Your North Meridian Guide: What to know, where to go in Idaho’s fastest-growing city
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Just 30 years ago, Meridian wasn’t much more than a small town on the outskirts of Boise, similar to what we have today with Middleton and Star. But a population boom has resulted in Meridian becoming one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States.
North Meridian, sandwiched between the busy roads of Interstate 84 and Chinden Boulevard, has prospered over the years. The region has become a hot spot for new development, from the luxurious Village at Meridian, built in 2013, to new apartment buildings and the long-awaited arrival of In-n-Out to Idaho.
Where is North Meridian?
North Meridian is a near-perfect rectangle with a panhandle at its northwest side. The neighborhood is bordered on its east by Eagle Road and on the north by Chinden Boulevard.
The southern border runs along Interstate 84 from Eagle Road to McDermott Road. It then runs northward until Ustick Road, and the panhandle goes two blocks west to Can-Ada Road before running back north to Chinden Boulevard.
Food and drink in North Meridian
Downtown Boise may be home to the Basque Block, famous for its southwest European heritage and food, but Basque gems can also be found outside the block. One of those is Epi’s A Basque Restaurant. The cozy restaurant is built from an old, restored bungalow and offers plenty of Basque classics, such as croquetas, lamb stew and chorizos.
Gino’s Italian Ristorante-Bar is another exciting spot to satisfy a need for European tastes. Gino’s has served the Treasure Valley since 1996, thanks to late owner Gino Vuolo. Vuolo was born in Naples and raised in New York’s Little Italy, then he returned to Naples before moving to Boise. The menu is based on Southern Italian recipes, according to previous Statesman reporting.
Or, if you’re looking for a drink, Heritage Hop Haus is a relaxed underground bar with several of Boise’s local favorite beers on tap. Or if you’re looking for something a little fancier, The Lounge is upstairs from Hop Haus and offers hand-crafted cocktails from, in the words of Heritage, “the Valley’s best mixologists.”
Other North Meridian restaurants and pubs:
Tin Roof Tacos - Texas street-style tacos, 1750 W. McMillan Road
The Harp - Irish pub and eatery, 1435 N. Eagle Road
Rudy’s Pub & Grill - Spacious sports bar with food and drink, 3035 W. McMillan Road
il Sugo - Italian kitchen with house-made sauces, 1407 W. McMillan Road
Loose Screw Brewing - Locally brewery with unique beers, 1511 W. McMillan Road
Kahootz Steak & Alehouse - Seafood, steaks and beer, 1603 N. Main St.
Shops and activities in North Meridian
It’s tough to think of a more aesthetically pleasing commercial complex in the Treasure Valley than The Village at Meridian. It looks like just an outdoor shopping mall on the surface, but it’s also home to various high-quality restaurants and upscale retailers such as The Matador and Chico’s.
The mall is located at Fairview Avenue and Eagle Road, the busiest intersection in Ada County. Eagle Road is also one of the busiest roads in the Treasure Valley.
If motor racing is more your thing, the Meridian Speedway is at Franklin and Meridian roads. The quarter-mile asphalt track shows year-round modified stock car racing and other local-level racing events. You can find a list of events on the Speedway’s website.
Or if you’re looking for some exercise, Settlers Park in the heart of North Meridian has it all: Outdoor soccer and baseball fields, disc golf, tennis courts and horseshoe pits. The park also has Idaho’s first universally accessible playground, a sound garden and splash pads for children.
Other places to check out for family fun:
Children’s Museum of Idaho - Family-orientated educational children’s museum, 790 S. Progress Ave.
Meridian Bowling Lanes - Local bowling alley for over 60 years, 324 S. Meridian Road
Cravin’s Candy Emporium - Vintage candy and ice cream, 917 N. Main St.
Kleiner Memorial Park - Large park with recreation and music spaces, Kleiner Memorial Parkway
Lakeview Golf Course - Good for all skill levels with various yardages, 4200 W. Talamore Blvd
One of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S.
Idaho is one of the fastest-growing states in the nation, and Meridian is right at the heart of the action. While Boise remains Idaho’s largest city, Meridian is quickly catching up, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
Between 2011 and 2021, Meridian’s population grew from 79,723 to 125,963, good for an impressive 58% population growth. Boise’s population grew by just 11.7% during that same span.
Meridian’s population hit the 100k mark in 2018. That sort of growth is far from the modest population of 9,596 in 1990.
A testament to Meridian’s growth is the West Ada School District. With 40,000 K-12 students and some of the Treasure Valley’s largest high schools like Rocky Mountain and Centennial High Schools, the West Ada School District is the largest in Idaho.
Meridian’s dairy history
Despite Meridian’s quickly growing population, it never used to be this jam-packed. For a long time, Meridian — named so because it exists on the north-south meridian line of Idaho — was rural land primarily used by dairy farmers.
A creamery was built in the city in 1897, prompting other dairy-related businesses to spring up. Meridian was soon known as the dairy center of Idaho, and the town still celebrates that heritage every summer with the Meridian Dairy Days festival.
Between 1890 and 1930, Meridian was the largest city in Idaho, thanks to the Interurban Railway Line. But the railway line’s closure in 1928 resulted in Meridian being cut off from other parts of the Treasure Valley, stunting the city’s growth.
That changed in 1970 when an explosion of growth in Boise resulted in the city’s boundaries and neighborhoods encroaching upon Meridian. With access re-established to downtown Boise, Meridian’s population grew from 1,500 in 1940 to about 6,700 by 1980 and 9,596 by 1990.
Boise's Neighborhood Guides
Over the next several months, the Idaho Statesman will be publishing neighborhood guides. Here are a few:
• North End Guide: Boise's hiking and biking neighborhood
• North Meridian Guide: Idaho’s fastest-growing city
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