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The community of Star was one of the earliest in the Boise Valley. The Pioneer ditch was started in 1863 by M.B. Palmer and later extended to the Middleton Mill. This irrigation ditch and its supply of water allowed the country between Star and Middleton to be settled early.
One of the first settlers was Ben F. Swalley who in 1863 drove his ox team and wagon onto 300 acres of land along the Boise River, a mile south of the present town. Others followed, homesteading the good farm land along the Boise River. The surrounding farms often catered to the needs of early travelers and miners providing them with food and lodging in Star, on their way to and from Boise and the mines in the Boise Basin.
One of Idaho's oldest Christian church's was organized in Star about 1869. As early as 1864 the first meeting of the Church of Christ were held at the home of David Fouch, a Christian minister, who was farming in the locality and later served as Star's second postmaster. Another of the church's early leaders was Shepp Gray, the first postmaster of Star. The Church of Christ built a church east of Star in 1881 on land donated by Mrs. Sam McDowell and later moved the church to its present location in 1906. Another area church was the Star Chapel belonging to the Methodists.
The first location of the village of Star was one mile to the east of present Star, about halfway between the present town of Star and Star-Emmett junction. The first schoolhouse was built there in the 1870's on land donated by B.F. Swalley. When the settlers finished building the schoolhouse, they couldn't decide on a name for the building. One of the men sawed out a star and nailed it to the front door, pounding nails all around the edge of the star. this became an important landmark for miles around, and was a guide for travelers and miners. When they came to the schoolhouse with the star on the door, they could travel west one mile and find board and lodging for the night. So in time, the town became known as Star.
The village of Star began to grow, providing services to travelers and serving as a rural center for neighboring farmers and ranchers. In 1880, a post office was established in Star with Shepp Gray the first postmaster and proprietor of the general store. The early settlement also had two blacksmith shops for "iron work" as well as the district school house, two churches, and half a score of residences. The first hotel was opened in 1888.
Today, Star maintains its rural character, being located 16 miles northwest of Boise, six miles west of Eagle, 7 miles east of Middleton, 9 miles north of Nampa , and 16 miles south of Emmett. The river valley provides impressive views of the Boise foothills to the north and the Owyhee mountains to the south.
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