Middleton, Idaho, the oldest settlement in Canyon County, began in 1863 when William N. Montgomery settled the land. Named for its midpoint between Old Fort Boise and Keeney’s Ferry, it thrived as an Oregon Trail stop with a stage station, post office by 1866, and grist mill by 1871. A Boise River flood in 1872 shifted its location, and though incorporated in 1910, the certificate arrived in 1971. Marked by the 1854 Ward Massacre, a 1914 hotel fire, and an unsolved bank robbery, it’s now called the “Beverly Hills of Canyon County” for its upscale rural charm.

Now home to over 9,000, Middleton has tripled in size since 2000, attracting families and retirees with affordable acreage properties near Caldwell and Star, 35 minutes from Boise via I-84. Agriculture thrives with West Valley Dairy, while the new Middleton Commons off Middleton Road will bring retail and dining by 2025. Traffic on State Street (Highway 44) grows, but the Boise River Valley and Owyhee Mountain views keep it serene and luxurious.

Downtown Middleton blends history and heart along Main Street, where the Mercantile (since 1919) joins eateries like Tacos El Rancho and The Rustic Oven Food Truck. The 1909 Middleton Sub-Station, on the National Register, recalls its electric railway days (1907-1928). Historic homes pepper the area, and events like the Harvest Festival keep traditions alive. New subdivisions like Middleton Lakes add modern touches, while the town’s rural beauty and proximity to Boise make it one of Canyon County’s nicest spots.