Idaho (ID).

• Region: Northwest
• Population: 1,939,033 (ranked 38th) (2022 estimate)
• Capital: Boise (pop. 236,634) (2022 estimate)
• Largest city: Boise (pop. 236,634) (2022 estimate)
• Number of counties: 44
• State nickname: Gem State; Spud State
• State motto: Esto perpetua (It is forever)
• State flag: Blue field with state seal and red band with words “State of Idaho”

Idaho, known as the "Gem State," entered the Union on July 3, 1890, as the forty-third state. Located in the Northwestern United States, it is part of the Rocky Mountain region. The state is bordered on the north by the Canadian province of British Columbia. Its other neighbors are Oregon and Washington State to the west, Nevada and Utah to the south, and Montana and Wyoming to the west. Much of the state's land—over 60 percent—is owned by the federal government, particularly the wilderness areas. Because of the mountains that separate them, northern and southern Idaho have developed distinctive regional identities; the north is linked economically to neighboring Washington State, while the south is linked with states such as Wyoming and Utah. Idaho's economy is heavily agricultural (the state slogan is "Famous Potatoes"), but there is also a strong industrial sector (especially in high technology). Tourists visit Idaho to enjoy its rugged wilderness beauty.

State Name: The origin of the name "Idaho" is uncertain and is probably an invented word. Originally, the name was suggested for the Colorado Territory. Allegedly, the name derives from an Arapaho Indian phrase meaning "gem of the mountains." The state has been nicknamed the "Gem State"—garnet is a common gemstone found in Idaho.

Capital:Boise has been the state capital since Idaho joined the Union in 1890. The city previously served (1865–90) as territorial capital. The original territorial capital was Lewiston.

Flag: The Idaho state flag, adopted in 1907, has a blue field with a 2 1/2–inch gilt fringe around the edge. In the center of the field is the state seal. The seal bears the state motto "Esto perpetua" ("Let it be perpetual" or "It is forever") above male and female figures. The woman represents political rights (liberty, justice, and equality) while the man is dressed as a miner. Horns of plenty (cornucopias) represent Idaho's prosperity. Above the human figures is the head of an elk. Underneath the state seal are the words "State of Idaho" in gold letters on a red scroll.

Official Symbols

• Flower: Syringa
• Bird: Mountain bluebird
• Tree: Western white pine
• Fish: Cutthroat trout
• Song: "Here We Have Idaho" by Albert J. Tompkins, McKinley Helm, Sallie Hume-Douglas, and Craig Chernos

State and National Historic Sites

• Assay Office National Historic Landmark (Boise)
• Franklin Cooperative Mercantile Building (Franklin)
• Hatch House State Historic Site (Franklin)
• Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
• Old Idaho Penitentiary (Boise)
• Oregon National Historic Trail
• Minidoka Internment National Monument (Jerome)
• Nez Perce National Historical Park
• Franklin Pierce Homestead State Historic Site (Pierce)
• Relic Hall State Historic Site (Franklin)
• Rock Creek Station and Stricker Homesite State Historic Site (Rock Creek)

DEMOGRAPHICS

• Population: 1,939,033 (ranked 38th) (2022 estimate)
• Population density: 22.3/sq mi
• Urban population: 69.2% (2020 estimate)
• Rural population: 30.8% (2020 estimate)
• Population under 18: 23.9% (2022 estimate)
• Population over 65: 17% (2022 estimate)
• White alone: 92.6% (2022 estimate)
• Black or African American alone: 1% (2022 estimate)
• Hispanic or Latino: 13.5% (2022 estimate)
• American Indian and Alaska Native alone: 1.7% (2022 estimate)
• Asian alone: 1.7% (2022 estimate)
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone: 0.2% (2022 estimate)
• Two or More Races: 2.8% (2022 estimate)
• Per capita income: $31,509 (ranked 44th) (2021 estimate)
• Unemployment: 3.6% (2022 estimate)

American Indians: Idaho's American Indian tribes historically belonged to three distinct cultures: the Plateau culture of the Northern Panhandle and eastern Washington State, the Great Basin culture covering the central part of the state, and the Plains culture east of Idaho. The Plateau tribes included the Nimi'ipuu or Nez Percé, the Kaispel, Kootenai, and Shitsu'umsh or Coeur d'Alene. The Great Basin tribes included the Shoshone, Bannock, and Northern Paiute. The Great Plains tribes included the Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Lakota or Sioux. These tribes influenced the culture of their western neighbors, the Nez Percé and Shoshone.

