Canyon County was established on March 7, 1891
with its county seat at Caldwell.
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Sources attribute the county name to the canyon
of the Boise River near Caldwell. John Rees and Vardis Fisher,
however, believed it to be named for the Snake River Canyon which
forms a natural boundary for the county.
The Hudson's Bay Company established Fort Boise
in 1834 near what is now Parma. It was abandoned in 1855.
Canyon County is on the Oregon Trail route and was
the scene of early explorations and adventures.
William Price Hunt and his overland party to Astoria
passed through here.
In 1813 John Reed and his group were massacred near
the mouth of the Boise River.
On this site, Donald McKenzie built a successful
post for the Northwest Fur Company in 1820.
Here, too, Thomas McKay built a bigger post to compete
with Fort Hall. Francois Payette, a French Canadian, was placed
in charge.
The second Fort Boise was built near here. Nature
has since erased all evidence of both the first two Forts Boise,
built by the Hudson's Bay Company.
Near Middleton occurred the Ward Massacre, a tragedy
of the Idaho history of the Trail.
Early settlers in the county located along the Boise
and Snake Rivers and followed agricultural pursuits.
When the Union Pacific came across the country in
1882 Canyon became quickly one of the most densely populated sections
of the state.
A land company, of which C. A. Caldwell was president,
platted the town site of Caldwell in August, 1883. Lots were sold
rapidly and in a matter of weeks the beginnings of a city were
evident. It was incorporated as a city in 1889.
The College of Idaho was founded here in 1891.
Nampa, the county's largest city, was incorporated
in 1890.
