State of Idaho
Flag of Idaho Seal Nickname(s): Gem State, Spud State Motto(s): Esto perpetua
Official language(s)	English
Demonym	Idahoan
Capital	Boise
Largest city	Boise
Largest metro area	Boise metropolitan area
Area	Ranked 14th in the US
- Total	83,642 sq mi (216,632 km²)
- Width	305 miles (491 km)
- Length	479 miles (771 km)
- % water	0. Idaho 's flag consists of the state seal on a field of blue The words "State of Idaho" appear in gold letters on a red and gold band below the seal The Great Seal of the State of Idaho was adopted in 1863. The seal of the Territory of Idaho was used until statehood in 1890. This is a list of US state nicknames, including officially adopted Nicknames and other traditional nicknames for individual states of the United States. Here is a list of state Mottos for the states of the United States of America. Esto perpetua ( Latin "Let it be perpetual" is the state motto of Idaho. The United States does not have an Official language; however the majority of the population speaks English as a native language (about 82% English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place Washington DC has been the capital of the United States since 1800 Boise (ˈbɔɪsi is the capital and most populous city of the U This is a list of the largest cities of US states by population Boise (ˈbɔɪsi is the capital and most populous city of the U Table of United States Metropolitan Statistical Areas|Table of United States Core Based Statistical AreasIn the United States, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB has produced The Boise City-Nampa Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA (commonly known as the Boise Metropolitan Area or the Treasure Valley) as defined Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. This is a complete list of the states of the United States and its major territories ordered by total area, land area, and water area The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand 98
- Latitude	43. 19 N to 49° N
- Longitude	112. The 49th parallel north is a Circle of latitude that is 49 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. 35′ W to 117°15′ W
Population	Ranked 39th in the US
- Total	1,293,953
- Density	15. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology This is a list of states of the United States by population (with inhabited non-state jurisdictions included for comparison as of July 1, 2007, according to the This article is a list of the 50 US States ordered by Population density. 64/sq mi  6. 04/km² (44th in the US)
Elevation
- Highest point	Borah Peak[1] 12,662 ft  (3,862 m)
- Mean	5,000 ft  (1,524 m)
- Lowest point	Snake River[1] 710 ft  (217 m)
Admission to Union	July 3, 1890 (43rd)
Governor	Butch Otter (R)
Lieutenant Governor	Jim Risch (R)
U.S. Senators	Larry Craig (R) Mike Crapo (R)
Congressional Delegation	List
Time zones
- north of Salmon River	Pacific: UTC−8/−7
- remainder	Mountain: UTC−7/−6
Abbreviations	ID US-ID
Website	www.idaho.gov/

Idaho State Symbols
Living Symbols
-Amphibian	Eastern Tiger Salamander
-Bird	Mountain Bluebird
-Butterfly	Monarch Butterfly
-Fish	Cutthroat trout
-Flower	Mock Orange
-Insect	Monarch Butterfly
-Mammal	Appaloosa horse
-Tree	Western White Pine
Dance	Square Dance
Food	Potato, Huckleberry
Fossil	Hagerman horse
Gemstone	Star Garnet
Slogan(s)	Great Potatoes. Wikipedia_talkFeatured_lists#Proposed_change_to_all_featured_lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below --> Borah Peak (also known as Mount Borah) is the highest mountain in Idaho. The Snake River is a major Tributary of the Columbia River in the U Wikipedia_talkFeatured_lists#Proposed_change_to_all_featured_lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This is a list of U Events 324 - Battle of Adrianople Constantine I defeats Licinius, who flees to Byzantium. Year 1890 ( MDCCCXC) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common A governor is a governing official usually the executive (at least nominally to different degrees also politically and administratively of a non-sovereign level of government Clement Leroy "Butch" Otter (born May 3, 1942, Caldwell Idaho) has been Governor of Idaho since January 2007 This is a complete and current List of United States Lieutenant Governors. James Elroy Risch (born May 3, 1943 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is the current Lieutenant Governor of Idaho, candidate for United The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives Larry Edwin Craig (born July 20, 1945) is an American politician from the state of Idaho. Michael Dean "Mike" Crapo (pronounced "Cray-poe" (born May 20, 1951) is the junior United States Senator from Idaho The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses These are tables of congressional delegations from Idaho to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. This is a list of United States of America States by time zone The Salmon River is located in Idaho in the northwestern United States. The Pacific Time Zone observes Standard time by subtracting eight hours from Coordinated Universal Time ( UTC-8) Daylight saving time ( DST The Mountain Time Zone of North America keeps time by subtracting seven hours from Coordinated Universal Time ( UTC-7) during the shortest days of autumn Daylight saving time ( DST The traditional abbreviations for US states and territories were widely used in mailing addresses prior to the introduction of two-letter U ISO 3166-2US is an ISO standard which defines Geocodes it is the subset of ISO 3166-2 which applies to the United States of America. A website (alternatively web site or Web site, a back-construction from the Proper noun World Wide Web) is a collection of Web pages This is a list of official US state Amphibians. State amphibians are designated by tradition or the respective state legislatures See also The Tiger Salamander ( Ambystoma tigrinum) is a Species of Mole Salamander. This is a list of US state birds as designated by each state's legislature The Mountain Bluebird ( Sialia currucoides) is a medium-sized bird weighing about an ounce with a length from 15-20 cm (6-8 in) This is a list of official US state butterflies: See also List of U The monarch ( Danaus plexippus) is a Milkweed butterfly ( Subfamily Danainae in the family Nymphalidae. This is a list of official and *unofficial US state fish:The only states lacking a state fish as of 2008 are Arkansas Indiana Kansas and Ohio The cutthroat trout ( Oncorhynchus clarki) is a Species of Freshwater Fish in the salmon family of order This is a list of US state flowers: See also List of US state trees Lists of U Philadelphus lewisii ( Lewis's Mock-orange) is a Deciduous Shrub native to western North America, from northwestern California This is a list of United States state insects note that some states have more than one designated insect or have multiple categories (e The monarch ( Danaus plexippus) is a Milkweed butterfly ( Subfamily Danainae in the family Nymphalidae. A state mammal is the official or representative Animal of a U This List of US state trees includes official trees of the following states and U Western White Pine ( Pinus monticola; family Pinaceae) is a species of Pine that occurs in the mountains of the western United States and This is a list of official US state dances: See also Lists of U Square dance is a Folk dance with four couples (eight dancers arranged in a square with one couple on each side beginning with Couple 1 facing away from the music and going This is a list of official US state foods: The potato is a Starchy Tuberous crop Vegetable from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae Most American states have made a state fossil designation in many cases during the 1980s. The Hagerman horse ( Equus simplicidens) also called the Hagerman zebra or the American zebra, was a North American species of equid Not every state has an official state mineral rock stone or gemstone This list of US state slogans is made up the Advertising slogans currently and formerly used by U Tasty Destinations.
Soil	Threebear
Song(s)	Here We Have Idaho
Route Marker(s)
Quarter	2007
See Also

