Basques in Idaho?

Question

Why is Boise and Southwest Idaho so highly populated with Basque people?

Answer 1

The vast majority of the Basques living in the Boise area came from the province of Bizkaia. Basque names first started appearing here in the late 1800's. Although it was not something they had done in their homeland, many began working as sheepherders as the English and Scots had a lot of sheep and needed workers. Some Basques also worked in mining and logging. They were known to be honest, hard working people, and more and more came to this area as work was available.

Answer 2

haha, it is pretty populated with basque people but so is latin american countries such as colombia.

Answer 3

It's sheep country.

Those Basques are traditional shepherds.

They came for the work and settled in like

the Portugese fishermen on Cape Cod,

the Greek sponge divers in Florida,

Cornishmen in any hard rock mine you can find, etc.

There are lots of cultural 'work related'

communities round the country.