Meridian is a city located in Ada County, Idaho, United States.

[6] The town was established in 1891 on the Onweiler farm north of the present site and was called Hunter.

The Settlers' Irrigation Ditch, 1892, changed the arid region into a productive farming community which was incorporated in 1902.

[8] The information in the following sections (Irrigation, Village, Rail Transportation, and Creamery) is found on the displays in the Meridian City Hall Plaza.

Their previous homes were in areas where rain provided the needed moisture to raise crops.

The original Meridian town site was filed in 1893 on homestead grant land belonging to Eliza Ann Zenger.

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.

[9] 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.

The Interurban Company entered into receivership and closed in 1928 after 20 years of providing continuous transportation to neighboring towns.

Many industrial customers continue to ship forest, agricultural, and chemical products along this corridor.

Later years saw the Wyeth Laboratories affiliate with the creamery to manufacture SMA baby formula.

[10] The majority of Meridian lies on a flat plain, roughly in the north central part of Treasure Valley.

The city is crossed by several irrigation canals that generally run from the south east to the north west.

Meridian experiences hot and dry summers where temperatures can often exceed 100 °F (38 °C), as well as cold winters with occasional light snowfall.

Blue Cross of Idaho, Jacksons Food Stores, and Scentsy are based in Meridian.

[16] The mayor, with the consent of the city council, appoints the following officers: 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.

[17] 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.

Eagle Island State Park is about 2.5 miles (4.0 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.

The West Ada School District which includes almost all of Meridian,[19] serves the city and is the largest in the state.

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.