Editing Meridian, Idaho

{{Short description|City in Idaho, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Meridian, Idaho
| official_name      = 
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| image_blank_emblem = MeridianIDlogo.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| nickname           = The Center of the Treasure Valley
| motto              = "Built for business . . . designed for living"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meridiancity.org/|title=City of Meridian, Idaho|publisher=City of Meridian, Idaho|access-date=September 2, 2012}}</ref>
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| border                 = infobox
| total_width            = 280
| image_style            = border:1;
| perrow                 = 2|2
| image1                 = Meridian-idaho-welcome-sign.jpg
| image2                 = Meridian Idaho Temple, Springtime.jpg
| image3                 = Village at Meridian.jpg
| image4                 = Meridian-idaho-usa-city-hall.jpg
}}
| imagesize          = 275px
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = MeridianIDflag.gif
| image_map          = Ada County Idaho Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Meridian Highlighted 1652120.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Meridian in Ada County, Idaho
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = <!-- Location ----->
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Idaho]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Idaho|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Ada County, Idaho|Ada]]
<!-- Government ---->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = 
| leader_title1      = for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = Established
| established_date   = 1891
| established_title1 = Founded
| established_date1  = 1893
| established_title2 = Incorporated as a village
| established_date2  = 1903
| established_title3 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated as a city]]
| established_date3  = 1909
<!-- Area ----------------->| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_16.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 24, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 94.25
| area_land_km2      = 90.86
| area_water_km2     = 0.20
| area_total_sq_mi   = 36.39
| area_land_sq_mi    = 35.08
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.07
<!-- Population ----------->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 129736
| pop_est_as_of      = 2022
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name="USCensusEst2022"/>
| population_footnotes = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
| population_total   = 117635
| population_density_km2 = 1377.1
| population_density_sq_mi = 3567.9
| population_rank    = US: [[List of United States cities by population|212th]]<br>ID: [[List of cities in Idaho|2nd]]
| population_urban   = 433180 (US: [[List of United States urban areas|94th]])
| population_metro   = 811336 (US: [[Metropolitan statistical area|75th]])
| population_blank1_title = [[Combined Statistical Area|Combined]]
| population_blank1  = 899574 (US: [[Combined statistical area|67th]])
<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain (MST)]]
| utc_offset         = –7
| timezone_DST       = MDT
| utc_offset_DST     = –6
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 2599
| coordinates        = {{Coord|43|36|51|N|116|23|56|W|region:US-ID_type:city(118,000)|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others --->| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code        = 83642, 83646, 83680
| area_code          = [[Area codes 208 and 986|208 and 986]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 16-52120
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2411083<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2411083}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|https://meridiancity.org/|meridiancity.org}}
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Meridian''' is a city located in [[Ada County, Idaho|Ada County]], [[Idaho]], United States. The population was 117,635 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Meridian_city,_Idaho?g=160XX00US1652120 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 15, 2024}}</ref> making it the [[List of cities in Idaho|2nd most populous city]] in the county and Idaho after [[Boise, Idaho|Boise]], the state capital. Meridian is considered the state's fastest-growing city and among the fastest-growing cities in the United States.<ref name="nationalrankestimate">{{cite web|last1=Vitu|first1=Teya|title=Meridian likely to be fastest-growing city in U.S|url=https://idahobusinessreview.com/2018/04/11/compass-meridian-population-has-reached-106000/|website=Idaho Business Review|access-date=April 19, 2018|date=April 11, 2018}}</ref>

==History==
The town was established in 1891 on the Onweiler farm north of the present site and was called Hunter. Two years later an [[Independent Order of Odd Fellows|I.O.O.F.]] lodge was organized and called itself Meridian because it was located on the [[Boise Meridian]] and the town was renamed. The Settlers' Irrigation Ditch, 1892, changed the arid region into a productive farming community which was incorporated in 1902.<ref>*{{Cite book
  | last1 = Fisher
  | first1 = Vardis
  | author-link = Vardis Fisher
  | last2 = Federal Writers' Project
  | author2-link = Federal Writers' Project
  | title = Idaho Encyclopedia
  | publisher = Caxton Printers, Ltd
  | year = 1938
  | location = [[Caldwell, Idaho]]
  | pages = 398
  | oclc = 962624}}
</ref>

Meridian was incorporated in 1903.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/city/Meridian-Idaho.html |title=Meredian, Idaho |publisher=City-Data.com |access-date=September 2, 2012}}</ref> The information in the following sections (Irrigation, Village, Rail Transportation, and Creamery) is found on the displays in the Meridian City Hall Plaza.

