Caldwell, Idaho facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Caldwell, Idaho
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Downtown Caldwell, Idaho
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| Nickname(s):
The Treasure of the Valley
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| Motto(s):
More to Offer
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Location of Caldwell in Canyon County, Idaho.
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 Caldwell, Idaho
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Idaho |
| County | Canyon |
| Established | 1883 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 22.67 sq mi (58.71 km2) |
| • Land | 22.61 sq mi (58.57 km2) |
| • Water | 0.06 sq mi (0.14 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,395 ft (730 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 59,996 |
| • Density | 2,586.05/sq mi (998.47/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (Mountain) |
| ZIP codes |
83605-83607
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| Area code(s) | 208, 986 |
| FIPS code | 16-12250 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2409956 |
Caldwell is a city in Idaho, United States. It is the main city of Canyon County. In 2020, about 59,996 people lived there. This makes Caldwell the fifth largest city in Idaho.
Caldwell is part of the larger Boise metropolitan area. It is also home to the College of Idaho, a well-known school.
Contents
Caldwell's Story: A Look Back
The area where Caldwell is today was once a natural pathway. It connected different parts of the Pacific Northwest. Long ago, Native American tribes would gather here. They came from many places to trade goods near the Boise River.
Later, explorers and traders from Europe and even Hawaii followed these paths. Then, pioneers traveled the Oregon Trail. They hoped for a better life in the Oregon Territory. These early travelers crossed the Boise River near where the Silver Bridge is now.
During the American Civil War, gold was found in Idaho's mountains. This brought many new people to the area. Some did not reach the mines. Instead, they settled along the Boise River. They started businesses like ferries and freight services. These early settlers also created small farms.
Caldwell began because of the Oregon Short Line Railroad. This railroad was built to connect Wyoming to Oregon through Idaho. In 1883, Robert E. Strahorn chose the spot for Caldwell. He picked a flat area of land, and the city was planned. Caldwell was named after Alexander Caldwell. He was a business partner of Strahorn and a former Senator from Kansas.
When Caldwell was planned in August 1883, people were encouraged to move there. In just four months, Caldwell grew very fast. It had 600 residents and 40 businesses. It also had a school and two newspapers. On January 15, 1890, Caldwell officially became a city.
The College of Idaho was started in Caldwell in 1891. It is still an important part of the city today. In 1892, Caldwell became the county seat of Canyon County. Many irrigation canals were built. These helped farming become a big part of Caldwell's economy. The Oregon Short Line Railroad became part of the Union Pacific Railroad. In 1906, a new train station was built. Caldwell continued to grow as a center for farming, shopping, and education.
In 2009, Caldwell finished a big project. They cleaned up and restored Indian Creek. This creek runs through downtown Caldwell. It had been covered up and used for waste. Now, the restored creek has bridges, walkways, and picnic areas.
Where Caldwell Is: Geography
Caldwell covers about 22.11 square miles (57.26 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. Only a small part is water.
Caldwell's Weather
Caldwell has a semi-arid climate. This means it has short, cold winters. Its summers are hot and dry.
| 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) |
| Mean daily maximum °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) |
| Mean daily minimum °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) | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: The Weather Channel (Records) | |||||||||||||
Caldwell's People: Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 779 | — | |
| 1900 | 997 | 28.0% | |
| 1910 | 3,543 | 255.4% | |
| 1920 | 5,106 | 44.1% | |
| 1930 | 4,974 | −2.6% | |
| 1940 | 7,272 | 46.2% | |
| 1950 | 10,487 | 44.2% | |
| 1960 | 12,230 | 16.6% | |
| 1970 | 14,219 | 16.3% | |
| 1980 | 17,699 | 24.5% | |
| 1990 | 18,400 | 4.0% | |
| 2000 | 25,967 | 41.1% | |
| 2010 | 46,237 | 78.1% | |
| 2020 | 59,996 | 29.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 Census Information
In 2020, Caldwell had 59,996 people. There were 18,283 households. The city had about 2,625 people per square mile.
Most people in Caldwell were White (69.1%). About 37.5% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino background.
About 32.9% of the people were under 18 years old. And 9.4% were 65 years or older. Slightly more than half of the population (51.1%) was female.
The average household income was about $59,795. About 12.1% of the people lived below the poverty line.
2010 Census Information
In 2010, Caldwell had 46,237 people. There were 14,895 households. About 46.5% of households had children under 18.
The average age in the city was 28.2 years. About 33.1% of residents were under 18. And 8.9% were 65 or older.
Fun Things to Do: Arts and Culture
Caldwell has an annual Indian Creek Festival. It takes place every September since 2003. The festival includes a fun run and a tug-of-war game.
Indian Creek Plaza is in downtown Caldwell. It has an ice ribbon for skating in winter. Many other events happen there throughout the year.
Outdoor Fun: Parks and Recreation
Caldwell has 12 city parks. There are also two golf courses called Purple Sage and Fairview. The city has a public swimming pool. You can also find three skateparks for skateboarding.
Learning in Caldwell: Education
Caldwell has five high schools. These include Caldwell High School and Vallivue High School. There are also six elementary schools.
The College of Idaho is located in Caldwell. It is one of the oldest four-year colleges in the state.
How Caldwell Works: Infrastructure
The Caldwell Executive Airport is located southeast of downtown.
Caldwell has a very good water system. The water was naturally clean for a long time. In the 1990s, the government required adding chlorine to the water.
Famous Faces from Caldwell: Notable People
Many interesting people have connections to Caldwell. Here are a few:
- Joseph Albertson – He started the Albertson's grocery store chain.
- Troy Beyer – An actress who went to high school in Caldwell.
- Ronee Blakley – An actress and singer.
- A. J. Feeley – A former NFL quarterback.
- Mark Lindsay – A musician.
- Butch Otter – A former governor of Idaho.
- Paul Revere – A musician.
- Jim Rohn – An American entrepreneur and motivational speaker.
- Gary Stevens – A jockey who won the Kentucky Derby three times.
- Steve Symms – A former U.S. senator.
See also
In Spanish: Caldwell (Idaho) para niños
