BOISE, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 5, 2007--The Boise/Nampa Metropolitan area has been named the "Number One Most Secure Place to Live in the U.S.," according to a 2006 survey released by Farmers Insurance Group of Companies. The survey, divided into three groups, found that the Boise/Nampa Metropolitan Area ranked number one in the large cities category.

Farmers Insurance will honor eight Boise/Nampa metropolitan cities and two counties during the third annual Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce State of the County Address to be held at the DoubleTree Hotel Riverside, on March 7, 2007.

"Farmers Insurance sponsored the `Most Secure Places to Live' survey to find out how local government works with its citizens to make their communities secure," said Jeff Beyer, senior vice-president and chief communications officer for Farmers. "The Boise City-Nampa, Idaho area topped all large metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or greater. The area, nestled against the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, is shielded from severe weather and has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the Farmers study. We congratulate Boise/Nampa government officials, community leaders, businesses and its citizens for an outstanding job in being named number one in the survey," Beyer explained.

Jim Ignozzitto, Farmers Idaho State Director, will present the plaques at the ceremony. "We are proud to present `Most Secure City' recognition plaques to Ada County Commission Chair Fred Tilman; Boise Mayor Dave H. Bieter; Garden City Mayor John G. Evans; Tammy de Weerd of the City of Meridian; Eagle Mayor Nancy Merrill; Kuna Mayor O. Dean Obray; Star Mayor Nate Mitchell; Canyon County Commission Chair Matt Beebe; Nampa Mayor Tom Date; and Caldwell Mayor Garrett Nancolas," Ignozzitto said. "Farmers congratulates Boise/Nampa for a job well done."

The rankings, compiled by database experts at www.bestplaces.net, took into consideration crime statistics, extreme weather, risk of natural disasters, environmental hazards, terrorism threats and job loss numbers in each municipality. There were 379 U.S. municipalities studied, and they were divided into three groups: large metropolitan areas, mid-size cities and small towns.

Farmers Insurance Group of Companies(R) is the nation's third-largest Personal Lines Property & Casualty insurance group. Headquartered in Los Angeles and doing business in 41 states, the insurers comprising the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies provide Homeowners, Auto, Business, Life insurance and financial services to more than 10 million households through 17,000 exclusive and independent agents and district managers. For more information about Farmers, visit our Web site at www.farmers.com.