Star, Idaho
History of Star
The history of Star is intertwined with the Boise River. Ben F. Swalley was the first settler, driving his ox train on 300 acres of acreage one mile south of the current Star. Soon after, homesteading was adopted to irrigate the area for farming. This contributed to meeting the food needs of travelers and miners in the Boise Basin.
One branch of the Oregon Trail crossed the river around Boise and passed through the present Star. The path was located just south of Highway 44. This trail became Old Valley Road, which connected Boise to Caldwell. The stage proceeded via Boise to Gray's Station on Moon Valley Road, near the old Balm Mill, to the east of Star. It continued to the Willow Creek Stage through Sagebrush to the northwest of Star after leaving Old Valley Road. The path was eventually stretched to include Payette, Umatilla, Oregon, and the Colombia River. From the 1860s through the 1880s, the route served the residents.
The initial Star settlement was located about one mile east of present-day Star. It was located midway between today's Star and the Star-Emmett junction. Ben F. Swalley donated funds to build the area's first schoolhouse in the 1870s. One of the settlers sawed the star out of wood and attached it to the door, which was regarded as a guide for travelers and miners. This is how Star got its name.
The settlement of Star gained fame as a farming town and grew rapidly. Shepp Gray, the first postmaster and operator of the general store, established the first post office. Star in 1880. Two blacksmith shops, two churches, and a schoolhouse were erected between then and 1888. The schoolhouse was replaced with a brick schoolhouse on River Street in 1903. The first schoolhouse was demolished in 1937, and a new schoolhouse was constructed using salvaged bricks afterwards. The salvaged brick school was dismantled after Star Elementary School opened in 1975.
For many years, Star had its own school system, but it is now part of the West Ada School District. The Star then started on the development journey, which is still progressing at a rapid speed.
What is the City Like?
Want to go shopping? New Meridian Costco is just 5 miles from Star City, within an 8–12-minute drive via highway 16.
Star is highly convenient to Eagle, Nampa, and Meridian and sits about 24 miles west of downtown Boise. This makes Star City handy enough for shopping and brings forth all the perks of the downtown life. Star has its own parks, recreational centers, and its own mayor.
Star features some beautiful neighborhoods and subdivisions that include Heron River, Pristine Springs, Hillsdale, Star Ridges Estates, and a few on the north side of Highway 44. Some of them have tree-lined streets, water features, and walking paths along the river, while others, which are a bit apart from the river, like Pristine Springs, have RV garages and flag poles.
Star is a quaint city with its own schools, parks, libraries, sports fields, and grocery stores. Star, Idaho has a lot to keep you engaged in the naturally beautiful bank of the Boise River, the parks, and other cultural venues in the neighboring cities. Many of the subdivisions allow breathtaking views of the hills, mountains, and fields.
It has a light commercial area with an urgent care, small businesses, and a few restaurants. Also, the new Albertson's opened on January 29th, 2022. You can also get food at Star Merc, but you'll probably prefer going an extra 15 minutes to Meridian for Costco, WinCo, or Fred Meyer, or a 15 minute drive to Eagle for restaurants or other similar items.
Things To Do in Star
Either it's recreation, dining, or adventure, Star has a lot to offer. Let’s take a sneak peek at things to do in Star, Idaho!
July 4th Hometown Celebration
This community event comes with peculiar events like a pie auction and a fireworks display at 10:15 pm at Hunter’s Creek Sports Park. The July 4th Hometown Celebration brings a plethora of amusement opportunities for kids and adults alike.
Star Riverwalk Park
Star Riverwalk Park provides you with a gateway to the Idaho wilderness. You can take a peaceful stroll with jaw-dropping views of birdlife and other scenic landscapes. In winter, you will see bald eagles, and you can wade into the Boise waters to cool off in summer.
Dzone Skydiving
Want to dive into the blue skies? What's it like to jump from an airplane and parachute to the ground? Dzone Skydiving is there to take you on an adventure.
Attached with your instructor in this tandem flight, you can relish the adventurous ride after a short preflight briefing. After getting to 10,000 ft elevation in the plane, you are going to jump and then land with a parachute near downtown Star.
Hunter’s Creek Sports Park
If you are a sports enthusiast and want an open space to keep your passion up to date, then Hunter’s Creek Sports Park might be the place for you.
Hunter’s Creek Sports Park features football and baseball fields. It also has paths for leashed dog walks. On the northwest side, Tom Erlebach Skate Park is an ideal spot for skating lovers. 4th of July hometown celebration fireworks also take place in Hunter’s Creek.
River Birch Golf Course
This brilliant golf course opened in 2004 and has an 8-hole par of 73 from the longest tees. The course is well maintained and has a good size to improve your golf playing experience. For all golf lovers, the River Birch Golf Course is one of the best places in Idaho. Apart from a lovely golf experience, it also shows stunning landscapes.
