Why "Boise"?

One account states the city's name was given by Capt. B.L.E. Bonneville of the U.S. Army:

"After trekking for weeks through dry and rough terrain, his exploration party reached an overlook with a view of the Boise River Valley. The place where they stood is called Bonneville Point, located on the Oregon Trail east of the city. According to the story, a French-speaking guide, overwhelmed by the sight of the verdant river, yelled "Les bois! Les bois!" ("The woods! The woods!") — and the name stuck." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boise,_Idaho

The other popular version is that earlier mountain men named the Boise river, and the city's name stemmed from it:

"In the 1820s, French Canadian fur trappers set trap lines in the vicinity. Set in a high desert area, the tree-lined valley of the Boise River became a distinct landmark. They called this "La rivière boisée", which means "the wooded river." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boise,_Idaho

Boise, "The City of Trees"

The lushness of the Treasure Valley, thanks largely to the Boise River, in addition to the relatively milder climate within the valley (otherwise desert), is responsible for much of the trees and vegetation that make the area green and beautiful. But the city's settling pioneers, wanting to provide even more "shade in the desert" and improve appearance, planted many trees throughout Boise, well before 1890 when Idaho became an official state.

Thanks to that foresight, as well as the efforts of today's residents, now there are thousands of trees throughout the city and surrounding area, living up the moniker: "The City of Trees".

Around here, we love our trees. Parker Tree Service is a Boise tree service company that is dedicated to the health, safety, and beauty of the area's indigenous trees, helping Boise live up to it's name and reputation of beauty.

Boise Community Forestry authors a Tree Selection Guide (download) to help Boiseans learn more about local trees and choose the best species for their landscapes.