The community of Star was one of the earliest in the Boise Valley. The Pioneer ditch was started in 1863 by M.B. Palmer and later extended to the Middleton Mill. Due to this irrigation ditch and its supply of water, the country between Star and Middleton was one of the first areas settled in the Boise Valley.
One of the first settlers was B. F. Swalley who in 1864 drove his ox team and wagon onto 300 acres of land along the Boise River, a mile east of the present town. Others followed, homesteading the good farm land along the Boise River. The surrounding farms often catered to the needs of early travelers and miners, providing them with food and lodging in Star on their way to and from Boise and the mines in the Boise Basin.
The first location of the village of Star was one mile to the east of present Star, about half way between the present town of Star and the Star-Emmett junction. The first schoolhouse, part of District 20, was built there in the 1870's on land donated by B.F. Swalley. When settlers finished building the schoolhouse, they couldn't decide on a name for the building. One of the men sawed out a star and nailed it to the front door, pounding nails all around the edge of the star. This became an important landmark for miles around, and was a guide for travelers and miners. When they came to the schoolhouse with the star on the door, they could travel west one mile and find board and lodging for the night. So in time, the town became known as Star. (Ada County Historic Preservation Council)