As elsewhere in the West, the Idaho tribes frequently came into conflict with White pioneers, who desired to settle on the American Indians' traditional lands. The US Army built forts along the major westward trails, such as the Oregon Trail, to protect White settlements. In 1877, the Nez Percé under Chief Joseph fought back, but were defeated by the Army and forced onto an Oklahoma reservation. This was the last major American Indian war in Idaho.

Idaho has four federally recognized American Indian tribes: the Coeur d'Alene, the Nez Percé, the Kootenai, and the Shoshone-Bannock.

ENVIRONMENT AND GEOGRAPHY

• Total area: 83,569 sq mi (ranked 14th)
• Land area: 82,643 sq mi (98.9% of total area)
• Water area: 926 sq mi (1.1% of total area)
• National parks: 7
• Highest point: Borah Peak (12,662 feet)
• Lowest point: Snake River (710 feet)
• Highest temperature: 118° F (Orofino, July 28, 1934)
• Lowest temperature: -60° F (Island Park, January 18, 1943)

Topography: Idaho is a state with vastly different northern and southern regions, divided by the heavily forested central mountains. The southern part of the state, covered by plains, is part of the Snake River Valley—home to Idaho's best farmland. The northern part of the state, or "Panhandle," is a region of rugged mountains and deep valleys. The western part of the state, an arid region, is home to the incredibly deep (7,900 feet) Hells Canyon—the deepest river gorge in North America. Over 60 percent of Idaho's land is owned by the federal government, and much of this land is wilderness.

Major Lakes

• American Falls Reservoir
• Bear Lake
• Coeur d'Alene Lake
• Lake Cascade
• Island Park Reservoir
• Priest Lake

Major Rivers

• Boise River
• Clark Fork River
• Clearwater River
• Owyhee River
• Payette River
• Pend Oreille River
• Priest River
• Snake River
• Spokane River
• Teton River

State and National Parks: Idaho has more than twenty-five state parks, which include historic sites and natural recreation areas. The historic sites include Old Mission State Park, home of an 1840s Jesuit mission to the Coeur d'Alene. Natural areas include Niagara Springs, a National Natural Landmark where the springs flow down a 350-foot canyon.

The state contains seven official national parks, as well as parts of several national historic trails and other sites managed by the National Park Service (NPS). One of the most unique is Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, which includes 618 square miles of basaltic lava fields. There are also the Lewis and Clark and Oregon National Historic Trails, which commemorate the exploration and settlement of the West. The Nez Percé National Historical Park commemorates the heritage of the Nez Percé tribe, which fought the US Army in 1877 to maintain its traditional lands. The Minidoka Internment National Monument, located in Jerome County, remembers the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.

Natural Resources: Idaho enjoys a wealth of mineral resources—including rich reserves of silver and gold. Other important minerals include antimony, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, and zinc. Rapid-running rivers such as the Snake River also provide immense potential for hydroelectric power. Idaho is famous for its agriculture, and leads the nation in potato production, as evidenced in the state slogan, "Famous Potatoes." Livestock are another important resource.

Plants and Animals: Idaho possesses a rich variety of wild species, many of which inhabit the state's protected wilderness areas and are rare elsewhere in the United States. Large mammals include bear (black and grizzly), bobcat, coyote, elk, mountain goat, mule deer, and moose. Smaller mammals include beaver, river otter, and chipmunk. Bird species include the rare bald eagle, the US national emblem, and the mountain bluebird (the state bird). Fish are plentiful in Idaho's rivers and streams. One of the most common species is the cutthroat trout, the state fish.

Much of Idaho, particularly the wilderness areas, is heavily wooded. Common tree species include the western white pine, the official state tree. Other plants include the huckleberry. Potatoes, Idaho's most famous crop, grow well because of the presence of volcanic ash in the soil.