The State of Idaho (IPA: /ˈaɪdəhoʊ/) is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States of America. This is a list of Representative US State Soils. A state soil is a Soil that has special significance to a particular state. Threebear soil is the official state Soil of the US state of Idaho. Introduction Forty-nine states of the United States (all except New Jersey) have one or more state songs, selected by the state Here We Have Idaho is the official state song of Idaho. The music for the Idaho state song composed by Sallie Hume Douglas was copyrighted on November 4 1915 under the title Highways in the United States are split into at least four different types of systems The 50 State Quarters program ( is the release of a series of commemorative coins by the United States Mint. These are lists of US state insignia as designated by tradition or the respective state legislatures: List of U A US state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the United States of America that share Sovereignty with the federal government The Pacific Northwest is a region in the northwest of North America (the term refers to the land not the ocean The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Boise (ˈbɔɪsi is the capital and most populous city of the U Residents are called "Idahoans. This is a list of terms used to designate the residents of specific U " Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 324 - Battle of Adrianople Constantine I defeats Licinius, who flees to Byzantium. Year 1890 ( MDCCCXC) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2004, Idaho had an estimated population of 1,493,262. The state's postal abbreviation is ID. Idaho's nickname is the Gem State because of its abundance of natural resources. The state motto is Esto Perpetua (Latin for "Let it be forever"). Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome.

Geography

Welcome to Idaho sign.

Map of Idaho

Idaho Population Density Map

Sixty percent of Idaho's land is held by the National Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management, and it leads the nation in forest service land as a percentage of total area. ^[2]. ^[3]

Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed in the Owyhee Mountains about 50 miles (80 km) southwest of Boise, Idaho.

Crooked Creek in Gospel Hump Wilderness, Idaho

The Palouse region of northern Idaho. The Palouse is a region of the Northwestern United States, encompassing parts of Eastern Washington, North Central Idaho and in some definitions extending

A scenic part of the Snake River in Idaho Falls.

Sunset over the Snake River Plain near Chubbuck. The Snake River Plain is a geologic feature located primarily in the American state of Idaho.

Further information: List of Idaho counties

Idaho borders six states and one Canadian province. This is a list of 44 counties in the US state of Idaho. The FIPS county code is the five-digit Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS code which uniquely The states of Washington and Oregon are to the west, Nevada and Utah are to the south, and Montana and Wyoming are to the east. Washington ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Oregon ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Nevada ( is a state located in the western region of the United States of America. The State of Utah (ˈjuːtɔː or) is a western state of the United States. Montana ( is a state in the Western United States. One-third of the state in the western part contains numerous mountain ranges (approximately 77 named of the northern The State of Wyoming ( is a sparsely populated state in the western region of the United States. Idaho also shares a short (48 miles (77 km)) border with Canada: the province of British Columbia is to the north. British Columbia (ˌbrɪtɨʃ kəˈlʌmbiə ( BC) ( (la Colombie-Britannique C The landscape is rugged with some of the largest unspoiled natural areas in the United States. It is a Rocky Mountain state with abundant natural resources and scenic areas. Mountain peaks of the Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains, often called the Rockies, are a Mountain range in western North America. The state has snow-capped mountain ranges, rapids, vast lakes and steep canyons. The waters of Snake River rush through Hells Canyon, the deepest canyon in the United States. The Snake River is a major Tributary of the Columbia River in the U Hells Canyon is a ten mile wide Canyon located along the border of eastern Oregon and western Idaho in the United States. Shoshone Falls plunges down rugged cliffs from a height greater than that of Niagara Falls. Shoshone ( or) Falls is a Waterfall on the Snake River located approximately five miles east of Twin Falls, Idaho. The Niagara Falls are massive Waterfalls on the Niagara River, straddling the international border separating the Canadian province of Ontario The major rivers in Idaho are the Snake River, the Clark Fork/Pend Oreille River, the Clearwater River and the Salmon River. The Snake River is a major Tributary of the Columbia River in the U The Clark Fork is a river in the US states of Montana and Idaho, approximately 360 mi (579 km long The Pend Oreille River is a Tributary of the Columbia River, approximately long in northern Idaho and northeastern Washington in the The Clearwater River is a river in North Central Idaho, which flows from the Bitterroot Mountains along the Idaho- Montana border westward joining the The Salmon River is located in Idaho in the northwestern United States. Other significant rivers include the Coeur d'Alene/Spokane River, the Boise River and the Payette River. The Coeur d'Alene River flows from the Silver Valley into Lake Coeur d'Alene in the U The Spokane River is a tributary of the Columbia River, approximately 100 mi (161 km long in northern Idaho and eastern Washington in the United The Boise River is a Tributary of the Snake River, approximately long in southwestern Idaho in the United States. The Payette River is a River in southwestern Idaho, and is a major Tributary of the Snake River. The Port of Lewiston, at the confluence of the Clearwater and the Snake Rivers is the farthest inland seaport in the Pacific Northwest. Lewiston is the County seat of and largest city in Nez Perce County, Idaho, United States. The Clearwater River is a river in North Central Idaho, which flows from the Bitterroot Mountains along the Idaho- Montana border westward joining the The Snake River is a major Tributary of the Columbia River in the U

Idaho's highest point is Borah Peak, 12,662 ft (3,859 m), in the Lost River Range north of Mackay. Borah Peak (also known as Mount Borah) is the highest mountain in Idaho. The Lost River Mackay is a city in Custer County, Idaho, United States. The population was 566 at the 2000 census. Idaho's lowest point, 745 ft (227 m), is in Lewiston, where the Clearwater River joins the Snake River and continues into Washington. Lewiston is the County seat of and largest city in Nez Perce County, Idaho, United States. There are a large number of rivers called Clearwater River. These include;In Canada Clearwater River (Alberta in Alberta Clearwater River (British The Snake River is a major Tributary of the Columbia River in the U Washington ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.

