Nampa, Idaho
Nampa (/ˈnæmpə/ ⓘ) is the most populous city in Canyon County, Idaho, United States. The population was 100,200 at the 2020 census.[3] It is Idaho's 3rd most populous city. Nampa is about 20 miles (32 km) west of Boise along Interstate 84, and 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Meridian. It is the second principal city of the Boise metropolitan area. The name "Nampa" may have come from a Shoshoni word meaning either 'moccasin' or 'footprint'.[5] According to toponymist William O. Bright the name comes from the Shoshoni word /nampai/, meaning "foot".[6]
Nampa
United States
September 8, 1886
April 17, 1891
Debbie Kling
34.77 sq mi (90.06 km2)
33.48 sq mi (86.72 km2)
0.15 sq mi (0.39 km2)
2,517 ft (767 m)
100,200
110,951
2,992.7/sq mi (1,155.5/km2)
177,561 (US: 203rd)
811,336 (US: 75th)
899,574 (US: 67th)
UTC–6 (MDT)
16-56260
0396943[2]
Arts and culture[edit]
Ford Idaho Center[edit]
The Ford Idaho Center is a city-owned complex of entertainment venues managed by Spectra Venue Management. Venues include a 10,500-capacity amphitheater built in 1998 that features a 60-by-40-foot stage; a 12,279-seat arena featuring 31,200 square feet (2,900 m2) of arena floor space; the Idaho Horse Park, used for horse shows; and the Sports Center, used for indoor horse shows in the summer, and track and field events, including the home meets of the Boise State University Broncos track teams, in the winter. The Idaho Center hosts the Snake River Stampede Rodeo, Monster Jam, music concerts, trade shows, sporting events, and other events.
Hispanic Cultural Center of Idaho[edit]
The Hispanic Cultural Center of Idaho (HCCI) opened in September 2003.[18] The center hosts events, classes, and festivals including Día de los Muertos, Hispanic Heritage Month, and Día Internacional de la Mujer. It serves as a meeting place for associations and groups. Displays of cultural history are available to the public.
Annual Festival of the Arts[edit]
This festival is held in Lakeview Park every year and includes art, music, dance, and food. They celebrated their 34th event in 2021.
Warhawk Air Museum[edit]
The Warhawk Air Museum was established in 1986 and relocated to Nampa in 2001.[20] The museum displays aircraft and veterans' history. Their collection includes a P-51C Mustang, P-40N Warhawk, F-86F Sabre Jet, N3N, Fokker DR-1, UH-1C Huey, L-19 Bird Dog, MiG-17, MiG-21, F-104 Starfighter, and a F9F Panther Jet.
Parks and recreation[edit]
Nampa has 27 parks and 14 miles of pedestrian pathways.[22]
Lakeview Park is the largest (44 acres) and includes a public swimming pool, 1,000 seat capacity amphitheater, baseball-softball fields, BMX track, rose garden, basketball courts, playground, duck pond, sand volleyball court, horseshoe pits, and water wise garden. Historic displays at the park include a Northrop F-89B Scorpion fighter jet, M-60 Tank, and a Union Pacific Engine No. 616, a class 2-8-0 locomotive.
The Harward Recreation Center (previously named The Nampa Recreation Center), a 140,000-square-foot (13,000 m2) facility with a six-pool aquatic center, three gymnasiums, racquetball courts, indoor walking/running track, a weight room and exercise equipment, a climbing wall, and other activity areas, opened in 1994.[23]
The City of Nampa owns and operates the Centennial Golf Course[24] (18 holes) and Ridgecrest Golf Club[25] (27 holes). The city also owns and operates the Kohlerlawn-Cemetery.[26]
Wilson Springs is a 55-acre nature area that includes trails and fishing ponds serviced by Idaho Fish and Game and Canyon County Parks.[27]
Government[edit]
On January 2, 2018, and then again on January 3, 2022, Debbie Kling[28] was sworn in as the second female mayor of Nampa. Current Nampa City Council members are Victor Rodriguez (District 1, elected 2017 and re-elected 2021), Natalie Jangula (District 2, elected 2023), David Bills (District 3, appointed to fill vacancy 2024), Darl Reynolds (District 4, elected 2023 and appointed 2022), Randy Haverfield (District 5, reelected 2017 and 2021) and Sebastian Griffin (District 6, elected 2023).
The Nampa City Council increased from four to six members after voters approved the increase in May 2013.[29] Following a legislative change in
2020, any city with a population of 100,000 people or more, must elect council members by district. Citizens can search for their district and learn more about this process at https://www.cityofnampa.us/1449/Districting-Committee.
Education[edit]
K-12[edit]
The Nampa School District, which covers the majority of the city,[30] includes 18 elementary schools, five middle schools, and four high schools, and one alternative high school that serves students who struggle in traditional high schools.[31] The high schools include Nampa High School (the original and oldest), Skyview High School, Columbia High School, and Union High School.
Vallivue School District is partly in Nampa and partly in Caldwell.[30] It has seven elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools (one in Nampa).
A few blocks of Nampa are in West Ada School District (Meridian Joint School District 2).[30]
Infrastructure[edit]
Transportation[edit]
Major thoroughfares includes Interstate 84, which has four exits into Nampa, State Highway 55, and State Highway 45. Principal roads include the Nampa-Caldwell Boulevard (which connects Nampa with Caldwell), 12th Avenue Road, 16th Avenue, and Garrity Boulevard. The Union Pacific Northwest Corridor railroad line, connecting Salt Lake City and points east with the Pacific Northwest, runs through Nampa. Public bus transportation includes several bus lines operated by ValleyRide. Private bus transportation includes a single Greyhound bus stop. The Nampa Municipal Airport is used for general aviation.