Meridian, Idaho

Meridian, Idaho
—  City  —
Nickname(s): The Center of the Treasure Valley
Location in Ada County and the state of Idaho
Coordinates: 43°36′51″N 116°23′56″W / 43.61417°N 116.39889°W / 43.61417; -116.39889Coordinates: 43°36′51″N 116°23′56″W / 43.61417°N 116.39889°W / 43.61417; -116.39889
Country	United States
State	Idaho
County	Ada
Founded	1893
Incorporated	1903
Government
– Mayor	Tammy de Weerd
Area
– City	11.8 sq mi (30.5 km2)
– Land	11.8 sq mi (30.5 km2)
– Water	0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	2,605 ft (794 m)
Population (2010)
– City	75,092
– Metro	624,000
Time zone	Mountain (UTC-7)
– Summer (DST)	Mountain (UTC-6)
ZIP codes	83642, 83646, 83680
Area code(s)	208
FIPS code	16-52120
GNIS feature ID	0396879
Website	meridiancity.org

Meridian is the second-largest city in Ada County, Idaho, USA, and the third-largest in the state. As of 2010, the population of Meridian was 75092.^[1]

Having recently surpassed the eastern Idaho cities of Pocatello and Idaho Falls, the 2010 census placed Meridian as the third-largest city in Idaho behind Boise and Nampa, all in the Treasure Valley. Meridian is the state's fastest-growing city, with an 81.5 percent increase in population since 2000.^[2]

The Meridian School District is the largest in the state. Meridian is part of the Boise metropolitan area.

Geography

Meridian is located at 43°36′51″N 116°23′56″W / 43.61417°N 116.39889°W / 43.61417; -116.39889 (43.614229, -116.398963).^[3]

According to the U.S. Census, the city has a total area of 11.8 sq mi (31 km²), all land.

ZIP codes: 83642, 83646 (As of July 1, 2006)

The majority of Meridian lies on a flat plain, roughly in the north central part of Treasure Valley. There is a low bench along the south east edge of the city. The city is crossed by several irrigation canals that generally run from the south east to the north west. The Boise River runs north of the city. The Snake river runs far south of the city. Squaw Butte is visible to the north at 5,873 feet (1,790 m). Shafer Butte is visible to the north east at 7,572 feet (2,308 m). The Owyhee Mountains are visible to the far south.

Climate

Meridian's climate is characterized as semi-arid with four distinct seasons. Meridian experiences hot and dry summers where temperatures can often exceed 100°F (38°C), as well as cold winters with occasional light snowfall. Rainfall is usually infrequent and light, usually averaging less than an inch (25.4 mm) per month. November is the wettest month with an average of 1.35" of precipitation, and August is the driest month with 0.26". Spring and fall are generally temperate.

Climate data for Meridian, ID
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	63 (17)	71 (22)	81 (27)	93 (34)	98 (37)	103 (39)	105 (41)	105 (41)	98 (37)	95 (35)	75 (24)	65 (18)	105 (41)
Average high °F (°C)	37 (3)	46 (8)	57 (14)	65 (18)	73 (23)	82 (28)	89 (32)	88 (31)	78 (26)	66 (19)	49 (9)	37 (3)	64
Average low °F (°C)	22 (−6)	27 (−3)	32 (0)	37 (3)	44 (7)	50 (10)	54 (12)	53 (12)	45 (7)	36 (2)	29 (−2)	22 (−6)	38
Record low °F (°C)	−26 (−32)	−21 (−29)	3 (−16)	14 (−10)	21 (−6)	29 (−2)	30 (−1)	25 (−4)	24 (−4)	14 (−10)	−8 (−22)	−19 (−28)	−26 (−32)
Precipitation inches (mm)	0.99 (25.1)	0.76 (19.3)	1.15 (29.2)	1.06 (26.9)	1.06 (26.9)	0.74 (18.8)	0.28 (7.1)	0.26 (6.6)	0.55 (14)	0.60 (15.2)	1.35 (34.3)	1.14 (29)	9.94 (252.5)
Source: [4]

History

The town was established in 1891 on the Onweiler farm north of the present site and was called Hunter. Two years later an I.O.O.F. lodge was organized and called itself Meridian because it was located on the Boise Meridian and the town was renamed. The Settlers' Irrigation Ditch, 1892, changed the arid region into a productive farming community which was incorporated in 1902.^[5]

The information in the following sections (Irrigation, Village, Rail Transportation, and Creamery) is found on the displays in the Meridian City Hall Plaza.