Apart from these, Star has a few other areas awaiting exploration. Here are they:
- Winery Seekers Wine Tours
- Idaho River Sports
- Firebird Raceway
Nearby Hotels
Down below is the list of places convenient to Star offering delectable cuisines and beverages:
- El Mariachi loco Restaurant
- The Flats 16
- Sully’s Pub and Grill
- Bobby Jeans Coffee
- Human Bean Coffee
- Cinnabon
- Rustic Table Star Idaho
- Westside Pizza
- Star County Café
- Starbucks
Real Estate in Star
Star has about 458 active homes for sale that are inclusive of single-family homes, condos/townhouses, and open houses. The average price of a 2-bedroom single family home is $902,000. Star, Idaho real estate prices range from $60.3K to $4.8 million. The median house price per square foot in Star is about $280.
People are prepared to bear the increase in housing costs because of Star City's rapid development. In 2021, The Star had a population of around 12,000 people. It has a 5.7% annual growth rate from last year and has been rapidly expanding in recent years. In the past decade, the population size of Star has nearly doubled. This is owing to the range of housing styles and the stunning surroundings.
Star Idaho real estate has been one of the most thriving real estate markets. One of the popular communities built on the hillside is Collina Vista. Each home there provides a view of the Owyhee Mountains to the south and the Boise Range to the east.
The top of the first ridge foothills in Star consists of all the luxury acreage homes in Hillsdale and Star Ridge Estates. These are custom built homes on the acreage lot and cost in the range of $850K-$3 million depending on the size of the home and its features. A few of them also have pools, RV garages, tennis courts, and a lot more. Being on a hilltop, these homes provide beautiful views of mountains and fields.
Education in Star
Star, Idaho is in the West Ada School District. Star doesn’t have that many educational institutions, yet it is convenient to some available in the neighboring suburbs. Here is the list of different schools in Star and around the area:
Preschools
- Little Miracles Preschool (private)
- Stepping Stones Children’s Center
- Willow Tree Learning Center
Elementary Schools
Middle Schools
High Schools
Charter Schools
Economy in Star
The economy of any area depends upon a blend of industries like manufacturing, food, technology, agriculture processing, and a few more. Star has a growing business market, but because of its proximity to Eagle, Meridian, and Boise, residents can find work in these surrounding areas.
The unemployment rate in Star is 3.5%. It has seen the job market increase by 3.6% in recent years. One of the newly established major employers in Star is Albertson. It’s a growing community, yet its economy is very much linked with that of Eagle.
Star transportation and commute time
Star, Idaho has an average one-way commute time of 28.2 minutes. There is only one main road that passes through the city and is four lanes wide. It has only one signal, which often gets rushed with traffic. But due to the lower population, Star is a convenient suburb and doesn’t have that many traffic issues. Down below is the table showing how people go to work in Star:
Newest Star Homes
The Lakes At Pristine Springs Star
Average House Price: $874,900
3-5 Beds, 2-4 Baths, 2001-3724 sq. ft
This subdivision is also known as Craftsman Estates. The community has two five-acre lakes, offering the homeowners swimming, fishing, and paddle boating. There will be a clubhouse and parking in the future. The community is close enough to Star Elementary School, Star Middle, and Owyhee High Schools.
Search all homes for sale in The Lakes at Pristine Springs Star
Collina Vista
Average House Price: $731,000
3-4 Beds, 2-4 Baths, 1762-3543 sq.ft
This subdivision has a community pool and cabana, green spaces, walking paths, and playgrounds. It also has a few of the major builders like Core Building Co. and Highland Homes. The homes in this community provide eye-catching views of the mountains and fields. Star Elementary, Star Middle, and Eagle High School are also close to the community.
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Star Creek Star
Average House Price: $715,000
3-4 Beds, 2-4 Baths, 1878-2882 sq.ft
This is a newer home community in Star, Idaho. The community has green spaces and offers its residents a cozy living experience. The community is close enough to Star Elementary, Star Middle, and Owyhee School.
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Heron River Star
Average House Price: $678,000
3-5 Beds, 3-4 Baths, 2019-3575 sq.ft
Heron River Star offers the best living experience in Star, Idaho. This subdivision, officially known as the Parkstone Subdivision, has a variety of house price ranges. The community features meadows and water phases. and provides you with an aesthetic lifestyle. There is a swimming pool, a community gym, and tennis courts
Search all homes for sale in Heron River Star
Curtis Chism, Realtor
208-510-0427 | Mobile
boise@chismteam.com
Chism Team | NRDS# SP56593
brokered by eXp Realty
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