Boise, Idaho: The Capital Named for a River (and the French Word for 'Wooded')

Boise (pronounced boy-see) is the capital of Idaho—and the only U.S. state capital named after the river it sits on.

Etymology

French-Canadian trappers called the tree-lined river "La rivière boisée" ("the wooded river"). The name migrated to the fort (1834), then the city (1863), then the territory/state.

Geography and Vibe

• Foothills of the Rockies, high desert (2,700 ft / 820 m).
• Boise River Greenbelt: 25+ miles of riverside trails, parks, wildlife—heart of civic life.
• Fast-growing tech hub ("Silicon Slopes" north), outdoor mecca, Basque cultural center (largest US Basque community).

Other "Bouncy" Names?

If "bouncy" means fun-to-say: Honolulu (HI), Santa Fe (NM), Baton Rouge (LA), Little Rock (AR), Oklahoma City (OK). But only Boise shares its name with its river.