property and sell the real estate.

The Idaho Central Railway, built in 1887, connected the City of Boise to the Oregon Short Line and a station on this line was also created in Nampa, affirming its status as a city development. Irrigation came in the 1890s by the Phyllis Canal and Ridenbaugh Canal. That began to generate a good number of farming opportunities in Nampa. It was through this progress that in 1891, the Town of Nampa was officially incorporated with approximately 800 residents.

Mining interests brought another railway, the Boise Nampa & Owyhee, between Nampa and Murphy and yet another to Emmet and then Lakeport. Nampa became a central junction for railing and as a result drew many visitors and future residents. The Dewey Palace Hotel was build in 1902 to accommodate visitors funneling in on the 10 daily passenger trains coming through Nampa. A new train station was then built which today serves as the Canyon County Historical Society & Museum. Continued growth was delayed by a fire in 1909 that destroyed an entire downtown block that then had to be rebuilt - this however was not enough to stop the growth of Idaho's fastest growing city today.

The early 1900s through 1920s brought even more passengers through Nampa by rail and eventually by automobile. Industries related to farming flourished with sugar becoming a large part of the economy. The 1940s saw incredible retail growth and then in 1965 the first indoor shopping center - Karcher Mall. Agriculture still remains the lifeblood of Nampa's commerce and provides a solid foundation for continued growth in beautiful Canyon County.

Nampa News

1. AFC West mailbag - ESPN.com - AFC West - Blog

   September 6, 2008 10:00 AM The weekend mail call: P.S. No questions fm Chargers fans, which have been very helpful in filling the mailbag all preseason.

   
   
2. YHS volleyball team places third at Lowry - Mason Valley News

   The Yerington High varsity volleyball team placed third last weekend at the Connie Romero Memorial/State Farm Insurance volleyball tournament in Winnemucca.

   
   
3. Mount Eerie tour dates, box sets, Ryland Bouchard, Of Montreal, Julie Doiron - Brooklynvegan

   Mount Eerie is set to release the new LP Lost Wisdom , October 7 on his P.W. Elverum & Sun label .

   
   
4. Death Notices - Argus Observer

   Apolionia G. Deleon Apolionia G. Deleon, 28, Ontario, died Sunday, Aug., 24, 2008.

   
   
5. ID judge declares airport gun case a mistrial - South Idaho Press

   NAMPA, Idaho - A jury has deadlocked on whether a Canyon County commissioner knowingly broke the law when he carried a loaded handgun in his carryon luggage through an airport security checkpoint.

   
   
6. Amateurs rule Carter Cup - KTVB Boise

   The 2008 Carter Cup concluded today at Blue Lakes CC in Twin Falls, ID as the IGA Amateur team defeated the Rocky Mountain Section PGA team by a significant margin, 36-24 in a Ryder Cup style format event.

   
   

Nampa Recreation

Nampa's recreation is an integral part of the way of life in Treasure Valley. The climate is perfect for all-year enjoyment of this beautiful region. Biking, hiking and skiing are options are various points in the year thanks for the variety of terrain available.

The City department of Parks and Recreation provide options like their city parks (Lyons, West, Kurtz, Liberty and Lakeview), a 140,000 square foot Recreation Center (including 5 pools and a spa, 3 basketball courts, an indoor climbing wall, a Senior Center and plenty of activities rooms), and 2 public golf courses (Ridgecrest Golf Course and Centennial Golf Course). There is also a private golf course in town at Broadmore Country Club.

Nampa Transportation

Situated along Interstate 84 / US Route 30, Nampa is easily reached by roadway from nearby cities like Caldwell to the north or Meridian and Boise to the east. The junction of several railways finds its home in Nampa and so rail travel via Amtrack is easily accessed. The city-run airport is the Nampa Airport (code: S67). The nearest commercial carrier airport is Boise Air Terminal Gowen Field (code: BOI).

Nampa Weather

Nampa has four beautiful seasons! A warm pleasant summer, leads to a beautiful harvest season in autumn. Winter does bring a bit of snow, but just enough to enjoy it! Spring brings back the warm weather and a fresh resurgence of fruits and flowers! Average temperatures are approximately 64 degrees and precipitation is just under 12 inches annually.