Climate: Idaho's varied topography has strongly affected the state's climate. The southern part of the state has a semi-arid climate with hot summers and relatively mild winters (except in the mountains). The central and northern parts of Idaho, which contain extensive wilderness and high mountains, experience cold winters with large amounts of snowfall. The average winter temperature throughout the state is 24.85 degrees Fahrenheit, while the average summer temperature is 63.40 degrees. The average winter precipitation is 6.19 inches, while the average summer precipitation is 3.09 inches.

EDUCATION AND CULTURE

Major Colleges and Universities

• Boise State University (Boise)
• Brigham Young University–Idaho (Rexburg)
• College of Idaho (Caldwell)
• College of Southern Idaho (Twin Falls)
• Idaho State University (Pocatello)
• Lewis-Clark State College (Lewiston)
• North Idaho College (Coeur d'Alene)
• Northwest Nazarene University (Nampa)
• University of Idaho (Moscow)

Major Museums

• Basque Museum and Cultural Center (Boise)
• Boise Art Museum (Boise)
• Boise Basin Museum (Idaho City)
• Craters of the Moon National Monument Visitor Center (Arco)
• Herrett Center for Arts and Science (Twin Falls)
• Idaho Museum of Natural History (Pocatello)
• Idaho State Historical Museum (Boise)

Major Libraries

• Coeur d'Alene Public Library (Coeur d'Alene)
• Idaho State Historical Society Research Library (Boise)
• Idaho State Law Library (Boise)
• Idaho State Archives (Boise)

Media

Idaho has a long history of a strong daily press. The Idaho Statesman of Boise is one of the oldest and most influential, dating back to early territorial days. Other papers include the Coeur d'Alene Press, the Idaho Falls Post-Register, the Idaho State Journal (Pocatello), the Lewiston Morning Tribune, and the Moscow-Pullman Daily News. There are also many weekly newspapers, including the Idaho Business Review of Boise.

Television and radio stations are concentrated in Boise, although Idaho Falls, Pocatello, and several other cities also have broadcast outlets. In addition to commercial stations, Idaho is served by Boise State University Radio. Idaho's broadcasting needs are also served by the Washington State–based network Northwest Public Radio, based in Pullman.

ECONOMY AND INFRASTRUCTURE

• Gross domestic product (in millions $USD): 109,546.5 (ranked 38th) (2022 estimate)
• GDP percent change: 4.9%

Major Industries: Idaho's major industries are finance, insurance real estate, rental, and leasing; government; and professional and business services. Important manufactures include electronics and chemicals. The state possesses many mineral resources, including the precious metals gold and silver, as well as industrial minerals such as antimony, cobalt, lead, phosphates, molybdenum, and zinc. Agricultural crops include potatoes, wheat, barley, corn, and apples.

Tourism: Tourism has grown into an important industry in Idaho, focusing on the state's unspoiled natural beauty, hunting, fishing, and camping. In 2020, the Idaho Commerce website reported that according to the US Travel Association, Idaho's tourism industry was worth $3.7 billion, annually bringing in about $475 million in tax revenues and supporting over 45,000 jobs. Popular attractions include the Sun Valley ski resort, Snake River Canyon, and Lava Hot Springs, to name a few.

Energy Production: Idaho's main energy source is hydroelectricity, typically producing more than half the state's net electricity generation; altogether, renewable energy sources produced about 75 percent of the state's electricity in 2022, with most of the rest supplied by natural gas. Public utilities do not use petroleum, and the state has no refineries or proven reserves of crude oil.

Agriculture: Idaho is known for its potatoes—the state produces about 13 billion pounds of potatoes each year, about a third of the national harvest. Other important crops are wheat, barley, corn, and hay. Dairy and livestock are also important sectors.

Airports: Idaho has a large number of public airports, more than half of which are operated by cities and counties. There are seven large commercial facilities, such as the Boise Airport. The state operates dozens of airports and airstrips. Air transportation is important in Idaho, to connect outlying rural areas with other parts of the state.

Seaports: The Port of Lewiston, located on the Snake and Columbia Rivers, is the state's only seaport.

GOVERNMENT

• Governor: Brad Little (Republican)
• Present constitution date: July 3, 1890
• Electoral votes: 4
• Number of counties: 44
• Violent crime rate: 242.6 (per 100,000 residents)
• Death penalty: Yes

Constitution: Idaho's current constitution was adopted July 3, 1890, when the state entered the Union.