Southern Idaho, including the Boise metropolitan area, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, and Twin Falls are in the Mountain Time Zone. The Boise City-Nampa Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA (commonly known as the Boise Metropolitan Area or the Treasure Valley) as defined Idaho Falls is the County seat and largest city of Bonneville County, Idaho, United States. Pocatello (ˌpoʊkəˈtɛloʊ is the County seat and largest city of Bannock County, with a small portion on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in neighboring For the motion picture see Twin Falls Idaho (film Twin Falls is the County seat and largest The Mountain Time Zone of North America keeps time by subtracting seven hours from Coordinated Universal Time ( UTC-7) during the shortest days of autumn (A legislative oddity (15 U.S.C. ch.6 § 264) theoretically places this region in the Central Time Zone, but this error is not widely known and is universally ignored. Title 15 of the United States Code outlines the role of the commerce and trade in the United States Code. The Central Time Zone observes Standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC during standard time ( UTC−6) and five hours during Daylight saving ) Areas north of the Salmon River, including Coeur d'Alene, Moscow, Lewiston, and Sandpoint are in the Pacific Time Zone and revolve commercially and culturally around Spokane, Washington

Climate

Idaho has much variation in its climate. The Salmon River is located in Idaho in the northwestern United States. Coeur d'Alene (ˌkɔr dəˈlein is the County seat and largest city of Kootenai County, Idaho, United States. Moscow (ˈmɒskoʊ is the County seat of Latah County in northern Idaho, along the Washington Lewiston is the County seat of and largest city in Nez Perce County, Idaho, United States. Sandpoint is a city in and the County seat of Bonner County, Idaho, United States. The Pacific Time Zone observes Standard time by subtracting eight hours from Coordinated Universal Time ( UTC-8) Although the state's western border is located 300 miles (480 km) from the Pacific Ocean, the maritime influence is still felt in Idaho, especially in the winter when cloud cover, humidity, and precipitation are at their highest points. This influence has a moderating effect in the winter where temperatures are not as low as would otherwise be expected for a northern state with a mostly elevated altitude. The maritime influence is lowest in the southeastern part of the state where the precipitation patterns are often reversed, with wetter summers and drier winters, and seasonal temperature differences more extreme, showing a more continental climate.

Climate in Idaho can be hot, although extended periods over 100 °F (38 °C) for the maximum temperature are rare. Climate encompasses the temperatures humidity rainfall atmospheric particle count and numerous other meteorogical factors in a given region over long periods of Hot summer days are tempered by the low relative humidity and cooler evenings during summer months since, for most of the state, the highest diurnal difference in temperature is often in the summer. A day (symbol d is a unit of Time equivalent to 24 Hours and the duration of a single Rotation of planet Earth with respect to the Winters can be cold, although extended periods of bitter cold weather below zero are unusual.

Lakes

• Lake Coeur d'Alene
• Priest Lake
• Payette Lake (McCall)
• Pend Oreille
• Lake Lowell
• Henry's Lake
• Stanley Lake
• Redfish Lake
• Alturas Lake
• Petit Lake
• Sawtooth Lake
• Warm Lake
• Bear Lake (Idaho-Utah)
• Lake Walcott
• Hayden Lake
• Lake Cascade

History

Main article: History of Idaho

Humans may have been present in the Idaho area as long as 14,500 years ago. The Lake Coeur d'Alene is long ranges from 1 to wide and offers over of shoreline for boaters and vacationers to explore and enjoy Priest Lake, Idaho, United States is located in the northern most portion of the Idaho Panhandle with the northern end of the lake extending north to within Lake Pend Oreille is a Lake in the northern Idaho Panhandle, with a surface area of 148 square miles Henrys Lake is a small shallow natural Lake, approximately 8 sq mi (20 Warm Lake is a popular Lake in Idaho, United States. It is located at, 26 miles east of Cascade in Valley County, at 5298 feet above Sea Bear Lake is a natural Freshwater Lake on the Utah - Idaho border in the Western United States. Lake Walcott is a Reservoir in south central Idaho in the northwestern United States. Hayden Lake is a city in Kootenai County, Idaho, United States. Lake Cascade or Cascade Reservoir is located on the North Fork Payette River in Valley County, Idaho in the Boise National Forest. The History of Idaho is an examination of the Human History and social activity within the state of Idaho, a geographical area in the Excavations at Wilson Butte Cave near Twin Falls in 1959 revealed evidence of human activity, including arrowheads, that rank among the oldest dated artifacts in North America. Wilson Butte Cave is located on the Snake River plain near Twin Falls in Jerome County Idaho. For the motion picture see Twin Falls Idaho (film Twin Falls is the County seat and largest Native American tribes predominant in the area included the Nez Perce in the north and the Northern and Western Shoshone in the south. Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States The Nez Perce (ˌnɛzˈpɝs are a Tribe of Native Americans who live in the Pacific Northwest region ( Columbia River Plateau) of the United The Shoshone ( or) are a Native American tribe with three large divisions the Northern the Western and the Eastern

Idaho, as part of the Oregon Country, was claimed by both the United States and United Kingdom until the United States gained undisputed jurisdiction in 1846. Oregon Country or Oregon (to be distinguished from the American State also called Oregon) was a predominantly American term referring to The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Between then and the creation of the Idaho Territory in 1863, parts of the present-day state were included in the Oregon, Washington, and Dakota Territories. Idaho Territory was an Organized territory of the United States which existed from 1863 to 1890 The Oregon Territory is the name applied both to the unorganized Oregon Country claimed by both the United States and Britain (but normally referred to The Washington Territory was a historic Organized territory of the United States that was formed in February 8, 1853 from the portion of the Dakota Territory was the name of an organized territory of the United States that existed from 1861 to 1889 The new territory included most of present-day Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Montana ( is a state in the Western United States. One-third of the state in the western part contains numerous mountain ranges (approximately 77 named of the northern The State of Wyoming ( is a sparsely populated state in the western region of the United States. The first organized communities, within the present borders of Idaho, were established in 1860. ^[4][5]

After some tribulation as a territory, including the chaotic transfer of the territorial capital from Lewiston to Boise, disenfranchisement of the large Mormon minority and a federal attempt to split the territory between Washington Territory and the state of Nevada, Idaho achieved statehood in 1890. Lewiston is the County seat of and largest city in Nez Perce County, Idaho, United States. Boise (ˈbɔɪsi is the capital and most populous city of the U Nevada ( is a state located in the western region of the United States of America. The economy of the state, which had been primarily supported by metal mining, shifted towards agriculture and tourism. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel

In recent years, Idaho has expanded its commercial base as a tourism and agricultural state to include science and technology industries. Science and technology have become the largest single economic center (over 25% of the state's total revenue) within the state and are greater than agriculture, forestry and mining combined. ^[6]

The Idaho State Historical Society preserves and promotes Idaho’s cultural heritage. The Idaho State Historical Society (ISHS is a Historical society located in the U

