Nampa
Wednesday, March 12th, 2008
The name: There are at least two theories as to how residents of the state’s second-largest city, once called New Jerusalem, came to call it Nampa.
The first is the origin is derived from a renegade Shoshone called Big Foot — or Nampuh — who was killed in 1868 at the age of 31. According to “The Legend of Bigfoot,” by Bennett L. Williams, Nampuh, whose real name was Starr Wilkinson, came West when he was about 20 and received his unique moniker because some said his feet were 17 1/2 inches long.
Another — and more credible — explanation was provided by Laurie Bird, a 35-year Nampa High School teacher whose book “My Home Town” was published in 1968. In her research, Bird discovered that some of the footprints left by Indians in the region appeared markedly larger than others because they stuffed their moccasins with sagebrush leaves in cold weather. The Shoshone word for foot is pronounced “nam-be,” or “nam-buh.”
History: Alexander Duffes, of Arlington, Ontario, Canada, saw promise in a dry, desolate spot along the railroad track and homesteaded here in 1885. When a branch line from the hamlet of Boise was built in 1886, a railroad industry was born. Men and horses finished the Phyllis Canal in 1892 and agriculture became the second industry.
In 1887 the fledgling townsite was saved from financial ruin with $6,000 from Col. Wm. Dewey. He later built the fabulous Dewey Palace Hotel in 1903. In 1887 nine children attended the first school. At the turn of the century there were more saloons than churches or schools.
In 1917 Northwest Nazarene College graduated four college students. The hospital on the second floor of the hardware store was replaced with the Mercy Hospital in 1919. In 1960 Wilbur Kirt built the first shopping center on Holly Street. One event — the Snake River Stampede —has come to help define the spirit of the community and help put the city on the map: the Snake River Stampede.
The event, which has been billed as the “Wildest, Fastest Show on Earth,” draws about 40,000 spectators from throughout the country each July. It has emerged and is now ranked as one of the top rodeos in the country.
The Stampede’s origins can be traced back to the Nampa Harvest Festival of 1913. At the corner of 11th Avenue and 2nd Street S., Cy Johnson, great-grandfather of Caldwell rodeo champ Dee Pickett, took second-place honors in a bucking contest held in a makeshift, roped-off arena.
Trivia fact: A Canyon County institution — Karcher Mall — opened in 1965 and was the first mall in Idaho. It was built on land homesteaded around 1890 by George Karcher.
The first is the origin is derived from a renegade Shoshone called Big Foot — or Nampuh — who was killed in 1868 at the age of 31. According to “The Legend of Bigfoot,” by Bennett L. Williams, Nampuh, whose real name was Starr Wilkinson, came West when he was about 20 and received his unique moniker because some said his feet were 17 1/2 inches long.
Mayor: Tom Dale
City Council: Members
Phone: 468-5401
E-mail: mayor@ci.nampa.id.us
General City Hall contact information: Street Address: 411 3rd St. S., Nampa
Phone: 465-2200
City of Nampa
Nampa Chamber of Commerce
City Council: Members
Phone: 468-5401
E-mail: mayor@ci.nampa.id.us
General City Hall contact information: Street Address: 411 3rd St. S., Nampa
Phone: 465-2200
City of Nampa
Nampa Chamber of Commerce
Another — and more credible — explanation was provided by Laurie Bird, a 35-year Nampa High School teacher whose book “My Home Town” was published in 1968. In her research, Bird discovered that some of the footprints left by Indians in the region appeared markedly larger than others because they stuffed their moccasins with sagebrush leaves in cold weather. The Shoshone word for foot is pronounced “nam-be,” or “nam-buh.”
History: Alexander Duffes, of Arlington, Ontario, Canada, saw promise in a dry, desolate spot along the railroad track and homesteaded here in 1885. When a branch line from the hamlet of Boise was built in 1886, a railroad industry was born. Men and horses finished the Phyllis Canal in 1892 and agriculture became the second industry.
In 1887 the fledgling townsite was saved from financial ruin with $6,000 from Col. Wm. Dewey. He later built the fabulous Dewey Palace Hotel in 1903. In 1887 nine children attended the first school. At the turn of the century there were more saloons than churches or schools.
In 1917 Northwest Nazarene College graduated four college students. The hospital on the second floor of the hardware store was replaced with the Mercy Hospital in 1919. In 1960 Wilbur Kirt built the first shopping center on Holly Street. One event — the Snake River Stampede —has come to help define the spirit of the community and help put the city on the map: the Snake River Stampede.
The event, which has been billed as the “Wildest, Fastest Show on Earth,” draws about 40,000 spectators from throughout the country each July. It has emerged and is now ranked as one of the top rodeos in the country.
The Stampede’s origins can be traced back to the Nampa Harvest Festival of 1913. At the corner of 11th Avenue and 2nd Street S., Cy Johnson, great-grandfather of Caldwell rodeo champ Dee Pickett, took second-place honors in a bucking contest held in a makeshift, roped-off arena.
Trivia fact: A Canyon County institution — Karcher Mall — opened in 1965 and was the first mall in Idaho. It was built on land homesteaded around 1890 by George Karcher.
