Greenleaf Idaho City Information

Local History

Greenleaf is located in Canyon County. It has a population of about 885 within the city limits, as of 2009, and has experienced a less than 1% per year, in community, growth rate in the last 20 years. Most of the population lives outside the city limits on farmlands near Greenleaf and were not included in the growth rates or population count. Greenleaf is part of the Boise Metro area that now has the greatest concentration of people between Salt Lake City Utah and Portland Oregon at about 588,000.

In recent years Greenleaf has become a favorite location for upper end, small acreage, residential properties, located in the unincorporated areas around Greenleaf. These properties are primarily connected to the Caldwell market and typically use the county school system versus the Greenleaf Academy. Today Greenleaf is a very viable community with a city government, the K-12 academy and some newer subdivisions. Because it is so close to Caldwell, it will probably merge at some future point in time. There is a new golf course community developing a few miles south of Greenleaf in the county. This area is known for its onion, hop, seed corn, bean, potato, sugar beet and alfalfa seed crops. A more recent entry into this area is the wine industry with multiple large and small vineyards coming on line. The real estate market in Greenleaf is diverse, as it has not been used for farm labor housing as a rule. If you are looking for a low to no crime small-town feel with diverse in community housing, with good upgrade small acreage properties options just outside of the community, all within good striking distance of all of the best southwest Idaho has to offer, Greenleaf is a good choice.

Greenleaf 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 source of non-agriculturally based jobs for the region. Greenleaf is located about five miles west of Caldwell, the county seat, and 30 miles from Boise the economic and political center of the state. To a lesser extent, Greenleaf has become a satellite or bedroom community location for the Boise market. It has been limited by its location but more by its lack of infrastructure, i.e. sewer system, which hinders large-scale changes in population. Most of the recent development pressure has been taken up by lands and communities closer to Boise such as Caldwell, Nampa and Middleton. The recent rapid growth in the east county area came primarily through the introduction of clean industries, such as Hewlett Packard and Micron Technologies, in the last 20 years. 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.

Greenleaf is located on the Snake River basin plain that crosses, from east to west, the south end of the State of Idaho. Greenleaf is on the west end of the valley at an average elevation of about 2,411 feet above sea level, is part of a level plateau area about 100 feet above the Boise River plain and is near the confluence of the Boise and Snake Rivers to the west. This 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.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition passed through the Greenleaf area in 1805 following the Boise River that is about 5 miles north of Greenleaf on their way to the west coast. In 1811, the Wilson Price Hunt party passed through exploring portions of the then future Oregon Trail that also follows the river to the north. Greenleaf sparked into life in about 1903 when it appeared the "Boise Project," an irrigation enterprise, was going to bring irrigation water to the location that would bring the dry desert soil to life, which it did. After 1909, a rail line was run to Greenleaf from Caldwell where the Oregon Short Line railroad already had a track down. Like many communities in the Boise Valley at the time, great plans were made for Greenleaf for which little happened except for the development of some of the best farmlands in the region. The Quaker poet and abolitionist, John Greenleaf Whittier, founded the community in 1903. In 1908, the Greenleaf Friends Academy was established, a grade school level private Christian academy, that is still working and viable today. The academy is regionally known for its academic excellence, its music programs, its athletic programs and its Christian values. It is reported that 75% of the in community population is still affiliated with the Quaker order. There is some industry in Greenleaf, a post office, store, restaurant, gas station but the primary center of the community is still the academy. With Greenleaf being located only 5 miles from Caldwell and with an inadequate population base to support most retail concerns, has resulted in major purchases and services being utilized in Caldwell rather than in Greenleaf. A good state and county road system connects Greenleaf with all the other communities within the county with good and direct access.

Whatever your reasons for coming to Greenleaf, 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 Greenleaf Idaho real estate.

Still unsure about where you want to move? Keep reading about Greenleaf 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.