Caldwell, Idaho

Caldwell (locally CALL-dwel) is a city in and the county seat of Canyon County, Idaho.[4] The population was 59,996 at the time of the 2020 United States census, making it the 5th most populous city in Idaho.[5]

Caldwell, Idaho
City
Downtown Caldwell, Idaho
Downtown Caldwell, Idaho
Nickname: 
The Treasure of the Valley
Motto: 
More to Offer
Location of Caldwell in Canyon County, Idaho.
Location of Caldwell in Canyon County, Idaho.
Caldwell, Idaho is located in the United States
Caldwell, Idaho
Caldwell, Idaho
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 43°39′30″N 116°40′49″W
CountryUnited States
StateIdaho
CountyCanyon
Established1883
Government
 • MayorJarom Wagoner
Area
[1]
 • City22.67 sq mi (58.71 km2)
 • Land22.61 sq mi (58.57 km2)
 • Water0.06 sq mi (0.14 km2)
Elevation
2,375 ft (724 m)
Population
 (2010)[2]
 • City46,237
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
58,481
 • Density2,586.05/sq mi (998.47/km2)
 • Metro
624,000
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (Mountain)
ZIP codes
83605-83607
Area code(s)208, 986
FIPS code16-12250
GNIS feature ID0397514
Websitewww.cityofcaldwell.com

Caldwell is considered part of the Boise metropolitan area. Caldwell is the location of the College of Idaho.

History

The present-day location of Caldwell is located along a natural passageway to the Inland and Pacific Northwest. Native American tribes from the west coast, north Idaho and as far away as Colorado would come to the banks of the Boise River for annual trading fairs, or rendezvous. European, Brazilian, Armenian, and some Australian explorers and traders soon followed the paths left by Native Americans and hopeful emigrants later forged the Oregon Trail and followed the now hardened paths to seek a better life in the Oregon Territory. Pioneers of the Trail traveled along the Boise River to Canyon Hill and forded the river close to the Silver Bridge on Plymouth Street.

Indian Creek in downtown, Caldwell

During the Civil War, the discovery of gold in Idaho's mountains brought a variety of new settlers into the area. Many never made it to the mines but chose to settle along the Boise River and run ferries, stage stations, and freighting businesses. These early entrepreneurs created small ranches and farms in the river valleys. Caldwell's inception occurred largely as a result of the construction of the Oregon Short Line Railroad, which connected Wyoming to Oregon through Idaho. Robert E. Strahorn came to the Boise River Valley in 1883 to select a route for the railroad. He rejected the grade into Boise City as too steep and chose a site thirty miles to the west. He drove a stake into an alkali flat of sagebrush and greasewood and the City of Caldwell was platted. Caldwell was named after one of Strahorn's business partners, Alexander Caldwell, a former Senator from the State of Kansas.

When Caldwell was platted in August 1883, its founder, the Idaho and Oregon Land Improvement Company, started persuading settlers and businessmen to move to the area. Within four months, Caldwell had 600 residents living in 150 dwellings, 40 businesses in operation, a school, a telephone exchange and two newspapers. On January 15, 1890, the Board of Commissioners of Ada County issued a handwritten order incorporating the City of Caldwell. The College of Idaho was founded in Caldwell in 1891 and still is in existence today. In 1892, Canyon County was established from a portion of Ada County. Caldwell was named the county seat. Irrigation canals and waterways were constructed throughout Canyon County. These facilities provided the foundation for an agricultural based economy in Caldwell. The Oregon Short Line Railroad became part of the larger Union Pacific Railroad network and in 1906 the Caldwell freight and passenger depot was constructed. Caldwell experienced moderate growth as an agricultural processing, commercial retail and educational center during the twentieth century.[6]

In 2009, the City of Caldwell completed a revitalization project to restore Indian Creek, which runs through downtown Caldwell, but had been used for sewage disposal by local industries, and had been covered over. The restored creek includes suspended bridges, walkways and picnic tables.[7]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.11 square miles (57.26 km2), of which, 22.06 square miles (57.14 km2) is land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km2) is water.[8]

Climate

Caldwell experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) with short, cold winters and hot, dry summers.

