Set against the spectacular backdrop of the Boise Foothills, the Treasure Valley is a thriving community of 450,000 people which includes the cities of Boise, Meridian, Nampa and Caldwell, Idaho. The Boise area continues to attract people looking for outstanding career opportunities, affordable housing, and proximity to some of the best outdoor recreation in the West.

The Best of City Life...
As Idaho's hub of business, government, arts and entertainment, the Treasure Valley offers a quality of life that's hard to beat. First-time visitors are often amazed at the choice of activities and entertainment available--this is not a sleepy little town. Additionally, the public schools are excellent, crime is low, and compared to many other metropolitan areas, commutes are short (average: 18 mintues) and real estate is reasonably priced.

Many large regional, national and international companies are headquartered here, including Simplot Corporation, Albertsons, Micron Technology and Hewlett-Packard, whose patonage of the arts has helped create a vibrant arts scene. Boise is also home to Boise State University, the state's largest university with an enrollment of over 19,000 students.

...In the Middle of an Outdoor Paradise
Some of the most attractive things about the Treasure Valley are the things you find just beyond our metropolitan area: outstanding skiing, fishing, hiking, hunting, biking, whitewater sports and more. For those who love the outdoors, the Treasure Valley puts you in close proximity to some of the West's most legendary places: Sun Valley, Silver Creek, Hells Canyon, McCall, the 2.5 million-acre Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area (the largest in the lower 48), the Snake River, Sawtooth National Recreation Area and more.

More Articles & Accolades for the Boise Area

• Best Adventure Town, National Geographic. 2007
• Best Place to Live, Money Magazine. 2006
• Third Best Place for Business & Careers, Forbes. 2007
• Kiplinger's Best Cities
• Second Best City in America to Do Business, Inc. magazine. 2005
• No. 7 metro area in the nation to do business, Forbes magazine. 2004
• No. 5 city its size in the nation for favorable cost-of-doing-business, KPMG LLP. 2004
• No. 13 best overall city, National Policy Research Council's Gold Guide. May 2004
• Idaho IceWorld one of the Coolest Rinks in America, American Hockey magazine. 2004
• Idaho's Sportstown USA, Sports Illustrated magazine. 2004
• Boise Parks & Recreation Magnet Center for Quality Sports, National Recreation & Parks Association. 2004
• "Oasis for Retirees", Wall Street Journal. 2004
• "Jewel of the West", Travel Tips magazine
• No. 1 mountain biking town, Bike magazine. June 2003
• Boise River named one of West's top 12 rivers, Sunset magazine. June 2003

Useful Links
Boise Chamber of Commerce
Information on relocation, area demograpics, arts, entertainment, transportation and more.

Boise State University
Information on enrollment, undergraduate and graduate programs.

Albertson College of Idaho
Consistently rated as one of the West's best liberal arts colleges.

Boise School District
Information on Boise elementary, middle and high schools.

Meridian School District
Information on the elementary, middle and high schools in this popular Boise suburb.

Boise, Idaho Weather
Get the latest Treasure-Valley-area weather forecast.

Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau
A handy resource with information on accommodations, upcoming events, dining, shopping and more.

Idaho Travel Planner
The state's official travel and tourism site offering maps, lodging, reservations, attractions, recreation, events, and more.

The Idaho Statesman
Our daily local newspaper with current news, sports, local entertainment and events for all of southwestern Idaho.

The City of Boise
The city government's official site with information on services, departments and events.

The Idaho Shakespeare Festival
A Boise tradition running from June through September in an outdoor amphitheater along the Boise River.

Idaho Fishing Report
Fishing information for all of Idaho's rivers and lakes. Updated regularly.

Bogus Basin Ski Resort
Get the latest on snow conditions and lift tickets for Boise's hometown ski and snowboarding destination.

Tamarack Resort
Get information on the first all-season resort to open in the U.S. in more than two decades just a few hours outside of Boise.

Boise Ridge to River Trail System
Information for hikers and bikers on the extensive trail system in Boise's beautiful foothills.

Idaho Whitewater Guide
A comprehensive list of Idaho whitewater guides and outfitters.

Idaho Department Fish & Game
Important information for hunters, fishers and wildlife enthusiasts.

Land and Climate Statistics
Elevation 2,842 feet
Land Area 1,645 sq mi (Boise MSA)
Annual Precipitation 12.11 inches
Sunshine Days 234
Temperature Average

• January 22-36 degrees F
• April 37-61 degrees F
• July 58-90 degrees F
• October 29-65 degrees F