Branches of Government

Executive: The governor is Idaho's chief executive officer, serving a four-year term. Duties include proposal and approval of legislation, appointment of officials, oversight of executive-branch activities, and service as commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the right of pardon except in cases of treason and impeachment. The lieutenant governor, who also serves as president of the senate, acts as governor in case of the incumbent's death, disability, or removal from office.

The other executive-branch officials, who also serve four-year terms, are the lieutenant governor, the secretary of state, the state controller, the state treasurer, the attorney general, and the superintendent of public instruction.

Legislative: The Idaho Legislature has two houses. The Senate, or upper house, has thirty-five members. The House of Representatives, or lower house, has seventy members.

Judicial: Idaho's highest court is the state Supreme Court, which is comprised of five justices who are elected to six-year terms. The chief justice is selected every four years from among these five justices. The court of appeals and the district courts round out the state's judicial structure.

HISTORY

1803 President Thomas Jefferson purchases the Louisiana Territory from France, for $415 million.

1804–06 US President Thomas Jefferson authorizes the "Corps of Discovery," led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, to explore the nation's new western lands. The expedition departs from St. Louis in 1804. The following year, they cross through the Lehmi Pass into present-day Idaho, becoming among the first White men to see the region. The expedition reaches the Pacific Coast in 1805 and returns to the United States in 1806.

1811 The Pacific Fur Company establishes the trading post Fort Astoria in Oregon. The firm, created by American financier John Jacob Astor, establishes other trading posts along the Columbia River. That same year, British explorer David Thompson completes the first survey of the Columbia River. He begins his expedition from Canada.

1813 The North West Company, a British fur company, purchases Fort Astoria from the rival Pacific Fur Company. The post is renamed Fort George.

1818 The United States and Great Britain agree to "joint occupancy" of Oregon. In 1827, this status is extended indefinitely. The two nations continue to dispute the limits of Oregon's northern border. The British want the line drawn at the Columbia River, the limit of most American settlement. The Americans want the line at 54 degrees 40' latitude. The issue is not settled until the Polk Administration in the mid-1840s.

1819 The United States and Spain sign the Adams-Onis Treaty, by which Spain cedes its rights to land discovered north of the 42nd parallel of latitude.

1821 The Hudson's Bay Company of Canada takes over the North West Company.

1836 Henry H. Spalding establishes a mission near present-day Lapwai. There he establishes the first school in what is now Idaho. He is also an agricultural innovator, growing the region's first potatoes.

1842 Father Pierre DeSmet, a Jesuit missionary from Belgium, establishes a mission among the Coeur d'Alene tribe. This is in response to a request from the tribe, which has heard from a neighboring tribe that the Jesuits or "Blackrobes" are powerful medicine men. The Mission of the Sacred Heart is originally built along the St. Joe River, but repeated flooding leads to the mission's removal in 1846. The new site, thirty-five miles away, is a knoll overlooking the Coeur d'Alene River.

1843 Pioneer wagons traveling the Oregon Trail cross through Idaho for the first time.

1853 Congress creates the Washington Territory out of the Oregon Territory.

1860 Gold is discovered at Orofino Creek, setting off a gold rush. Franklin, a Mormon community, is established as the first permanent settlement in the region.

1863 Congress creates the Idaho Territory with Lewiston is the territorial capital. That same year, settlers massacre American Indians at Bear River.

1865 The territorial capital is moved to Boise.

1874 The railroad arrives in Idaho, with the terminus at Franklin.

1877 The US Army battles the Nez Percé, who are led by Chief Joseph.

1882 Gold is discovered at Coeur d'Alene, setting off another gold rush.

1884 Silver deposits are discovered at Coeur d'Alene.

1886 The State Capitol building is finally completed, after years of disputes over which city should be the territorial capital.

1889 The Territorial Legislature passes legislation to create the University of Idaho. The school is to be built in Moscow, in the Idaho Panhandle. This is part of an arrangement to prevent the northern part of Idaho from seeking annexation with neighboring Washington State.