Origin of name

Idaho is the only state that was likely named as the result of a hoax (the so called "Idahoax") although this is disputed. A hoax is a deliberate attempt to Dupe, Deceive or trick an audience into believing or accepting that something is real when in fact it is not or that In the early 1860s, when the United States Congress was considering organizing a new territory in the Rocky Mountains, eccentric lobbyist George M. Willing suggested the name "Idaho," which he claimed was derived from a Shoshone language term meaning "the sun comes from the mountains" or "gem of the mountains. The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses Mountain peaks of the Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains, often called the Rockies, are a Mountain range in western North America. George M Willing was a wealthy industrialist and failed congressional candidate in the 1860s Shoshone is a Native American language spoken by the Shoshone people " Willing later claimed that he had made up the name himself[2][3]. Congress ultimately decided to name the area Colorado Territory when it was created in February 1861. For the western film see Colorado Territory (film. The Territory of Colorado was an Organized territory of the United States of

However, the name "Idaho" did not go away. The same year Congress created Colorado Territory, a county called Idaho County was created in eastern Washington Territory. Idaho County is a County located in the US state of Idaho. As of the 2000 Census the county had a population of 15511 (2005 estimate 15697. The Washington Territory was a historic Organized territory of the United States that was formed in February 8, 1853 from the portion of the The county was named after a steamship named Idaho, which was launched on the Columbia River in 1860. A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving a Propeller The Columbia River (known as It is unclear whether the steamship was named before or after Willing's claim was revealed. Regardless, a portion of Washington Territory, including Idaho County, was used to create Idaho Territory in 1863.

Despite this lack of evidence for the origin of the name, many textbooks well into the 20th century repeated as fact Willing's account that the name "Idaho" derived from the Shoshone term "ee-da-how".

An excerpt from an Idaho History Textbook:

"Idaho" is a Shoshoni Indian exclamation. The word consists of three parts. The first is "Ee", which in English conveys the idea of "coming down". The second is "dah" which is the Shoshoni stem or root for both "sun" and "mountain". The third syllable, "how", denotes the exclamation and stands for just the same thing in Indian that the exclamation mark (!) does in the English language. The Shoshoni word is "Ee-dah-how", and the Indian thought thus conveyed when translated into English means, "Behold! the sun coming down the mountain".

"IDAHO in the Pacific Northwest". Barber -Martin. 1956. Caxton Printers Ltd. Library of Congress 55-5192.

Chief Joseph Seltice, of the Coeur d'Alene Tribal Nation, posits another possible origin of the name. In his history of the tribe, Saga of the Coeur d'Alene Indians, he writes:

Some sources claim that the name "Idaho" comes from an Indian word, "Ee-dah-how," meaning "Gem of the Mountains. " This expression may have come from some other Tribe, and it would have a different meaning for them than it would for the Coeur d'Alenes.
As the Coeur d'Alenes understood the word "Idaho," it would be more correctly pronounced "Ah-d'Hoo. " It means "greetings by surprise," indicating friendship, but surprise.
The first syllable conveys to the mind, "All are welcome, from wherever you come; but keep the friendly peace. We welcome you with out-stretched arms, and this entitles us to permanent friendship. "
The last syllable is a surprise and exclamation point. The expression means that all are welcome, "though we are surprised to see so many different strangers. The first dawn of day welcomes you as the sun rises. " This expression was used by many of the Coeur d'Alenes on the Bitterroot Mountains to greet all who come.
So to all who read these words: "Welcome, with open arms! We're just surprised that there are so many of you!"

Demographics

As of 2005, Idaho has an estimated population of 1,429,096, which is an increase of 33,956, or 2. 4%, from the prior year and an increase of 135,140, or 10. 4%, since the year 2000. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 58,884 people (that is 111,131 births minus 52,247 deaths) and an increase due to net migration of 75,795 people into the state. Human migration denotes any movement by Humans from one locality to another sometimes over long distances or Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 14,522 people, and migration within the country produced a net increase of 61,273 people. American immigration ( emigration to the United States of America) refers to the movement of non-residents to the United States.

This makes Idaho the sixth fastest-growing state after Arizona, Nevada, Florida, Georgia, and Utah. The State of Arizona ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. Nevada ( is a state located in the western region of the United States of America. Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the The State of Georgia ( is a state in the United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule The State of Utah (ˈjuːtɔː or) is a western state of the United States. From 2004 to 2005, Idaho grew the third-fastest, surpassed only by Nevada and Arizona.

Nampa, the state's second largest city, has experienced particularly strong growth in recent years. For other things named "Nampa" see Nampa. Nampa (ˈnæmpə is the largest city in Canyon County, Idaho, United According to census estimates Nampa has grown 22. 1% to nearly 65,000 residents between 2000 and 2003. As of 2007, the population in Nampa was estimated at 84,000. For other things named "Nampa" see Nampa. Nampa (ˈnæmpə is the largest city in Canyon County, Idaho, United Growth of 5% or more over the same period has also been observed in Caldwell, Coeur d'Alene, Meridian, Post Falls and Twin Falls. Caldwell is a city in and the County seat of Canyon County, Idaho, United States. Coeur d'Alene (ˌkɔr dəˈlein is the County seat and largest city of Kootenai County, Idaho, United States. Meridian is the second-largest City in Ada County, Idaho, United States and the third-largest in the state Post Falls is a city in Kootenai County, Idaho, United States near the Idaho state line between Spokane Washington, and Coeur d'Alene For the motion picture see Twin Falls Idaho (film Twin Falls is the County seat and largest [4]

Since 1990, Idaho's population has increased by 386,000 (38%).

The Boise Metropolitan Area (officially known as the Boise City-Nampa, ID Metropolitan Statistical Area) is Idaho's largest metropolitan area. The Boise City-Nampa Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA (commonly known as the Boise Metropolitan Area or the Treasure Valley) as defined Other metropolitan areas in order of size are Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Falls, Pocatello and Lewiston. Coeur d'Alene (ˌkɔr dəˈlein is the County seat and largest city of Kootenai County, Idaho, United States. Idaho Falls is the County seat and largest city of Bonneville County, Idaho, United States. Pocatello (ˌpoʊkəˈtɛloʊ is the County seat and largest city of Bannock County, with a small portion on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in neighboring Lewiston is the County seat of and largest city in Nez Perce County, Idaho, United States.

As of 2006, six official micropolitan statistical areas are based in Idaho. Table of United States Micropolitan Statistical Areas|Table of United States Core Based Statistical Areas United States Micropolitan Statistical Areas (µSA where the initial Greek letter Twin Falls is the largest of these.

