Why are there Basque people in Boise?

Immigration began in the late 1800s, as Basque people found more lucrative opportunities in the western United States, initially for mining and then for ranching and sheepherding. Boise, in particular, was a region where the Basque people could let their culture thrive by herding sheep and operating boarding houses.

Does Boise Idaho have a large Basque population?

Numbering about 16,000, Boise’s Basque community is one of the largest such communities in the United States. Boise area Basques are very proud of their unique heritage like all other Basque communities, but the Boise and Treasure Valley Basques have a unique area to call their own – The Basque Block!

Which state has the largest Basque population?

The states with the largest Basque communities are:

• California: 17,598.
• Idaho: 8,196.
• Nevada: 5,056.
• Oregon: 3,162.
• Washington: 2,579.
• Texas: 2,389.
• Colorado: 2,216.
• Florida: 1,653.

Where is the largest Basque community in the United States?

The largest number of Basque-Americans lives in California, but a high concentration can also be found in Idaho and Nevada; the Basques have left an indelible imprint on the cultures of those two states (Fun fact: Although Chile and Argentina have the largest Basque diaspora in absolute numbers, Boise, Idaho, has the …

Where did the Basques settle in America?

In the United States, Basques mostly settled in Wyoming, Nevada, Idaho and California. They came to work in the gold mines across the American West, but found that they had better income hunting or raising sheep to sell as meat to the miners—and that set the groundwork for the next influx of Basque immigrants.

Where do the Basque live in Idaho?

Over the years, a community of Basques has blossomed in the rural areas surrounding Ketchum, Gooding, and Hailey, Idaho.

When did the Basque come to Boise?

1800s
The first Basque came to Boise in the late 1800s in search of work and opportunity, which they found primarily in the hard-to-fill role of shepherding, although many had no experience with sheep.