‘HO O DS
NAMPA AND CALDWELL
DOWNTOWN NAMPA
A
t the western end of the Treasure Valley—past the never-ending highway construction—are two towns that have seen some major changes in recent years. Nampa and Caldwell were both founded as dedicated farming communities, but each has seen a heavy dose of urbanization as traditional agricultural values were mixed with some big city ideas. Beyond their farming roots, both towns also owe their existence to the railroad. While the Oregon Short Line Railway bypassed Boise when it laid its track between Granger, Wyo., and Huntington, Ore., it went straight through Canyon County. Tracks also spurred out through Murphy in Owyhee County and north to Emmett and McCall. The county was eventually connected to Boise via the electric railway. The area has always been a conservative kind of place. Some of the original homesteaders and landowners refused to sell lots to anyone who planned to build a saloon— that plan didn’t last long. 28 ANNUAL MANUAL 2010-2011 BOISEweekly
One conservative upstart that became an and vintage shops as well as restaurants. institution is the elementary school that grew Of course, if you want retro, look no further into Northwest Nazarene University (623 than Karcher Mall (1509 Caldwell Blvd.), the Holly St.), now a major private college in the Treasure Valley’s first indoor shopping mall. region. The College of WestBut it’s not just about ern Idaho (5500 E. Opportushopping in the 2C. The VITAL STATISTICS nity Dr.) recently doubled the Idaho Center (16200 Idaho NAMPA Quaint downtown Nampa is the higher-education offerings Center Blvd.) hosts some up and coming popular kid when it in Nampa when it opened in of the largest concerts in comes to hip, local shopping. To cool off in the summer, Canyon County 2009. the area, and the Warhawk residents head to Lake Lowell, which Caldwell has long been Air Museum (201 Municipal is open to boaters mid-April through the end of September annually. home to the College of Way) is the place to check Idaho, formerly known as out an impressive collecCALDWELL Albertsons College of Idaho, tion of military aircraft and An infamous, privately owned billboard in Caldwell welcomes visitors formerly known as the Colmemorabilia. with what are sometimes biting solege of Idaho. C of I is home Canyon County is also cial and political messages. Whether you agree or disagree with their to one of the best planetarihome to a budding wine author, you’re usually guaranteed a ums in Idaho. country, with vineyards and laugh. Where to walk in Caldwell: College of Idaho campus and along the As the population has wineries dotting the rural banks of Indian Creek downtown. grown in recent years, some landscape and offering wine Nampa residents have lovers an easily accessible, dedicated themselves to yet impressively loaded, preserving the historic downtown core. The wine tasting tour. result is a charming area filled with boutique —Deanna Darr
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