The center of population of Idaho is located in Custer County, in the town of Stanley. In Demographics, the center of population of a region is the geographical point nearest to all the inhabitants of that region on average Custer County is a County located in the US state of Idaho. It was established in 1881 Stanley is a city in Custer County, Idaho, United States. The population was 100 at the 2000 census. [5]

The largest reported ancestries in the state are: German (18. German Americans ( German: Deutschamerikaner) are citizens of the United States of Ethnic German ancestry 9%), English (18. English Americans (occasionally known as Anglo -Americans although this may have a wider cultural meaning are Citizens of the United States whose ancestry 1%), Irish (10%), American (8. Irish Americans (Gael-Mheiriceánach are citizens of the United States who can claim ancestry originating in Ireland. The ancestry of the people of the United States is widely varied and includes descendants of Populations from around the World, some presumably extinct 4%), Norwegian (3. Norwegian Americans (norskamerikanere are Americans of Norwegian descent 6%), Swedish (3. Swedish Americans are Americans of Swedish descent most often related to the large groups of immigrants from Sweden in the late nineteenth century and early 5%).

Religion

A church in Idaho City

Greek Orthodox Church in Pocatello.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Idaho Falls Temple.

In 2004, the religious affiliations of Idahoans were surveyed as: [6]

• Protestant – 29. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. 3%
• LDS (Mormon) – 22. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fourth largest Christian denomination in the United States and the largest and most well-known 8%
• Catholic – 14. Catholic is an Adjective derived from the Greek adjective '' / 'katholikos' meaning "whole" or "complete". 3%
• Christian – 13. A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth 6%
• None – 12. 7%
• Other – 7. 2%

In 2001, the religious affiliations of the people of Idaho were surveyed as: [7] [8]

• Christian – 79%
  • Protestant – 50%
    • Baptist – 10%
    • Methodist – 10%
    • Lutheran – 3%
    • Presbyterian – 3%
  • Roman Catholic – 15%
  • LDS (Mormon) – 14%. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Baptist is a term describing individuals belonging to a Baptist church or a Baptist denomination. Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther Presbyterianism is a family of Christian denominations within the Reformed branch of Protestant Western Christianity Roman Catholicism in the United States has grown dramatically over the country's history from being a tiny minority faith during the time of the Thirteen Colonies The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fourth largest Christian denomination in the United States and the largest and most well-known TalkMormon#Latter Day Saint vs Latter-day Saint --> Mormon ^[7]

• Other Religions – <1%
• Non-Religious – 20%

As with many other Western states, the percentage of Idaho's population identifying themselves as "non-religious" is higher than the national average.

Economy

Idaho State Quarter

American Falls Dam

Gross state product for 2004 was US$43. The 50 State Quarters program ( is the release of a series of commemorative coins by the United States Mint. Gross state product (or gross regional product) is a measurement of the economic output of a state or Province. 6 billion. The per capita income for 2004 was US$26,881. Idaho is an important agricultural state, producing nearly one third of the potatoes grown in the United States. The potato is a Starchy Tuberous crop Vegetable from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae

Important industries in Idaho are food processing, lumber and wood products, machinery, chemical products, paper products, electronics manufacturing, silver and other mining, and tourism. The world's largest factory for barrel cheese, the raw product for processed cheese is located in Gooding, Idaho. Processed cheese, process cheese, prepared cheese, or cheese food is a food product made from regular Cheese and sometimes other unfermented Gooding is the County seat and largest city of Gooding County, Idaho, United States. It has a capacity of 120,000 metric tons per year of barrel cheese and belongs to the Glanbia group. Glanbia PLC () is an international food company whose head offices are located in Kilkenny, Ireland. ^[8] The Idaho National Laboratory (INL), a government lab for nuclear energy research, is also an important part of the eastern Idaho economy. The Idaho National Laboratory ( INL) is an 890-square-mile (2300-km² complex located in the Idaho desert between the town of Arco and the city of Idaho also is home to three facilities of Anheuser-Busch which provide a large part of the malt for breweries located across the nation.

Today, the largest industry in Idaho is the science and technology sector. It accounts for over 25% of the State's total revenue and 70%+ of the State's exports (in dollars). Idaho's industrial economy is growing, with high-tech products leading the way. Since the late 1970s, Boise has emerged as a center for semiconductor manufacturing. Boise (ˈbɔɪsi is the capital and most populous city of the U Semiconductor device fabrication is the process used to create chips the Integrated circuits that are present in everyday Electrical and electronic Boise is the home of Micron Technology Inc., the only U. Micron Technology ("Micron" is a multinational company based in Boise, Idaho, USA best known for producing many forms of Semiconductor S. manufacturer of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips. Hewlett-Packard has operated a large plant in Boise, in southwestern Idaho, since the 1970s, which is devoted primarily to LaserJet printers production. LaserJet is the brand name used by the American computer company Hewlett-Packard (HP for their line of dry electrophotographic (DEP Laser printers [9] Dell, Inc. operates a major customer support call center in Twin Falls. The multinational technology company Dell Inc develops manufactures sells and supports Personal computers and other computer-related products AMI Semiconductor, whose worldwide headquarter locates in Pocatello, is a widely recognized innovator in state-of-the-art integrated mixed-signal semiconductor products, mixed-signal foundry services and structured digital products. AMI Semiconductor is a company engaged the Design and Manufacture of customer specific integrated circuit solutions including solutions for the Automotive Pocatello (ˌpoʊkəˈtɛloʊ is the County seat and largest city of Bannock County, with a small portion on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in neighboring Coldwater Creek, a women's clothing retailer, is headquartered in Sandpoint. Coldwater Creek is a women's apparel and accessories retailer based in Sandpoint, Idaho, United States. Sandpoint is a city in and the County seat of Bonner County, Idaho, United States.

The state personal income tax ranges from 1. 6% to 7. 8% in eight income brackets. Idahoans may apply for state tax credits for taxes paid to other states, as well as for donations to Idaho state educational entities and some nonprofit youth and rehabilitation facilities. The term tax credit describes two different concepts The first is a recognition of partial payment already made towards Taxes due.

The state sales tax is 6%. A sales tax is a Consumption tax charged at the Point of purchase for certain goods and services Sales tax applies to the sale, rental or lease of tangible personal property and some services. Food is taxed, but prescription drugs are not. A prescription drug is a licensed medicine that is regulated by legislation to require a prescription before it can be obtained Hotel, motel, and campground accommodations are taxed at a higher rate (7% to 11%). A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging usually on a short-term basis Entering dictionaries after World War II, the word motel, a Portmanteau of motor and hotel or motorists' hotel, referred Description The term "camp" comes from the Latin word campus, meaning field Some jurisdictions impose local option sales tax.

