Caldwell, Idaho, traces its roots back to 1890 when it emerged as a key trading hub along the Boise River, serving Native American tribes, European explorers, and Oregon Trail pioneers. Initially a bustling shopping district for western Idaho and eastern Oregon, it thrived with retailers like J.C. Penney and Sears until the 1965 opening of Karcher Mall shifted commerce away, turning downtown into a quiet shadow of its past. The city’s fortunes began to turn in 2009 with the daylighting of Indian Creek, a waterway buried under concrete since the 1950s after years of industrial misuse. This restoration project sparked a broader revitalization, culminating in the 2018 opening of Indian Creek Plaza—a $7.3 million public square that transformed a former department store site into a vibrant community centerpiece. Today, Caldwell, with a population of nearly 60,000 as of 2020, is the county seat of Canyon County and a growing part of the Boise metropolitan area.

Indian Creek Plaza has become the heartbeat of Caldwell’s renaissance, drawing over 300,000 visitors annually with its year-round offerings: splash pads and concerts in summer, an iconic ice-skating ribbon—one of only seven in the U.S.—in winter, and events like the Winter Wonderland Festival and Tuesdays on the Creek. The plaza revitalization has spurred downtown’s revival, spurring dozens of new businesses—restaurants, boutiques, even an ax-throwing venue—while boosting local revenue by millions. The College of Idaho, founded in 1891 as one of the state’s oldest four-year institutions, adds intellectual and cultural depth to this resurgence. Arguably the best institution in Idaho, the college educates over 1,000 students and partners with the city to enhance facilities like Simplot Stadium, a venue for football, soccer, and lacrosse that seats over 5,000 and energizes the community on game days.

The J.R. Simplot Company, a global agribusiness titan, also anchors Caldwell’s identity and economy. Founded by Jack Simplot, a local who began with a $20 hog investment in the 1920s, the company grew from potato farming into a powerhouse supplying McDonald’s fries and innovating in fertilizers and cattle. Its Caldwell presence, including the Simplot Dining Hall at the College of Idaho, reflects its deep ties to the city’s agricultural heritage—over 140 crops thrive in the region, alongside dairy and beef ranches. Downtown’s revitalization blends this legacy with new energy, as historic buildings now house modern ventures, and the Steunenberg Historic District preserves over 300 early 20th-century homes. With the plaza as its crown jewel, Caldwell has shed its “ghost town” label, emerging as a unique, thriving hub in the Treasure Valley.