1890 On July 3, Idaho enters the Union as the forty-third state.

1892 The University of Idaho opens its doors to students.

1896 Western outlaw George Leroy Parker, aka Butch Cassidy, robs Montpelier's bank on August 13.

1901 The state establishes the "Academy of Idaho" at Pocatello, an institution that later develops into Idaho State University.

1905 Former Governor Frank Steunenberg is assassinated, in retaliation for his use of federal troops in 1899 to put down a labor uprising. Labor leader William D. "Big Bill" Haywood and two others are tried for Steunenberg's murder. The prosecution includes William Edgar Borah, who later becomes a US Senator, while the defense includes nationally known lawyer Clarence Darrow. Haywood is acquitted in 1906.

1910 The Great Fire of 1910 breaks out in August, due to lightning strikes in the drought-ridden northern part of the state. The fire burns uncontrollably throughout large portions of northern Idaho. Ten towns are completely destroyed and eighty-five people (mostly firefighters) are killed. The following year, Congress passes the Weeks Law to coordinate federal and state fire-fighting activities.

1914 Moses Alexander, the first Jew to serve as a state's chief executive, is elected governor of Idaho.

1915 The Academy of Idaho becomes Idaho Technical Institute. It keeps this name until 1927, when it becomes the Southern Branch of the University of Idaho.

1916 Idaho begins a program of highway construction.

1924 Congress establishes Idaho's Craters of the Moon National Monument. That same year, by congressional action, all American Indians become US citizens.

1928Philo T. Farnsworth, a youthful inventor who grew up in Rigby, unveils his electronic television system. This is the first demonstration of sending images electronically.

1939 Joe Albertson opens his first grocery store in Boise. Over the next several decades, the one-store operation grows into one of the nation's largest grocery chains.

1941–45 World War II. Concerned about their loyalty, the federal government relocates many Japanese Americans to internment camps in western states. The Minidoka Relocation Center opens in 1942 in Jerome County, Idaho, and eventually holds 7,318 people.

1947 The Southern Branch of the University of Idaho is renamed Idaho State College.

1953 Idaho begins television broadcasting.

1958 The Port of Lewiston is established, connecting Idaho to foreign trade.

1963 Idaho State College becomes Idaho State University.

1970 Cecil D. Andrus, a Democrat, is elected governor on a conservation platform. He is reelected in 1974, then serves as President Jimmy Carter's Secretary of the Interior.

1975 The Port of Lewiston, located on the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers, is opened as the state's seaport.

1985 Barbara Morgan, a teacher from McCall, is one of the finalists in NASA's Teacher in Space Program. She is the backup to Christa McAuliffe, who is killed with the rest of the crew in the 1986 Challenger Space Shuttle disaster.

1986 Former Governor Cecil D. Andrus is reelected. He wins yet another term in 1990.

1988 The Philo T. Farnsworth Museum is dedicated in Rigby, boyhood home of the man known as the "Father of Television."

1990 Idaho celebrates its one-hundredth anniversary of statehood.

1992 A deadly shootout takes place between FBI agents and White separatist Randy Weaver, at his mountain cabin on Ruby Ridge, Idaho. The agents are there to arrest him for not appearing in court on charges of selling illegal firearms. The shooting kills a deputy US marshal as well as Weaver's wife and son. Weaver and associate Kevin Harris are charged with murder and conspiracy.

1996 FBI executive E. Michael Kahoe pleads guilty to destroying an internal report relating to the bureau's handling of the Ruby Ridge incident. Government investigators probe whether other FBI officials covered up actions.

1999 Albertsons Stores grocery chain merges with American Stores. Albertsons is sold in 2006 to SuperValu Inc., CVS Corp., and Cerberus Capital Management, the latter of which forms Albertsons LLC.

2007 Governor C. L. "Butch" Otter voices his support of public hunts to kill gray wolves in the state. The US Department of the Interior removes gray wolves from the endangered species list in March 2008, but in July 2008 a federal judge rules this decision flawed. According to Otter, the growing wolf population is having a negative impact on Idaho’s multimillion-dollar hunting industry.

2009 Idaho hosts the Special Olympics World Winter Games at Boise, McCall, and Sun Valley. More than two thousand athletes from around the world make the event the largest Special Olympics winter games to date.