Idaho has a state gambling lottery which contributed $333. The Idaho Lottery, begun on July 19, 1989, is run by the government of Idaho. 5 million in payments to all Idaho public schools and Idaho higher education from 1990 - 2006. School districts are a form of Special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools This is a list of Colleges and universities in Idaho. This list also includes other educational institutions providing Higher education, meaning ^[9]

Transportation

Main article: List of Idaho State Highways

Major highways

Idaho is among the few states in the nation without a major freeway linking the two largest metropolitan areas of Boise in the south and Coeur d'Alene in the north. The Idaho Transportation Department is responsible for the establishment and classification of a state highway network which includes the interstate highways U Boise (ˈbɔɪsi is the capital and most populous city of the U Coeur d'Alene (ˌkɔr dəˈlein is the County seat and largest city of Kootenai County, Idaho, United States. US-95 links the two ends of the state, but is, like many other highways in Idaho, in bad need of repair and upgrade. US Route 95 is a north-south United States highway. Unlike many other US highways it has not seen deletion or replacement on most of the course caused by an encroaching In 2007, the Idaho Transportation Department stated that the state's highway infrastructure faces a $200 million per year shortfall in maintenance and upgrades. Interstate 84 is the main highway linking the Southeast and Southwest portions of the state, along with Interstate 86 and Interstate 15. In the US state of Idaho, Interstate 84 heads southeast from the Oregon state line it spurs to Interstate 184 in Boise. Interstate 86 (I-86 is an intrastate Interstate Highway, located entirely within the state of Idaho. Interstate 15 in Idaho is known for beautiful landscapes along the freeway in the state

Major airports include the Boise Airport, and the Spokane International Airport, which serves northern Idaho. Boise Airport, also known as Boise Air Terminal or Gowen Field and General aviation Airport located three Nautical miles (6 km Spokane International Airport is a commercial Airport located about five miles (8 km) west of downtown Spokane Washington, United States Other airports with scheduled service are the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport serving the Palouse; the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport, serving the Lewis-Clark Valley and north central Idaho; The Magic Valley Regional Airport in Twin Falls; the Idaho Falls Regional Airport; and the Pocatello Regional Airport. Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport is a public Airport located in Whitman County in the U The Palouse is a region of the Northwestern United States, encompassing parts of Eastern Washington, North Central Idaho and in some definitions extending Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport is a public Airport located in the southern part of the city of Lewiston, in Nez Perce County, Idaho, Magic Valley Regional Airport, also known as Joslin Field - Gateway to the Great Rift is a public Airport located 4 miles (6 km south of Twin Falls Idaho Falls Regional Airport, formerly known as Fanning Field, is a public Airport located in the northwest part of Idaho Falls, in Bonneville Pocatello Regional Airport is a public Airport located about 7 miles west of the city of Pocatello, in Power County, Idaho, USA

Idaho is served by two transcontinental railroads. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) connects North Idaho with Seattle, Portland and Spokane to the west, and Minneapolis and Chicago to the east. The BNSF Railway headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is one of the four remaining Transcontinental railroads and one of the largest railroad networks in Portland is a city located in the Northwestern United States, near the Confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The BNSF travels through Kootenai, Bonner and Boundary Counties. The BNSF Railway headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is one of the four remaining Transcontinental railroads and one of the largest railroad networks in Kootenai County is a County located in the US state of Idaho. Bonner County is a County located in the US state of Idaho. It was established in 1907 and was named for Edwin L Boundary County is a County located in the US state of Idaho. The Union Pacific Railroad crosses southern Idaho travelling between Portland and Ogden, Utah and serves Boise, Nampa, Twin Falls, and Pocatello. Ogden is a city in and the County seat of Weber County, Utah, United States. Boise (ˈbɔɪsi is the capital and most populous city of the U For other things named "Nampa" see Nampa. Nampa (ˈnæmpə is the largest city in Canyon County, Idaho, United For the motion picture see Twin Falls Idaho (film Twin Falls is the County seat and largest Pocatello (ˌpoʊkəˈtɛloʊ is the County seat and largest city of Bannock County, with a small portion on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in neighboring Amtrak's Empire Builder crosses northern Idaho, with its only stop being in Sandpoint. The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Doing business as Amtrak, is a Government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971 Sandpoint is a city in and the County seat of Bonner County, Idaho, United States. There has been a push recently to return Amtrak service to southern Idaho as well.

The Port of Lewiston is the furthest inland Pacific port on the west coast. Lewiston is the County seat of and largest city in Nez Perce County, Idaho, United States. A series of dams and locks on the Snake River and Columbia River facilitate barge travel from here to Portland, where goods are loaded on ocean-going vessels. The Snake River is a major Tributary of the Columbia River in the U The Columbia River (known as Portland is a city located in the Northwestern United States, near the Confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers

Law and government

State capitol building in Boise

State government

The constitution of Idaho provides for three branches of government: the executive, legislative and judicial branches. US Route 2 is an east-west US Highway spanning across the northern continental United States. US Route 12, or US 12, is an east-west United States highway running from Grays Harbor on the Pacific Ocean in the state of Washington to downtown US Route 95 is a north-south United States highway. Unlike many other US highways it has not seen deletion or replacement on most of the course caused by an encroaching US Route 93 is a major north-south United States highway in the Western United States. Interstate 15 in Idaho is known for beautiful landscapes along the freeway in the state The Interstate 184 designation was once proposed for a portion of Route 10 in Rhode Island. US Route 20 is an east-west United States highway. As the "0" in its route number implies U US Route 26 is an east-west United States highway. It started in Ogallala, Nebraska, and gradually grew to reach the West Coast in Oregon US Route 30 is an east-west main route of the system of United States Numbered Highways, with the highway traveling across the northern tier of the country In the US state of Idaho, Interstate 84 heads southeast from the Oregon state line it spurs to Interstate 184 in Boise. Interstate 86 (I-86 is an intrastate Interstate Highway, located entirely within the state of Idaho. In the US state of Idaho, Interstate 90 has a small routing in the panhandle, just under 74 miles (120 km Idaho has a bicameral legislature, elected from 35 legislative districts, each represented by one senator and two representatives. In Government, bicameralism (bi + Latin la ''camera'' chamber is the practice of having two legislative or Parliamentary chambers Thus a bicameral Idaho still operates under its original (1889) state constitution.

Since 1946 statewide elected constitutional officers have been elected to four-year terms. They include: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Controller (Auditor before 1994), Treasurer, Attorney General, and Superintendent of Public Instruction. Governors The region that became Idaho was originally obtained by the United States as part of Oregon Country, shared with the United Kingdom from 1818 to 1846

Last contested in 1966, Inspector of Mines was an original elected constitutional office. Afterwards it was an appointed position and ultimately done away with entirely in 1974.

