Kuna Idaho City Information

Kuna is located on the Snake River basin plain that crosses, from east to west, the south end of the State of Idaho. Kuna is in the middle area of the valley at an average elevation of about 2,694 feet above sea level with the only natural waterway being Indian Creek that passes through the community from its path from the mountains to the east to the Boise River to the north. 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. Kuna is in the general area of the old Oregon Trail.

In 1881 the Oregon Short Line Railroad started building its line westward across Idaho. As early as 1882, the railroad established a construction camp at the intersection of the railway right of way and an existing stage station (horse drawn stagecoach station) southwest of Boise. The site was originally known as "Fifteen Mile Station" because it was fifteen miles southwest of Boise and approximately twenty miles from the Snake River. When the line went into operation in 1882, the station was named Kuna. The best historical references to the origin of the name came from a memoir of Walgamott's adventures in the late 1800s in southern Idaho. The story is told that it comes from a Shoshone Indian word meaning "green leaf, good to smoke." The green leaf probably came from the banks of the only flowing water in the location, now known as Indian Creek.

A settlement grew up around the station and flourished unit 1887 when a branch railroad line was built directly from Nampa to Boise essentially bypassing Kuna. After the reroute, the Kuna site was abandoned except for being a railroad siding location. It wasn't until about 1906, when the US Reclamation Service completed the New York Canal system, that irrigation water was available to the Kuna area and made commercial farming viable for the first time. The anticipation of water sparked land acquisition as early as 1905.

The first population count, as a distinct community, dates to 1910 when 150 people were reported to be living there. There has been continuous growth since that time and the population now stands at about 12,000. This history places Kuna at the very beginning of Idaho's settlement period that began as early as 1811 off the end of the Lewis and Clark expedition where fur trappers first came into the area. Today Kuna is known as the "Gateway City to the Birds of Prey National Habitat Area" and is the forefront of the "Western Heritage Byways Project." The habitat area is about 20 miles south of Kuna in and around the Snake River canyon lands. Kuna is the last service center or community before going toward the high desert wilderness location that protects and promotes bird habitat.

Kuna 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. Kuna is located about 15 miles southwest of Boise with a primary economic base of agriculture still. It has become a satellite or bedroom community location for the Boise market. This change came mainly 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.

Kuna is located in Ada County. It is the second smallest city in the county at about 12,000 in population as of 2008. The population of Kuna doubled in the last 10 years, primarily due to non-agricultural related regional growth as noted with most of the new growth being based on residential development. Kuna is most closely located and related to Meridian located about 10 miles north. Ada County has the largest concentration of people in the state. Kuna is beginning to establish itself as a full service community due to the increase in population though most major purchases, services and higher education etc., are still located outside the community. The community's small-town feel but convenient location has made it an attractive spot for families and others. Top end small acreage properties, developing outside the community, have begun to put Kuna on the "place to live" residential map in a five county area that supports the Boise market.

Whatever your reasons for coming to Kuna, 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. This site is your one source for finding homes for sale in Kuna Idaho.

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