===Irrigation (1890– )===
Early settlers arriving in the area came with no knowledge of gravity flow [[irrigation]]. Their previous homes were in areas where rain provided the needed moisture to raise crops. Irrigation soon became a necessity, since having a water source was a requirement for receiving the patent for the land from the U.S. Land Office. Irrigation districts, such as the Nampa-Meridian and Settlers irrigation districts, continue to serve the immediate Meridian area.

===Village (1903–41)===
The original Meridian town site was filed in 1893 on homestead grant land belonging to Eliza Ann Zenger. Her husband, Christian, filed the plat with county officials and called it Meridian. The early settlers, many of whom were relatives, left their homes in Missouri to go west, either by wagon, train, or immigrant railroad car, bringing their lodge and church preferences with them. They established local institutions soon after arriving and filed for homestead lands.

Around the start of the 20th century, settlers established fruit orchards and built fruit packing businesses and prune dryers along the railroad tracks. Local orchards produced many varieties of apples and Italian prunes. Production continued through the mid-1940s when it was no longer profitable and the businesses closed. In 1941, Meridian's status changed from a village to a city.<ref>{{cite web |title=Historical Collection - Meridian |url=https://iconicidaho.com/collections/historical-collection-meridian |website=iconicidaho.com |access-date=January 13, 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

===Rail transportation (1908–28)===
Following the raising of $4,000 to lay the Interurban rail line from Onweiler (Meridian and Ustick Roads), the tracks were completed into the village center. Turning east on Broadway and ending at East Second, the last car would spend the night in Meridian before returning to Boise early the next morning with passengers and freight. The interurban Station and Generator building (west one-third of the old library at Meridian and Idaho Streets) was built in 1912, and the line continued on to Nampa via Meridian. The tracks down Broadway were not used after 1912. The Interurban Company entered into receivership and closed in 1928 after 20 years of providing continuous transportation to neighboring towns. It was Meridian's main connection to the area outside the local community.

The Union Pacific Railroad spur opened in 1900 and is currently operated by the Boise Valley Railroad. Many industrial customers continue to ship forest, agricultural, and chemical products along this corridor.

===Creamery (1929–70)===
[[File:Meridian-idaho-heritage-pavilion.jpg|thumb|Heritage Pavilion, Meridian City Hall Plaza; the bricks are from the original creamery]]
{{unsourced|section|date=December 2024}}
The lowest days of the Great Depression brightened for area dairymen when the Ada County Dairymen's cooperative creamery began operation in 1929. It provided milk checks to those who were members of the cooperative, enabling them to pay their taxes and provide food for their families. Other community members hauled milk to the creamery and were employed by the creamery, whose product was Challenge Butter.

The creamery ran 7 days a week for 40 years. Additions and improvements were made while the plant was in full operation. Later years saw the Wyeth Laboratories affiliate with the creamery to manufacture SMA baby formula.

After the creamery ceased local operations in 1970, the dairymen shipped their milk to the Caldwell creamery for processing.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|26.84|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which, {{convert|26.79|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.05|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=December 18, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 25, 2012}}</ref>

The majority of Meridian lies on a flat plain, roughly in the north central part of [[Treasure Valley]]. There is a low bench along the south east edge of the city. The city is crossed by several irrigation canals that generally run from the south east to the north west. The [[Boise River]] runs north of the city. The [[Snake River]] runs far south of the city. Squaw Butte is visible to the north at 5,873 feet (1,790 m). Shafer Butte is visible to the north east at 7,572 feet (2,308 m). The [[Owyhee Mountains]] are visible to the far south.

===Climate===
Meridian's climate is characterized as [[semi-arid]] with four distinct seasons. Meridian experiences hot and dry summers where temperatures can often exceed 100&nbsp;°F (38&nbsp;°C), as well as cold winters with occasional light [[snowfall]]. [[Rainfall]] is usually infrequent and light, usually averaging less than an inch (25.4&nbsp;mm) per month. December is the wettest month with an average of {{convert|1.55|in|mm}} of precipitation, and August is the driest month with {{convert|0.24|in|mm}}. Spring and fall are generally temperate.

