Garden City Idaho City Information

Local History

Garden City is part of the Snake River basin plain, of which the Boise River is part, which crosses, from east to west, the south end of the State of Idaho. Garden City is on the east end of the valley at an average elevation of about 2,674 feet above sea level and borders the Boise River on the northeast. Garden City is almost completely surrounded by the City of Boise but retains a separate municipal government. Garden City/Boise is considered a high desert area with most of the moisture occurring and collecting in the surrounding mountains and then being transferred into the valley by creeks, streams and rivers. These waterways provide the irrigation water used by farmers across the whole south end of the state. Garden City/Boise is located on the old Oregon Trail. Garden City has its origin as being a "China Town" section of Boise where Chinese immigrants lived and raised produce gardens during the gold rush days of Idaho in the 1860's. Chinden, the main arterial road running through Garden City is a mixture of the words China and garden. The 1870 census indicated that 28.5% of Idaho's population was Chinese. The Chinese first came to west North America primarily through the port of San Francisco and were drawn here by stories of, first the gold rush in California and then later in the mountain range above Boise. The Chinese story in Garden City was similar to hundreds of other places in the west at that time. Most of the Chinese were men, most were miners, most worked on the railroads during and after the gold rush days and most were discriminated against by the European based "white" settlers of the time. When the mines played out, the railroads finished and with anti-Asian immigration laws in place, much of the Chinese population either immigrated out, if they could afford it, or died here as strangers in a far off place. A few stayed and after the reduced population no longer posed a threat to the "white" settlers and with immigration laws in place, they blended more peacefully into America's immigrant society. Today about 1.67% of Garden City is Asian and just over 2% of Boise has Asian ancestry. Few of these trace their roots back to Garden City or even to China. In recent years, this founding ancestry group has been honored by hosting Chinese New Year's parades in Garden City. Garden City has always been primarily an industrial/commercial location that continues today. Much of the community has been affected by flooding over the years, but with the advent of dikes, irrigation dams, landfills etc. much of the problem has been abated. Today Garden City is still a vibrant commercial district with some lower cost residential options and a growing community of newer river frontage subdivisions. Once Boise River frontage was not in demand when river flows were not regulated, but now with dikes, dams and good regulation it has become in high demand for top end residential properties. With Boise River frontage, running the full length of Garden City this new demand has begun to translate into pockets of good quality residential developments along the river that has also become a green belt way through the area. Garden City is becoming a garden once more along the Boise River. Though technically, Garden City is not a full service community on its own, its encapsulation by Boise, a regional based hub city, gives access to all of Boise's amenities within a short walk or drive. It has become just another unique option in Boise's mature and diverse urban makeup.

Garden City is part of the greater Boise economic region of Southwest Idaho, referred to as the "Treasure Valley" due to its agriculturally based wealth, made possible by irrigation and mild climate. Boise is the economic and political hub of this region being the capital of the state, the largest city in the state and the primary location of non-agriculturally based jobs for the region. Garden City is encapsulated by Boise and is in the west central district of that community. It has always had a commercial/industrial base from its beginning and also serves, to a lesser extent, as a satellite or bedroom community location for the Boise market. Boise and the surrounding areas have also become a hub for transportation and storage, higher education, communication call centers, medical services and most other major demographic factors that allow clean and sustained growth.

Garden City is located in Ada County. It is the sixth largest city in the county at about 12,045 in population as of 2011. The population of Garden City doubled since 1990 in line with Boise City's growth rate over the same period. The actual growth in the "metro" area was greater but as intercity land was used up most of the growth occurred in newly annexed West Boise county areas and in communities like, Eagle, Star and Meridian on the west end of the county. For those looking for the intercity feel of a mature urban environment but with a low crime rate and high employment rate, Garden City would make a good option.

Whatever your reasons for coming to Garden City, it can be considered a good choice and one of the positive puzzle pieces that make up the "Treasure Valley" whose real treasure has always been its people. Trust the experts at Stewart Realty, LLC to help you find your own piece of Garden City Idaho real estate.

Still unsure about where you want to move? Keep reading about Garden City Idaho or check out other city pages to find the area of the Treasure Valley that best fits your needs. This site also has up to date information from the Boise MLS on available homes in the area so you can find the perfect home.