The Treasure Valley Expands

With the meager beginning of diverting water from the Boise River more and more land was located. Field were cleared...

...plowed, sowed, and fenced with willows, sagebrush, and cattle foraged on the higher ground. Word spread and emigrants continued to settle meaning ditches were enlarged and headgates improved.

By late 1867 land surverys had commenced in the area along the Boise. The 1870 census shows there were 250 people on both sides of this 20-mile stretch of the Boise River...

...as well as 30 women (average age 30), 87 men (average age 33), with the rest being children.

Constant fear of the Native Americans who roamed through the valley to hunt and fish was always present. For safety from the Native Americans, three forts were built in the area where families stayed as long as ten days at a time.

Fort Tom Johnston in the area of the present Simplot plant; Fort Kinkaid which is believed to be closer to Notus; and Fort Schindler near the present Ada-Canyon County line.

That these farmers were aware of their problems is shown in the organization in 1874 of Granges. Family social activity, exchange of ideas, and collective bargaining were part of the Grange movement.

On the Boise River in 1874, Granges were formed at Parma, Star, Middleton, Lower Boise, Dixie Slough, and Madden (later called Franklin).