Irrigation (1890 - Present)

Early settlers arriving in the area came with no knowledge of gravity flow irrigation. Their previous homes were in areas where rain provided the needed moisture to raise crops. Irrigation soon became a necessity, since having a water source was a requirement for receiving the patent for the land from the U.S. Land Office.

Irrigation was and continues to be backbreaking hard work. Long hours spent using shovels have been shortened by newer methods of irrigation, but it is still a daily task for the person in charge of agricultural crops. Many of those early settlers returned to the land where the rain fell instead of remaining in the area where watering crops was a full-time occupation. Those who stayed in Idaho were hardy citizens. Irrigation districts, such as the Nampa-Meridian and Settlers irrigation districts, continue to serve the immediate Meridian area.

Village (1903 - 1941)

The original Meridian town site was filed in 1893 on homestead grant land belonging to Eliza Ann Zenger. Her husband, Christian, filed the plat with county officials and called it Meridian. The early settlers, many of whom were relatives, left their homes in Missouri to come west, either by wagon train or immigrant railroad car, bringing their lodge and church preferences with them. They established local institutions soon after arriving and filed for homestead lands. In other words, they brought their community with them.

Around the turn of the century, settlers established fruit orchards and built fruit packing businesses and prune dryers along the railroad tracks. Local orchards produced many varieties of apples and Italian prunes. Production continued through the mid-1940s, when it was no longer profitable and the businesses closed. In 1941, Meridian's status changed from a village to a city.

Rail Transportation (1908 - 1928)

Following the raising of $4,000 to lay the Interurban rail line from Onweiler (Meridian and Ustick Roads), the tracks were completed into the village center. Turning east on Broadway and ending at East Second, the last car would spend the night in Meridian before returning to Boise early the next morning with passengers and freight. The interurban Station and Generator building (west one-third of the old library at Meridian and Idaho Streets) was built in 1912, and the line continued on to Nampa via Meridian. The tracks down Broadway were not used after 1912. The Interurban Company entered into receivership and closed in 1928 after 20 years of providing continuous economical transportation to neighboring towns. It was Meridian's main connection to the area outside the local community.

The Union Pacific Railroad spur opened in 1900 and is currently operated by the Idaho Northern and Pacific Railroad. Many industrial customers continue to ship forest, agricultural, and chemical products along this corridor.

Creamery (1929 - 1970)

Heritage Pavilion, Meridian City Hall Plaza, Bricks from the Original Creamery

The lowest days of the Great Depression brightened for area dairymen when the Ada County Dairymen's cooperative creamery began operation in 1929. It provided milk checks to those who were members of the cooperative, enabling them to pay their taxes and provide food for their families. Other community members hauled milk to the creamery and were employed by the creamery, whose product was Challenge Butter.

The creamery ran 7 days a week for 40 years. Additions and improvements were made while the plant was in full operation. Later years saw the Wyeth Laboratories affiliate with the creamery to manufacture SMA baby formula.

After the creamery ceased local operations in 1970, the dairymen's milk was shipped to the Caldwell creamery for processing.

Demographics

As of the census^[6] of 2000, there were 34,919 people, 11,829 households, and 9,515 families residing in the city (although today, the city's population on street signs is 56,108). The population density was 2,962.1/sq mi. There were 12,293 housing units at an average density of 1,042.8 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 96.3% White, 0.7% African American, 1% Native American, 2% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 1.9% from other races, and 2.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.7% of the population.

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	200		—
1910	619		209.5%
1920	1,013		63.7%
1930	1,004		−0.9%
1940	1,465		45.9%
1950	1,810		23.5%
1960	2,081		15.0%
1970	2,616		25.7%
1980	6,658		154.5%
1990	9,596		44.1%
2000	34,919		263.9%
2010	75,092		115.0%
source:[7][8]

There were 11,829 households out of which 49% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.4% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.6% were non-families. 14.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the city the population was spread out with 33.7% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 37.1% from 25 to 44, 15.8% from 45 to 64, and 6.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $53,276, and the median income for a family was $57,077. Males had a median income of $40,360 versus $27,174 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,150. About 4.6% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Meridian has a Mayor that serves 4 year terms and received annual salary of $70,200 in 2009. Meridian has a City Council of 4 members. Every two years, two City Council seats are up for re-election. Members of the City Council serve 4 year terms and received annual compensation of $9,000 in 2009.