{{Weather box
|location = Meridian, Idaho
|single line = Y
|collapsed = yes
|Jan record high F =  63
|Feb record high F =  71
|Mar record high F =  81
|Apr record high F =  92
|May record high F =  99
|Jun record high F = 109
|Jul record high F = 111
|Aug record high F = 110
|Sep record high F =  102
|Oct record high F =  94
|Nov record high F =  78
|Dec record high F =  65
|year record high F =111
|Jan high F = 38
|Feb high F = 45
|Mar high F = 55
|Apr high F = 62
|May high F = 72
|Jun high F = 81
|Jul high F = 91
|Aug high F = 90
|Sep high F = 79
|Oct high F = 65
|Nov high F = 48
|Dec high F = 37
|year high F =
|Jan low F = 25
|Feb low F = 28
|Mar low F = 34
|Apr low F = 39
|May low F = 47
|Jun low F = 54
|Jul low F = 60
|Aug low F = 60
|Sep low F = 51
|Oct low F = 41
|Nov low F = 32
|Dec low F = 24
|year low F =
|Jan record low F = −17
|Feb record low F = −15
|Mar record low F =   6
|Apr record low F =  19
|May record low F =  22
|Jun record low F =  31
|Jul record low F =  35
|Aug record low F =  34
|Sep record low F =  23
|Oct record low F =  11
|Nov record low F =  −3
|Dec record low F = −25
|year record low F= −25
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.24
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.03
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.39
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.23
|May precipitation inch = 1.39
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.69
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.33
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.24
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.58
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.75
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.35
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.55
|year precipitation inch =
|source 1 = <ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USID0161 |title=Average Weather for Meridian, ID - Temperature and Precipitation |publisher=Weather.com |access-date=November 1, 2013}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{update|section|reason=Newer information is available from the 2020 census reports|date=September 2021}}
{{US Census population
|1910= 619
|1920= 1000
|1930= 1004
|1940= 1465
|1950= 1810
|1960= 2081
|1970= 2616
|1980= 6658
|1990= 9596
|2000= 34919
|2010= 75092
|2020= 117635
|estyear=2022
|estimate=129736
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2022">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |date=January 15, 2024|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=January 15, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|census of 2020]], there were 117,635 people and 48,434 households residing in the city.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Meridian, Idaho – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Meridian city, Idaho|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US1652120&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Meridian city, Idaho|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US1652120&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Meridian city, Idaho |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US1652120&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|32,270
|66,123
|style='background: #ffffe6; |95,526
|92.41%
|88.06%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |81.21%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|155
|518
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,086
|0.44%
|0.69%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.92%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|143
|271
|style='background: #ffffe6; |396
|0.41%
|0.36%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.34%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|432
|1,312
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,938
|1.24%
|1.75%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.50%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|39
|102
|style='background: #ffffe6; |264
|0.11%
|0.14%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.22%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|20
|87
|style='background: #ffffe6; |513
|0.06%
|0.12%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.44%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|569
|1,568
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5,684
|1.63%
|2.09%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.83%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|1,291
|5,111
|style='background: #ffffe6; |11,228
|3.70%
|6.81%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |9.54%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''34,919'''
|'''75,092'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''117,635'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|census of 2010]], there were 75,092 people, 25,302 households, and 19,916 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2803.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 26,674 housing units at an average density of {{convert|995.7|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 92.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.8% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.8% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.9% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.9% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 6.8% of the population.

There were 25,302 households, of which 47.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 21.3% were non-families. Of all households, 16.6% were made up of individuals, and 6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.33.

The median age in the city was 32.5 years. 33.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 30.5% were from 25 to 44; 20.7% were from 45 to 64; and 8.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|census of 2000]], there were 34,919 people, 11,829 households, and 9,515 families living in the city. The population density was 2,962.1/sq mi. There were 12,293 housing units at an average density of 1,042.8 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 96.3% White, 0.7% African American, 1% Native American, 2% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 1.9% from other races, and 2.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.7% of the population.

There were 11,829 households, out of which 49% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.4% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.6% were non-families. Of all households, 14.5% were made up of individuals, and 4.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 33.7% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 37.1% from 25 to 44, 15.8% from 45 to 64, and 6.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $53,276, and the median income for a family was $57,077. Males had a median income of $40,360 versus $27,174 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $20,150. About 4.6% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
[[Blue Cross Blue Shield Association|Blue Cross]] of Idaho, [[Jacksons Food Stores]], and [[Scentsy]] are based in Meridian. The [[Idaho State Police]] is headquartered in Meridian and the state police academy is housed on its campus. All police officers statewide are required to attend basic training at the facility.

The Village at Meridian was developed hosting its grand opening in 2013. It has retail and restaurants, which contributes to Meridian's economy.

