Journalist Rachel Roberts has recently published an article in the Idaho Statesman (which we’ve often cited on the blog) sharing the keys both to the important presence of the Basque community in Idaho and to the vitality that this part of our country has in that part of the US.
The history and reasons given in this article also, in great measure, explain the presence and energy Basque communities have throughout the US west, from the Rockies to the Pacific.
It’s true that the Basque presence along the Pacific coast of what is now the US can be dated back to the 16th century. Indeed, the westernmost point of the contiguous US is Cape Alava; it’s even possible that the name of the state of Arizona has a Basque origin.
But it’s also true that the largest part of the Basque community that defines itself as Basque trace their origin to the 19th century when Basque nationals came over either as part of the Gold Rush or to escape the disasters of the Carlist wars and the hardships of the 19th and 20th centuries, including Franco’s repression.
These mass emigrations in the 19th and 20th centuries are the basis for today’s widespread and organized Basque community in the US, where Idaho and especially Boise play a leading role.
This article by Rachel Roberts in the Idaho Statesman has also been reproduced in two even “bigger” news sources: Yahoo News and AOL.
Idaho Statesman – 11/6/2023 – USA
How did a bit of the Basque Country end up in Idaho, with Boise as its epicenter?
The Basque Block in downtown Boise — located on Grove Street between Capitol Boulevard and 6th Street — is home to the Basque Center, Basque Museum and Cultural Center, Bar Gernika, Leka Ona restaurant and the Basque Market. But why does Idaho have such a strong connection with a small region situated between southwestern France and north-central Spain, near the Pyrenees Mountains and on the Bay of Biscay?
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This article from the Idaho Statesman does not allow for automatic Google translations, so you’ll have to copy and paste it yourself, or use the links below.
AOL – 11/6/2023 – USA
How did a bit of the Basque Country end up in Idaho, with Boise as its epicenter?
The Basque Block in downtown Boise — located on Grove Street between Capitol Boulevard and 6th Street — is home to the Basque Center, Basque Museum and Cultural Center, Bar Gernika, Leka Ona restaurant and the Basque Market. But why does Idaho have such a strong connection with a small region situated between southwestern France and north-central Spain, near the Pyrenees Mountains and on the Bay of Biscay?
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Yahoo News – 11/6/2023 – USA
How did a bit of the Basque Country end up in Idaho, with Boise as its epicenter?
The Basque Block in downtown Boise — located on Grove Street between Capitol Boulevard and 6th Street — is home to the Basque Center, Basque Museum and Cultural Center, Bar Gernika, Leka Ona restaurant and the Basque Market. But why does Idaho have such a strong connection with a small region situated between southwestern France and north-central Spain, near the Pyrenees Mountains and on the Bay of Biscay?
(Follow) (Automatic translation)
Last Updated on Dec 3, 2023 by About Basque Country
