Boise is the capital of Idaho, and its name is commonly connected with the French phrase boisée, meaning “wooded” or “wooded area.”
The city lies along the Boise River in southwestern Idaho. In the early 19th century, French-speaking fur trappers reportedly used a name related to “les bois,” meaning “the woods,” for the tree-lined river valley. The exact naming story has competing versions, but the French connection is the explanation most often associated with the city’s name.
Fort Boise was established in the area in 1834, although that trading post was later abandoned. A new Fort Boise was built by the U.S. Army near the present city in 1863, helping the settlement grow during the Idaho gold rush era. Boise became the territorial capital in 1864.
Idaho became a state in 1890, and Boise remained its capital. The city is pronounced “BOY-see” by many residents, while “BOY-zee” is also heard elsewhere in the United States.