It was named in the 19th century by travelers on their way to Middleton and Boise who used the star on the school house to find east and west.

Star is located at 43°41′39″N 116°29′25″W / 43.69417°N 116.49028°W / 43.69417; -116.49028 (43.694084, -116.490225),[5] at an elevation of 2,470 feet (753 m) above sea level.

[8] As of the 2010 census, there were 5,793 people in 1,927 households, including 1,551 families, in the city.

There were 2,098 housing units at an average density of 360.5 per square mile (139.2/km2).

The racial makeup of the city was 93.5% White, 0.6% African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.1% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races.

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,795 people in 631 households, including 485 families, in the city.

There were 681 housing units at an average density of 793.9 per square mile (306.5/km2).

The racial makeup of the city was 92.87% White, 0.28% African American, 0.95% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.89% from other races, and 4.74% from two or more races.