Cites and monuments across the world have official and unofficial nicknames that are utilized to various degrees, in countless ways. Kansas City pronounces itself as the “City of Fountains” while each area of the Chicago Riverwalk has its own nickname, distinct setting and activities. These nicknames create a tremendous sense of identity that can influence the culture and economy of an entire region. “The City of Trees” has had a similar impact for Boise, Idaho.
Boise being known as the “City of Trees” goes all the way back to the origin of the city which was founded in 1863. The name of the city derives from the French word for “wooded” which is what the French-speaking fur trappers from eastern Canada gave to the region. The number of trees in the area increased as owners of empty land planted trees to increase the value of their lots.
While they no longer define the urban city, trees and other elements of the natural surrounding have come to define the Boise River Greenbelt. Officials are working to build up Boise’s tree canopy, but that effort is separate from the way in which the “City of Trees” identity is being utilized across the city.
While the city lacks a major monument or landmark that is associated with the “City of Trees” identity, that absence has allowed businesses, organizations and events to incorporate the nickname in their own distinct way. Countless businesses have incorporated trees as part of their logo or branding. The city has used the nickname to define various elements of the culture of the city. Numerous products that are for sale feature the name while activities like the Treefort Music Fest music festival that is held at numerous venues throughout downtown Boise directly reference this nickname.
This identity has also been utilized for specific initiatives. “The City of Trees Challenge” is an initiative to plant one additional tree for every household in the city. The initiative speaks to the “City of Trees” identity that connects the past of the city to its’ future.
While the power of a single monument to define a city or area is considerable, the “City of Trees” identity that is on display throughout Boise highlights what it can look like when that identity is not so strictly defined. That ambiguity has allowed individuals and organizations to interpret what the “City of Trees” should mean to them, to Boise and for all of Idaho.
