Middleton Idaho City Information

Local History

Middleton is located on the Snake River basin plain that crosses, from east to west, the south end of the State of Idaho. Middleton is on the west end of the valley at an average elevation of about 2,398 feet above sea level and borders the Boise River on the south end. 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.

Prior to becoming a city, settlers following the Oregon Trail were using the Middleton location as early as 1854. The first historical note was of the Ward Massacre of August 20, 1854, when a group of Indians, about 60 in number, came across a small wagon train of about 20 "whites" including women and children. This was just a few miles south of Middleton on the old Oregon Trail route. There was regular movement of immigrants between Fort Boise to the west and Fort Hall to the east at the time along the trail. Both forts had been established and manned by the Hudson’s Bay trading company much earlier. After the massacre both forts were closed, and settlers started traveling through armed to the teeth and usually with military escort.

It appears the trouble started when the Indians began trading horses, Indian style, which included stealing or just taking horses if they felt they could. The settlers also returned this action by taking horses from the other side. At one point a brave raised his long rifle, probably just to point and was shot down by a settler who thought he was in danger. The battle then came quickly with a full attack. Most of the settlers, not experienced with battle, ran and hid in the wagons instead of standing to fight. The few that did stand were over whelmed quickly and then those hiding were drug out and killed on the spot. The women and children were also taken, violated and murdered, with the children being burned with the wagons, reportedly still alive when going into the flames. This so colored the relationship with the natives that both forts were closed, troops brought in and acts of inappropriate retribution happened for a year or more after the battle by settlers. The specific natives were never captured or even identified.

In 1863 the town site was parceled out by William N. Montgomery, in 1866 a post office and stage stop set up. A water powered grist mill was put in 1871. In 1872, there was a flood on the Boise River that carved a new channel creating an island where the original town site was located. Because of water issues, the town site was moved in 1880 to its current location north of the Boise River. By date, Middleton was one of the oldest settlements in the state because of its location on the Oregon Trail even though it was not incorporated until 1910. It has had positive average growth since then and is now one of the jewels of the "Treasure Valley."

Middleton 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.

Middleton still has a primary economic base of agriculture. It has become a major 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.

Middleton is located in Canyon County. It is the third largest city in the. The population of Middleton doubled in the last 10 years, primarily due to non-agricultural related regional growth as noted with most of the new Middleton growth being based on residential development. Middleton is most closely located and related to Caldwell, the county seat and Caldwell, Middleton and Nampa city limits have all connected at least within the impact areas around each community. Caldwell, with a population of 40,000 and Nampa at 80,000 and then Middleton at 5,900 constitutes the second largest concentration of people in the state only surpassed by the adjacent Ada County where Boise is located. The City governments are separate, but there is good cooperation between the communities in every aspect of physical and political infrastructure. Middleton is beginning to establish itself as a full service community due to the increase in population and has a new sewer system in planning that would allow for growth up to 30,000 people total within the community.

Most major purchases, services and higher education etc., though located within 30 miles, are still outside the community. The Communities 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 Middleton on the "place to live" residential map in a five county area that supports the Boise market.

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

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