Idaho's government has an alcohol monopoly. David Justin 1550 16 September

Executive Branch

Further information: List of Idaho Governors

Further information: Lieutenant Governor of Idaho

The governor of Idaho serves a four-year term, and is elected during what is nationally referred to as midterm elections. Governors The region that became Idaho was originally obtained by the United States as part of Oregon Country, shared with the United Kingdom from 1818 to 1846 Lieutenant Governor of Idaho is a constitutional statewide elected office in the State of Idaho. As such, the governor is not elected in the same election year as the president of the United States. The current governor is Republican C. L. "Butch" Otter, who was elected in 2006. Clement Leroy "Butch" Otter (born May 3, 1942, Caldwell Idaho) has been Governor of Idaho since January 2007

Legislative Branch

Idaho's legislature is part-time. The Idaho Legislature is the state legislature of the US state of Idaho. However, the session may be extended if necessary, and often is. Because of this, Idaho's legislators are considered "citizen legislators", meaning that their position as a legislator is not their main occupation.

Terms for both the Senate and House of Representatives are two years. The Idaho Senate is the upper chamber of the Idaho State Legislature. The Idaho House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Idaho State Legislature. Legislative elections occur every even numbered year.

The Idaho Legislature has been continuously controlled by the Republican Party since the late 1950s, although Democratic legislators are routinely elected from Boise, Pocatello, Blaine County and the northern Panhandle. Boise (ˈbɔɪsi is the capital and most populous city of the U Pocatello (ˌpoʊkəˈtɛloʊ is the County seat and largest city of Bannock County, with a small portion on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in neighboring Blaine County is a County located in the US state of Idaho. As of the 2000 Census the county had a population of 18991 (2005 estimate 21166

See also List of Idaho senators and representatives

Politics

After the Civil War, many Southern Democrats moved to Idaho Territory. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. As a result, the early territorial legislatures were solidly Democrat-controlled. In contrast, most of the territorial governors were appointed by Republican Presidents and were Republicans themselves. This led to sometimes bitter clashes between the two parties. In the 1880s, Republicans became more prominent in local politics.

Since statehood, the Republican Party has usually been the dominant party in Idaho, as there was a polar shift in social and political stance between the two parties, when the Democrats became more liberal and the Republicans more conservative. In the 1890s and early 1900s, the Populist Party enjoyed prominence while the Democratic Party maintained a brief dominance in the 1930s during the Great Depression. The Populist Party (also known as the People's Party) was a relatively short-lived Political party in the United States in the late 18th century Since World War II, most statewide elected officials have been Republicans. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including

Idaho Congressional delegations have also been generally Republican since its statehood. Several Idaho Democrats have had electoral success in the House over the years, but the Senate delegation has been a Republican stronghold for decades. The United States House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate. The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives Several Idaho Republicans, including current Senators Larry Craig and Mike Crapo, have won reelection to the Senate, but only Frank Church has won reelection as a Democrat. Larry Edwin Craig (born July 20, 1945) is an American politician from the state of Idaho. Michael Dean "Mike" Crapo (pronounced "Cray-poe" (born May 20, 1951) is the junior United States Senator from Idaho For his son Frank Forrester Church IV the Unitarian Universalist minister and theologian see Forrest Church. Church was the last Idaho Democrat to win a U. S. Senate race in 1974. No Democrat has won a U. S. House race in Idaho since Larry LaRocco in 1992. Larry LaRocco (born August 25, 1946) is a Democratic Politician from the U

In modern times, Idaho has been a reliably Republican state in presidential politics as well. It has not supported a Democrat for president since 1964. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by Even in that election, Lyndon Johnson defeated Barry Goldwater by less than two percentage points. In 2004, George W. Bush carried Idaho by a margin of 38 percentage points and 68. George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. 4% of the vote, winning in 43 of 44 counties. Only Blaine County, which contains the Sun Valley ski resort, supported John Kerry, who owns a home in the area. Blaine County is a County located in the US state of Idaho. As of the 2000 Census the county had a population of 18991 (2005 estimate 21166 Sun Valley is an affluent resort community in central Idaho, adjacent to the city of Ketchum in Blaine County. } John Forbes Kerry (born December 11 1943 is an American Politician who is currently serving his fourth term as the junior United States Senator

In the 2006 elections, Republicans led by Governor-elect C. L. "Butch" Otter won all of the state's constitutional offices and retained both of the state's seats in the United States House of Representatives. Clement Leroy "Butch" Otter (born May 3, 1942, Caldwell Idaho) has been Governor of Idaho since January 2007 The United States House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate. However, Democrats picked up several seats in the Idaho Legislature, notably in the Boise area. [10]

Important cities and towns

Population > 50,000 (urbanized area) Boise (state capital) - Home of Boise State University Nampa - Home of Northwest Nazarene University Idaho Falls - Location of the main offices of the Idaho National Laboratory Pocatello - Home of Idaho State University Meridian - Suburb of Boise Population > 30,000 (urbanized area) Caldwell - Home of the College of Idaho Coeur d'Alene - Home of North Idaho College, major tourist hub Lewiston - Home of Lewis-Clark State College Twin Falls - Home of College of Southern Idaho, BASE jumping Population > 10,000 (urbanized area) Blackfoot - Home of Idaho Potato Museum Burley Eagle - Suburb of Boise Garden City Hayden -Suburb of Coeur d'Alene Kuna - Suburb of Boise Moscow - Home of the University of Idaho and New Saint Andrews College Mountain Home Post Falls- Suburb of Coeur d'Alene and Spokane, Washington. Boise (ˈbɔɪsi is the capital and most populous city of the U Boise State University is a Public university located near downtown Boise, the Capital city of the U For other things named "Nampa" see Nampa. Nampa (ˈnæmpə is the largest city in Canyon County, Idaho, United Northwest Nazarene University (NNU is a Christian Liberal arts college in Nampa, Idaho. Idaho Falls is the County seat and largest city of Bonneville County, Idaho, United States. The Idaho National Laboratory ( INL) is an 890-square-mile (2300-km² complex located in the Idaho desert between the town of Arco and the city of Pocatello (ˌpoʊkəˈtɛloʊ is the County seat and largest city of Bannock County, with a small portion on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in neighboring Idaho State University (ISU is a public University operated by the U Meridian is the second-largest City in Ada County, Idaho, United States and the third-largest in the state Caldwell is a city in and the County seat of Canyon County, Idaho, United States. The College of Idaho is a Liberal arts college with an enrollment of 930 students located in Caldwell Idaho. Coeur d'Alene (ˌkɔr dəˈlein is the County seat and largest city of Kootenai County, Idaho, United States. North Idaho College (NIC is a comprehensive Community college with over 4000 students located in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, at the north end of Lake Lewiston is the County seat of and largest city in Nez Perce County, Idaho, United States. Lewis-Clark State College is a public Undergraduate College located in Lewiston Idaho. For the motion picture see Twin Falls Idaho (film Twin Falls is the County seat and largest College of Southern Idaho (CSI is an American public Community college. BASE jumping is involving the use of a Parachute or the sequenced use of a Wingsuit and parachute to jump from fixed objects--with the parachute unopened at the jump Blackfoot is a city in Bingham County, Idaho, United States. The population was 10419 at the 2000 census. Burley is a city in Cassia and Minidoka Counties in the southern portion of the U Eagle is a city in Ada County, Idaho, United States. The population was 11085 at the 2000 census. Garden City is a city in Ada County, Idaho, United States. The population was 10624 at the 2000 census. Hayden is a city in Kootenai County, Idaho, United States. The population was 9159 at the 2000 census. Kuna is a city in Ada County, Idaho, United States. It is part of the Boise City &ndash Nampa, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Moscow (ˈmɒskoʊ is the County seat of Latah County in northern Idaho, along the Washington The University of Idaho is Idaho 's oldest public university located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County. New Saint Andrews College is a classical Christian college located in Moscow Idaho. Mountain Home is a city in Elmore County, Idaho, United States. Post Falls is a city in Kootenai County, Idaho, United States near the Idaho state line between Spokane Washington, and Coeur d'Alene Rexburg - Home of Brigham Young University-Idaho

