Payette

History

The settlement was originally named "Boomerang," a construction camp for the Oregon Short Line from 1882 to 1884 at the mouth of the Payette River. Logs were floated down the river to the sawmills at the camp to produce railroad ties. After completion of the railroad, the settlement moved upstream to its present site and incorporated in 1891 as "Payette," to honor François Payette, a French-Canadian fur trapper and one of the first white men to explore the area. He had arrived in present-day Idaho from Astoria and was later the head of the Fort Boise trading post for the British Hudson's Bay Company from 1835 to 1844. A large merry man, Payette was highly regarded for his helpful assistance to the many travelers who came through the fort. Following his retirement in 1844, he returned to Montreal, after which the rest of his life is a mystery. Payette County was created in 1917, partitioned from Canyon County, and the city of Payette became the county seat.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• FRUITLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
  Elementary · FRUITLAND · 557 students · 17.4:1 ratio
• FRUITLAND HIGH SCHOOL
  High · FRUITLAND · 542 students · 20.1:1 ratio
• TREASURE VALLEY CLASSICAL ACADEMY
  Other · FRUITLAND · 537 students · 17.9:1 ratio
• FRUITLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL
  Middle · FRUITLAND · 510 students · 22.2:1 ratio
• PAYETTE PRIMARY SCHOOL
  Elementary · PAYETTE · 458 students · 21.8:1 ratio
• NEW PLYMOUTH ELEMENTARY
  Elementary · NEW PLYMOUTH · 456 students · 21.7:1 ratio
• PAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL
  High · PAYETTE · 394 students · 17.9:1 ratio
• NEW PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL
  High · NEW PLYMOUTH · 306 students · 19.1:1 ratio