2010 The US Department of Energy and the State of Idaho reach an agreement allowing the Idaho National Laboratory to examine limited amounts of spent commercial waste; this expands the 1995 Settlement Agreement regarding nuclear waste brought into the state.

2013 Albertsons LLC buys the remaining SuperValu Albertsons Stores.

2018 Voters approve an expansion of Medicaid coverage.

2020 For the first time in Idaho's history, voting for the state's primary election was conducted solely by mail due to the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

FAMOUS PEOPLE

T. H. [Terrel Howard] Bell, 1921–1996 (Lava Hot Springs) , Educator; US secretary of education.

Ezra Taft Benson, 1899–1994 (Whitney) , US secretary of agriculture; president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons).

Gutzon Borglum, 1867–1941 (Bear Lake) , Sculptor of Mt. Rushmore.

Lloyd "Pete" Bucher, 1929–2004 (Pocatello) , Naval officer in command of USS Pueblo, during 1967 espionage incident with North Korea.

Frank F. Church, 1924–1984 (Boise) , US senator.

Michael Dean Crapo, 1951– (Idaho Falls) , US senator.

Orval H. Hansen, 1926–2017 (Firth) , US representative.

Mariel Hemingway, 1961– (Mill Valley) , Actor; granddaughter of author Ernest Hemingway.

Harmon Killebrew, 1936–2011 (Payette) , Baseball player.

Philo T. Farnsworth, 1906–1971 (Indian Creek) , Inventor of television.

Sarah Palin, 1964– (Sandpoint) , Governor of Alaska, 2006–09.

Ezra Pound, 1885–1972 (Hailey) , Poet.

Marjorie Reynolds, 1917–1997 (Buhl) , Actor.

Sacagawea, c. 1788–c. 812 (present-day Lemhi County) , Explorer; interpreter.

Picabo Street, 1971– (Triumph) , Olympic skier.

Steven D. Symms, 1938– (Nampa) , US senator.

Lance Taylor, 1940–2022 (Montpelier) , Economist.

Lana Turner, 1920–1995 (Wallace) , Actor.

Victor Wooten, 1964– (Mountain Home) , Musician.

TRIVIA

• Lewiston, located at the junction of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers, has Idaho's only seaport, the Port of Lewiston.
• The name "Coeur d'Alene" is French for "heart of an awl."
• Idaho Senator Glen H. Taylor, who served from 1945 to 1951, was an actor and country-western singer before entering the US Senate. In 1948, he was former Vice President Henry A. Wallace's running mate on the Progressive Party presidential ticket.
• Hells Canyon, found in the western part of the state, is the deepest river gorge in North America (7,900 feet).
• Moscow, Idaho, is the home of the University of Idaho. It is named for a local American Indian tribe rather than for the Russian city.

Bibliography

"Federal Bureau of Investigation Crime Data Explorer." Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2022, crime-data-explorer.app.cloud.gov/pages/home. Accessed 7 Oct. 2022.

"History." Idaho.gov, www.idaho.gov/about-idaho/history/. Accessed 6 Oct. 2022.

"Idaho." Bureau of Economic Analysis, US Department of Commerce, 31 Mar. 2023, apps.bea.gov/regional/bearfacts/. Accessed 22 Sept. 2023.

"Idaho." Quick Facts, US Census Bureau, 2022, www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/ID/PST045221. Accessed 22 Sept. 2023.

"Idaho: 2020 Census." US Census Bureau, 25 Aug. 2021, www.census.gov/library/stories/state-by-state/idaho-population-change-between-census-decade.html. Accessed 6 Oct. 2022.

"Idaho State Profile and Energy Estimates." US Energy Information Administration, 20 Apr. 2023, www.eia.gov/state/?sid=ID. Accessed 22 Sept. 2023.

"Tourism Resources." Idaho Commerce, commerce.idaho.gov/tourism-resources/. Accessed 64 Oct. 2022.

"2021 State Agriculture Overview: Idaho." US Department of Agriculture, www.nass.usda.gov/Quick‗Stats/Ag‗Overview/stateOverview.php?state=IDAHO. Accessed 6 Oct. 2022.

Eric Badertscher