MERIDIAN
View Meridian on Google Maps and you’ll see that it is smack dab in the center of the Treasure Valley. Bordered by the cities of Nampa, Caldwell, Middleton, Eagle, Kuna, and Boise, Meridian is the central location for family fun. Meridian is just 15 miles west of Boise. It’s just 10 miles east of Nampa, the third-largest city in Idaho. It’s also just a stone’s throw away from the Treasure Valley’s other, smaller cities, making it an easy destination from just about anywhere. Meridian has seen a huge growth explosion over the past few years and is the second largest city in Idaho. In light of the city’s family-oriented infrastructure, keen city planning, and numerous business opportunities, it’s no wonder why.
Ask anyone on the street what they love about Meridian and you’ll hear a very consistent message: it’s the people. Despite the rapid growth, residents of Meridian have a strong community spirit – they help one another and are kind, friendly, and welcoming. There’s a small-town, almost rural feel downtown and at community events. Meridian is a place of belonging. It’s safe, clean, and a great place to raise children. It’s a place where families ride their bikes to the local snow-cone shack and let their kids play at the park until dusk. Visible from the freeway, Roaring Springs Water Park sparks excitement in the heart of every child (and kid at heart) as they drive by. It was even chosen as one of the Travel Channel’s Top U.S. Water Parks. Right next door is Wahooz Family Fun Zone, offering year-round go-carts, bumper boats, miniature golf, batting cages, laser tag, bowling, an arcade, event center, and grill. The Meridian Speedway downtown is another popular summer attraction.
A family favorite place to visit is The Village at Meridian. This outdoor shopping mall features specialty retail stores, restaurants, an upscale movie theater with private seating, a fitness center, and an arcade/ bowling alley. It offers ample outdoor seating, a playground for the kids, and a beautiful fountain showcasing water displays every hour with lights and music. The Village even installs a festive outdoor ice rink in winter. Throughout the city are 19 public parks including Settlers Park, which hosts free outdoor movies and live music during the summer months. Locals peruse the Meridian Main Street Farmers Market at City Hall Plaza on Saturday mornings from the end of June through September. The market offers locally grown produce, homemade goodies, and handmade arts and crafts.
Built for business, Meridian is booming with rapidly growing companies, organizations, and industries. Careful planning and development between the City of Meridian and Idaho State University has resulted in Meridian’s Medical Core. This has set Meridian on the road to becoming one of the nation’s elite health-and-science industry hubs. Meridian is home to Blue Cross of Idaho, St. Luke’s full-service acute-care campus, ISU’s Meridian Health Science Center, and Idaho’s first medical school – Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM). The addition of ICOM to Meridian’s medical core attracts a wealth of new businesses, employ more than 90 senior instructors, and train physicians to care for people in a five-state region. Along with the health-and-science industry boom, Meridian is the center of retail and commercial development.
Hundreds of retail merchants, professional services, and recreation venues are seeing the value of doing business in Meridian. It’s easy to attract good employees with its convenient access to Interstate 84 and Highway 55, the proximity to outdoor recreation, low cost of living, excellent schools, and beautiful neighborhoods. Meridian is a thriving community, centrally located in the Treasure Valley.