==Government==
[[File:Meridian-idaho-usa-city-hall.jpg|thumb|right|Meridian City Hall]]

Meridian has a mayor that serves four-year terms and received an annual salary of $90,956 in 2018.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sterlingcodifiers.com/codebook/index.php?book_id=306|title=Sterling Codifiers, Inc|website=www.sterlingcodifiers.com|access-date=June 5, 2018}}</ref> Meridian has a city council of six members. Every two years, three city council seats are up for re-election.<ref name=":0"/> Members of the council serve four-year terms and received annual compensation of $10,000 as of 2018.<ref name=":0" />

The mayor, with the consent of the city council, appoints the following officers:

* City Attorney
* Public Works Director
* Chief of Police
* Fire Chief
* Planning Director
* Parks and Rec Director
* Chief Financial Officer
* Chief Information Officer
* Human Resources Director

===Mayors===
<!--* J.M. Anderson [https://wwww.meridiancity.org/arts-culture-history/history/south-walking-tour/the-anderson-house/]
* William Stewart Mateer [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.hn64a9&seq=104]-->
* W. L. Lawson, c.1941-1943 <ref name=Graveyard>{{citation |work=Political Graveyard |title= Mayors and Postmasters of Meridian, Idaho |editor=Lawrence Kestenbaum |url= https://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/ID/ofc/meridian.html |access-date= 2025-05-14 }}</ref>
* Arthur G. Postlethwaite, c.1950-1953 <ref name=Graveyard />
* Don M. Storey, c.1953-1979 <ref name=Graveyard />
* Joe Glaisyer, c.1979-1983 <ref name=Graveyard />
* Grant Kingsford, 1983-1995 <ref>{{citation |url=https://archive.org/details/The_Times_News_Idaho_Newspaper_1994_07_16 |title=The Times-News |location=Twin Falls, Idaho |date=1994-07-16 |via=[[Internet Archive]] }}</ref><ref name=valley1995>{{citation |title=Corrie Wins Election for Meridian Mayor |date=1995-11-09 |work=Valley News |location=Idaho |url= https://historycenter.mld.org/mld/objects/col012_mldscrapbook_series8_1926-2014.pdf |via= Meridian Library District, Meridian History Center}}</ref>
* Bob Corrie, c.1996-2002 <ref name=valley1995 /><ref>{{citation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020601170328/http://www.ci.meridian.id.us/council.asp |url= http://www.ci.meridian.id.us/council.asp |archive-date=2002-06-01 |title=City of Meridian City Council |work=www.ci.meridian.id.us |via=[[Wayback Machine]] }}</ref>[https://archive.org/details/The_Times_News_Idaho_Newspaper_1997_11_02]
* Tammy de Weerd, c.2004-2019 <ref>{{citation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125072241/http://meridiancity.org/city_council.aspx?id=350 |url= http://meridiancity.org/city_council.aspx?id=350 |archive-date=2010-11-25 |title=Mayor |work=meridiancity.org |via=Wayback Machine }}</ref>
* Robert Simison, 2020-present <ref>{{citation |url=https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/politics/elections/meridian-idaho-election-results/277-f602f929-17a3-4b9d-9315-e4180a4b1c25 |work=[[ktvb.com]] |title=Mayor Simison wins second term in 2023 election |date=November 7, 2023 }}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
The Meridian Symphony Orchestra celebrated its twentieth anniversary season in 2009–10. Art is on display in the Initial Point Gallery on the third floor of the Meridian City Hall. The gallery is open to the public with free admission. {{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

===In popular culture===
The [[Clint Eastwood]] film ''[[Bronco Billy]]'' (1980) was partially filmed in Meridian.<ref>Maddrey, Joseph (2016). ''The Quick, the Dead and the Revived: The Many Lives of the Western Film''. McFarland. p. 184. {{ISBN|9781476625492}}.</ref>

The book series ''Michael Vey'' by [[Richard Paul Evans]] is partially set in Meridian, with significant events occurring within the area in the first book of the series: ''[[Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25]]''.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25|last=Evans|first=Richard|publisher=Simon & Schuster|year=2012|isbn=978-1-4424-6812-2|pages=5, 7}}</ref>

==Parks and recreation==
[[File:JuliusMKleinerMemorialParkEntrance.jpg|thumb|The main entrance to the {{convert|60|acre|ha}} Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park.]][[File:BronzeStatueOfJuliusMKleiner.jpg|thumb|upright|The bronze statue of Julius M. Kleiner in the park which bears his name, based on a 1940s photograph taken at an agricultural fair where he bought a prize cow.]]{{More citations needed section|date=January 2024}}
The city's Parks and Recreation department manages seventeen public parks throughout Meridian including Meridian Settlers Regional Park which hosts free outdoor movies during the summer months.

