Meridian Real Estate
Meridian, Idaho got its name from the town’s position on the Boise Meridian survey map. It began its existence as a little village, and farms made up much of the Meridian real estate offerings during the early years of the 20th century. For much of its existence, Meridian was Boise’s bedroom community, and indeed, Idaho’s 2nd largest city only boasted a population of just over 30,000 people by the turn of the 21st century.
By the time of 2010 census, that number jumped to 75,000 residents, and by 2021 it’s staggering growth continued to over 125,000. This massive growth has been a real estate boom in Meridian (and surrounding communities). Along with the many new homes has come all sorts of businesses and shopping.
Meridian real estate for sale today brings together the charm of this city’s village roots and its status as a growing modern city. No better example lies in the contrast between the Meridian Farmer’s Market and the new Village at Meridian. The market beckons with technicolor offerings of fresh fruits and vegetables, family entertainment and of course, produce pulled from local farmers’ gardens. On the other hand, the Village at Meridian will open up more than 500,000 square feet of space, dedicated to restaurants, shops, offices and entertainment and represent the best that modern architecture has to offer.
However, as different as these two pieces of Meridian real estate are, they do give residents here the opportunity to get out, walk in a pedestrian-dedicated space and meet with neighbors known and not-yet-introduced. And all of this provides an environment where professionals and young families alike can thrive. And why not? Aside from the market and the new shopping center, Meridian is filled with amenities and top notch schools that make this area a very attractive alternative to living in Boise.
Educational Offerings in Meridian
Homes in Meridian put their occupants into close proximity to not only some world-class businesses, but also to 15 institutions of higher learning. From the University of Phoenix to Boise State University, young adults living in Meridian have access to some of the Treasure Valley’s most innovative academic campuses in the Northwest.
And in addition to the local colleges, universities and professional schools in the area, the city also boasts an abundance of local elementary, middle and high schools that eventually feed students into the higher education system and ultimately into the job market. Families with school age children find that buying a piece of Meridian Idaho real estate gives the growing students in their midst access to some of the best schools in the area while allowing them to live in the peace of the suburbs.
Meridian Medical Care
Meridian has advanced quite a bit in the last 15 years, and not just in the realm of education. It now boasts a major medical center, which allows residents to receive the medical attention they need right in their own community. St. Luke’s in Meridian brings the excellence of its sister location, St. Luke’s of Boise to Meridian.
Aside from dealing with emergencies great and small, people can come here for surgery, for check-ups and for wellness education. On any given day, visitors to this medical facility can learn to prepare healthy meals for holidays like Cinco de Mayo or Thanksgiving, take lamaze classes or participate in exercise programs for heart patients. People seeking homes for sale in Meridian put themselves well within reach of this community amenity and better health to boot.
Entertainment In Meridian, Idaho
Going over the overpass sends Meridianites to some of the most fun hot spots the city has to offer. Just a hop skip and a jump from the freeway exist lies Roaring Springs water park. It’s a maze of twisting tubes, pools of water and of course, plenty of kids decked out in colorful bathing suits. This destination gives Meridian and the surrounding area an alternative to the community pool and counts as one of the most popular pieces of Meridian real estate for summer fun in the sun.
For those looking for something a little dryer and more old-fashioned, summer time also sees Meridian residents leaving behind the confines of their homes and converging on Settlers Park for movies on the lawn. In the warmer months of the year, the City of Meridian partners with several local businesses to bring people a night at the movies free of charge. This regular summer event is like combining a night at Shakespeare Under the Stars with a drive-in movie. Throughout the park, people lounge on blankets and lawn chairs, unpack sandwiches and break open cans of soda and settle in for a movie as dusk converges on the park.
Additionally, the Village of Meridian isn’t just people friendly. The city offers a Bark Park near its most famous non-human resident, the Meridian water tower. From March to September, this local stretch of green allows Fido to have his day. For the humans walking him, there are drinking fountains for both people and dogs, a mutt mitt station, an off-leash area, restrooms and place to give donations. This doggy destination measures just under an acre of real estate and provides residents with an excuse to go out and about without having to travel very far from home.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, but not far from the Bark Park lies the Meridian Speedway. Before visitors to the racetrack even climb the bleachers in search of the perfect view, the vibrations of the roaring engines can be felt through the soles of their feet, and the cheers of the crowds ring out above the stands and into the night sky. The Speedway offers fans all the spectacle of the circus combined with the excitement of an auto race and has proved to be one of Meridian’s most popular entertainment destinations over the years.
An Evening at the Movies
While residents here can hop on the freeway to get to places like the Edwards Cineplex, they don’t need to most of the time. The Majestic Theater brings Hollywood to Meridian. Movie-lovers can escape the confines of their Meridian homes and transport themselves off into the world of Iron Man or the Great Oz or even to some distant planet or ancient geologic epoch all for the price of a movie ticket and a bag of popcorn. This is one of the most centrally-located pieces of Meridian real estate and a staple of the Meridian entertainment scene. People buying Meridian homes for sale in this area can be out of their front door and in their movie seat in fewer than 15 minutes.
Arts and Culture
Meridian can be not only a place of high drama, but high art as well. The Initial Point Gallery, which has been rated one of the top Meridian attractions on the TripAdvisor website, brings town back into the heart of Meridian. Initial Point resides on the 3rd floor of Meridian City Hall and features two and three-dimensional pieces of art in a space infused with natural light. Local, national and international artists find a home here, and the public discovers a space that coaxes them out of their Meridian homes into the mesmerizing world of art and beyond.