STAR — This northern part of the Treasure Valley was once rural farm grounds with individual homes scattered about. Like much of Idaho, Star and Middleton have seen significant growth, with an influx of new residents and suburban neighborhoods popping up.
In 2010, the towns’ combined populations barely surpassed 10,000 residents. More recently, Star has reached 16,333 residents, according to the 2023 U.S. Census, and Middleton sits at a population of 11,016.
This has presented a significant challenge for the Star Fire Protection District and Middleton Rural Fire District, which both ran $2.25 million levies on Election Day…