The Meridian Speedway lies within city limits directly south of Old Town Meridian.

Meridian shares boundaries with the largest and 3rd largest cities in Idaho, [[Boise, Idaho|Boise]] to the east and [[Nampa, Idaho|Nampa]] to the west. Therefore, residents of Meridian often take advantage of the recreation and sports opportunities in those cities.

Eagle Island State Park is about {{convert|2.5|mi|km}} north of Meridian and includes a man-made lake with a beach, equestrian and hiking trails, fishing, and a water slide. The [[Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area]] is south of Meridian.

==Education==
The [[West Ada School District]] which includes almost all of Meridian,<ref name=AdaCoSDMap2020>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st16_id/schooldistrict_maps/c16001_ada/DC20SD_C16001.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st16_id/schooldistrict_maps/c16001_ada/DC20SD_C16001.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Ada County, ID|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=March 13, 2024}}</ref> serves the city and is the largest in the state.

Meridian extends into the [[Kuna Joint School District 3]]<!--01770*-->.<ref name=AdaCoSDMap2020/>

Meridian Joint School District 2 spends $6,941 per student, the least amount of money per student out of any school district in the United States.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
The majority of the city lies north of [[Interstate 84 in Idaho|I-84]]. Streets are named with a north, south, east or west prefix identifying the orientation of the street and where the street is in relation to the intersection of Franklin Road and Meridian Road. Roads with a north prefix are north of Franklin Road (which runs east and west). Roads with a west prefix are west of Meridian Road (which runs north and south). Many residents identify which section of the city they live in by the closest intersection of major roads that are generally laid out in square miles. From west to east, the major roads are Black Cat, Ten Mile, Linder, Meridian, Locust Grove, and Eagle. From north to south, the major roads are Chinden (Highway 20/26), McMillan, Ustick, Cherry (west of Meridian) or Fairview (east of Meridian), Franklin, Overland, Victory, and Amity.

I-84 is between Franklin and Overland. Pine is another major road that runs east/west and lies between Cherry and Franklin.

A railroad line runs east/west and lies between Pine and Franklin. Most of the city's industrial areas are concentrated along this railroad line with some other industrial areas near the east side of the city south west of the intersection of Fairview and Eagle. The line was formerly owned by Union Pacific, but Boise Valley Railroad now owns the line, running trains on weekdays from [[Boise]] to [[Nampa, Idaho|Nampa]].

Old-town Meridian centers around the intersection of Main Street and Pine Street. In the older section of the city, there are numbered streets up to 15th Street to the west and up to 5th Street to the east.{{original research inline|date=August 2021}}

==Notable people==
<!--Consensus reached to standardize this heading per WP:WikiProject Cities/US Guideline -->
<!-- Only people who already have a Wikipedia article may appear here. This establishes notability.
• Alphabetical by last name please -->
* [[William Agee]], business executive
* [[Mike Gabler]], winner of ''[[Survivor 43]]''
* [[Wilbert Lee Gore]], creator of [[Gore-Tex]]
* [[Davey Hamilton]], [[Indianapolis 500|Indy 500]] driver
* [[Vern Law]], [[Major League Baseball]] player
* [[Spencer Nead]], former fullback for the [[New England Patriots]]
* [[Ron Packard]], former congressman from California who was born in Meridian.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Barone |first1=Michael |author-link1=Michael Barone (pundit) |last2=Ujifusa |first2=Grant |title=The Almanac of American Politics 1988|work=[[National Journal]] |year=1987 |page=176|title-link=The Almanac of American Politics }}</ref>
* [[Gracie Pfost]], first woman elected to Congress from Idaho
* [[Randy Tolsma]], [[NASCAR]] driver
* [[Scott Yenor]], professor at [[Boise State University]]

==See also==
* {{Portal-inline|Idaho}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://meridiancity.org/ City of Meridian, Idaho Website]—Portal style website, Government, Business, Library, Recreation and more
* [http://www.pbase.com/twintime/meridian_idaho_photos&page=all Meridian Photo Gallery]
* [http://www.city-data.com/city/Meridian-Idaho.html City-Data.com]—Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Meridian

{{Ada County, Idaho}}
{{Idaho}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Meridian, Idaho| ]]
[[Category:1893 establishments in Idaho]]
[[Category:Boise metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Cities in Ada County, Idaho]]
[[Category:Cities in Idaho]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1893]]
[[Category:Treasure Valley]]