Climate data for Caldwell, Idaho
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 66
(19)		 70
(21)		 84
(29)		 94
(34)		 102
(39)		 106
(41)		 110
(43)		 112
(44)		 104
(40)		 94
(34)		 79
(26)		 69
(21)		 112
(44)
Average high °F (°C) 37.1
(2.8)		 46.1
(7.8)		 57.4
(14.1)		 66.3
(19.1)		 75.1
(23.9)		 84.2
(29.0)		 92.6
(33.7)		 91.7
(33.2)		 80.8
(27.1)		 67.0
(19.4)		 49.3
(9.6)		 37.9
(3.3)		 65.5
(18.6)
Average low °F (°C) 21.1
(−6.1)		 26.2
(−3.2)		 32.6
(0.3)		 38.5
(3.6)		 46.2
(7.9)		 52.8
(11.6)		 58.1
(14.5)		 55.8
(13.2)		 45.8
(7.7)		 36.6
(2.6)		 28.4
(−2.0)		 21.3
(−5.9)		 38.6
(3.7)
Record low °F (°C) −31
(−35)		 −21
(−29)		 −6
(−21)		 12
(−11)		 22
(−6)		 29
(−2)		 37
(3)		 31
(−1)		 23
(−5)		 15
(−9)		 −4
(−20)		 −34
(−37)		 −34
(−37)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.55
(39)		 1.11
(28)		 1.29
(33)		 1.13
(29)		 1.01
(26)		 0.67
(17)		 0.30
(7.6)		 0.35
(8.9)		 0.59
(15)		 0.73
(19)		 1.28
(33)		 1.39
(35)		 11.4
(290.5)
Source 1: NOAA (normals, 1971–2000)[9]
Source 2: The Weather Channel (Records)[10]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1890779—
190099728.0%
19103,543255.4%
19205,10644.1%
19304,974−2.6%
19407,27246.2%
195010,48744.2%
196012,23016.6%
197014,21916.3%
198017,69924.5%
199018,4004.0%
200025,96741.1%
201046,23778.1%
202059,99629.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 59,996 people, and 18,283 households in the city.[5] The population density was 2,625.4 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 69.1% White, 0.4% African American, 1.3% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, and 8.4% from two or more races.[5] Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 37.5% of the population. 56.7% of the population was non-Hispanic White. [5]

32.9% of the population were under 18, and 9.2% were under 5. People over 65 made up 9.4% of the population. The gender makeup of the city was 51.1% female, and 48.9% male.[5]

The median household income was $59,795, and the per capita income was $21,521. 12.1% of the population was under the poverty line.[5]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census,[2] there were 46,237 people, 14,895 households and 10,776 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,096.0 inhabitants per square mile (809.3/km2). There were 16,323 housing units at an average density of 739.9 per square mile (285.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 77.5% White, 0.6% African American, 1.2% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 16.1% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 35.4% of the population.

There were 14,895 households, of which 46.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.7% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.51.

The median age in the city was 28.2 years. 33.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 11.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.4% were from 25 to 44; 18.2% were from 45 to 64; and 8.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.

The median household income was $37,336. The per capita income was $15,731. About 20.2% of the population was below the poverty line.[12]

Arts and culture
Indian Creek in downtown Caldwell

Caldwell has held an annual Indian Creek Festival every September since 2003. The event includes a fun run and a tug of war.[13] Indian Creek Plaza, located in downtown Caldwell, includes an ice ribbon each winter, as well as many events throughout the year.[14]

Parks and recreation
Public pool in Caldwell

Caldwell has 12 city parks, two golf courses (Purple Sage and Fairview), a city pool,[15] and two skateparks.[16]

Education

Caldwell has five secondary schools—including Caldwell High School and Vallivue High School—and six elementary schools.[17]

The College of Idaho is located in Caldwell and is one of the oldest four-year institutions in the state.

Infrastructure

Caldwell Industrial Airport is located southeast of downtown.

Caldwell has a high-quality water system, which remained untreated and met all federal guidelines until the 1990s when the Federal Government mandated chlorination.

Notable people

See also
  • Bud, an early 20th-century dog from the Caldwell area

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  3. "Quick Facts, Caldwell city, Idaho". Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. United States Census Bureau. "QuickFacts Caldwell city, Idaho". Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  6. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 26, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Indian Creek Restoration". Cooperative Conservation America. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  8. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  9. "Climatography of the United States NO.81" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 16, 2014. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  10. "Monthly Averages for Caldwell, ID". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  12. "Caldwell Quick Facts". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 18, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  13. Lea, Dan (September 16, 2010). "Go with the flow at Indian Creek Festival". Idaho Press Tribune. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  14. JaclyTravel. Things To Do in Caldwell, Idaho: Downtown & Indian Creek Plaza, retrieved October 16, 2022
  15. "City of Caldwell". Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  16. "Caldwell, Idaho skatepark". northwestskatepark.com. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  17. "Caldwell School District". Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  18. Gys van Beek

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