The Mayor, with the consent of the City Council, appoints the following officers:

Meridian City Hall

• City Attorney
• Public Works Director
• Chief of Police
• Fire Chief
• Planning Director
• Parks and Rec Director
• Chief Financial Officer

"Meridian Idaho City Code". http://www.sterlingcodifiers.com/codebook/index.php?book_id=306. Retrieved September 23, 2009. 

Parts of the City

The majority of the city lies North of I-84. Streets are named with a north, south, east or west prefix identifying the orientation of the street and where the street is in relation to the intersection of Franklin Road and Meridian Road. Roads with a North prefix are north of Franklin Road (which runs east and west). Roads with a West prefix are west of Meridian Road (which runs north and south). Many residents identify which section of the city they live in by the closest intersection of major roads that are generally laid out in square miles. From west to east, the major roads are Black Cat, Ten Mile, Linder, Meridian, Locust Grove, and Eagle. From north to south, the major roads are Chinden (Highway 20/26), McMillan, Ustick, Cherry (west of Meridian) or Fairview (east of Meridian), Franklin, Overland, Victory, and Amity.

I-84 is between Franklin and Overland. Pine is another major road that runs east/west and lies between Cherry and Franklin.

A railroad line runs east/west and lies between Pine and Franklin. Most of the city's industrial areas are concentrated along this railroad line with some other industrial areas near the east side of the city south west of the intersection of Fairview and Eagle.

A zoning map is available on the city's web site.

Old-town Meridian centers around the intersection of Main Street and Pine Street. In the older section of the city, there are numbered streets up to 15th street to the west and up to 5th street to the east.

Because of Meridian's remarkable growth in the last 20 years, the majority of residential neighborhoods in the city are relatively new.

Economy

Blue Cross of Idaho is based in Meridian.

Culture

The Meridian Symphony Orchestra celebrated its 20th anniversary season in 2009-2010.

Art is on display in the Initial Point Gallery on the third floor of the Meridian City Hall. The gallery is open to the public with free admission.

Recreation

Roaring Springs is a large water park near the Meridian I-84 exit. Wahooz is a large family entertainment complex open year-round featuring go carts, bumper boats, miniature golf, batting cages, laser tag, an arcade and grill.

The city's Parks and Rec department manages 17 public parks throughout Meridian including Meridian Settlers Regional Park which hosts free outdoor movies during the summer months.

The Meridian Speedway lies within city limits directly south of Old Town Meridian.

Meridian shares boundaries with the two largest cities in Idaho, Boise, ID to the east and Nampa, ID to the west. Therefore, residents of Meridian often take advantage of the recreation and sports opportunities in those cities.

Eagle Island State Park is about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) north of Meridian and includes a man-made lake with a beach, equestrian and hiking trails, fishing, and a water slide. The Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area is south of Meridian.

Famous residents

• William Agee, controversial business executive
• Ron Packard, former congressman from California
• Gracie Pfost, first woman elected to Congress from Idaho
• Randy Tolsma, NASCAR driver
• Davey Hamilton, Indy 500 driver
• Vern Law, Major League Baseball player
• Emmett Avila, a Big Brother contestant.
• Spencer Nead, a former fullback for the New England Patriots

Notes

1. ^ [1]
2. ^ [2]
3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
4. ^ "Average Weather for Meridian, ID - Temperature and Precipitation". Weather.com. http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/USID0161. Retrieved September 22, 2009. 
5. ^ *Fisher, Vardis; Federal Writers' Project (1938). Idaho Encyclopedia. Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Printers, Ltd. pp. 398. OCLC 962624. 
6. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
7. ^ Moffatt, Riley. Population History of Western U.S. Cities & Towns, 1850-1990. Lanham: Scarecrow, 1996, 95.
8. ^ "Subcounty population estimates: Idaho 2000-2007" (CSV). United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 2009-03-18. http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/files/SUB-EST2007-16.csv. Retrieved 2009-04-28. 

External links

• Meridian City.org - official site
• Meridian Photo Gallery