Idaho Law Enforcement Wants You to Know That Boise City is Not in Boise County

If you don’t live in Idaho or know anything about the state, you might assume that the city of Boise is in Boise County. That seems like a safe guess, and it makes sense, but it’s wrong.

The city of Boise is in Ada County, while Boise County is home to Idaho City and the Boise National Forest. The Boise Basin in Boise County was a huge location of growth in the mid-1860s and is where Idaho began developing into a state. But for some reason, they couldn’t put the city of Boise into the county that shares its name.

How to Tell if Someone in Idaho is From Boise City or Boise County

Even though the two locations are in close proximity, they are polar opposites. In an attempt to clear up any confusion and help others to know whether someone is from the city or the county of Boise, the Boise County Sheriff’s Office shared a post on social media outlining key differences between the two.

It becomes quickly apparent that the BCSO thinks they are the manly, chainsaw toting, busted Chevy driving location, while the city is full of mama’s boy hipsters, chai latte drinks, and yoga pants. They might not be wrong.

The post is a hasty generalization of demographics, but it does hold enough truth to be hilarious.

Boise City is an industrialized and modern (for Idaho) city, while Boise County is almost entirely a mountain range with just two main roads in the entire 1,907 square miles.

READ ALSO: Is Boise Part of Southern Idaho

One thing the city of Boise has that the County doesn’t: the upcoming 2026 Boise Music Fest!