Smaller Towns and Cities American Falls - historical town, first town to be entirely relocated Arco - first city to be lit by electricity generated from a nuclear power plant City of Rocks - First rockclimbing station in Idaho Driggs - skiing (Grand Targhee) Eden Emmett Greenleaf - passed a law recommending that residents own a firearm Fruitland Hazelton Island Park - snowmobiling, world-class fishing Jerome Kellogg - skiing (Silver Mountain) Malad City McCall - major tourist hub Middleton Montpelier Mullan New Plymouth - first planned community in Idaho, third west of the Rocky Mountains Notus Paris, Idaho - County seat of Bear Lake County Payette - county seat of Payette County Plummer Rupert- County Seat of Minidoka County Rigby - television birthplace Salmon, Idaho Sandpoint - Major year round tourist town with Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort and Lake Pend Oreille. Rexburg is a city in Madison County, Idaho, in the United States. Brigham Young University–Idaho (also known as BYU–Idaho or BYU–I) is a four-year private College owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day American Falls is a city in Power County, Idaho, United States. Arco is a city in Butte County, Idaho, United States. The population was 1026 at the 2000 census. The City of Rocks or more formally the Silent City of Rocks is a U Driggs is a city in Teton County, Idaho, United States. It is part of the Jackson, WY -ID Micropolitan Statistical Area Eden is a city in Jerome County, Idaho, United States. The population was 411 at the 2000 census. Emmett is a city in Gem County, Idaho, United States. The population was 5490 at the 2000 census. Greenleaf is a city in Canyon County, Idaho, United States. The population was 862 at the 2000 census. A firearm is a Tool that projects either single or multiple Projectiles at high velocity through a controlled explosion Fruitland is a city in Payette County, Idaho, United States. It lies along U Hazelton is a city in Jerome County, Idaho, United States. The population was 687 at the 2000 census. Island Park is a city in Fremont County, Idaho, United States. Jerome is a city in Jerome County, Idaho, United States. The population was 7780 at the 2000 census. Kellogg is a city in the Silver Valley of Shoshone County, a part of the Idaho Panhandle in the United States. For the Mumbai, India Suburb see Malad (Mumbai suburb. Malad City (also commonly known as Malad) is the County seat McCall is a resort city in Valley County, Idaho, United States. Middleton is a city in Canyon County, Idaho, United States. The population was 2978 at the 2000 census. Montpelier is a city in Bear Lake County, Idaho, United States. Mullan is a city in Shoshone County in the northern part of the U New Plymouth is a city in Payette County, Idaho, United States. Notus is a city in Canyon County, Idaho, United States. The population was 458 at the 2000 census. Paris is a rural city located on the western side of the Bear Lake Valley in Bear Lake County, Idaho, United States. Payette is a city in and the County seat of Payette County, Idaho, United States. Plummer is a city in Benewah County, Idaho, United States. The population was 990 at the 2000 census. Rupert is the County seat and largest city of Minidoka County, Idaho, United States. Rigby is a small city in and the County seat of Jefferson County, Idaho, United States. Salmon is a city in Lemhi County, Idaho, United States. The population was 3122 at the 2000 census. Sandpoint is a city in and the County seat of Bonner County, Idaho, United States. Schweitzer Mountain Resort is a Ski area in northern Idaho, 12 miles (19 km northwest of the city of Sandpoint in Bonner County. Lake Pend Oreille is a Lake in the northern Idaho Panhandle, with a surface area of 148 square miles Soda Springs - US's only captive geyser St. Anthony - sand dunes and several lava tubes St. Maries Stanley, Idaho Sun Valley - major year-round resort with world-class skiing Wallace - birthplace of Lana Turner Worley

Boise, capital and largest city in Idaho. Soda Springs is a city in Caribou County, Idaho, United States. St Anthony is a city in Fremont County, Idaho, United States. Lava tubes are natural conduits through which Lava travels beneath the surface of a lava flow expelled by a Volcano during an eruption St Maries is a city in Benewah County, Idaho, United States. The population was 2652 at the 2000 census. Stanley is a city in Custer County, Idaho, United States. The population was 100 at the 2000 census. Sun Valley is an affluent resort community in central Idaho, adjacent to the city of Ketchum in Blaine County. Wallace is a historic city in the Panhandle region of the US state of Idaho and the County seat of Shoshone County in the Silver Lana Turner ( February 8, 1921 &ndash June 29, 1995) was an Academy Award -nominated American Film Worley is a city in Kootenai County, Idaho, United States. The population was 223 at the 2000 census. Boise (ˈbɔɪsi is the capital and most populous city of the U Coeur d'Alene Pocatello Idaho Falls

National Parks

City of Rocks National Reserve

Craters of the Moon National Monument

• California National Historic Trail
• City of Rocks National Reserve

• Craters of the Moon National Monument
• Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
• Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
• Minidoka Internment National Monument
• Nez Perce National Historical Park
• Oregon National Historic Trail
• Yellowstone National Park

National Recreation Areas

• Sawtooth National Recreation Area
• Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

National Wildlife Refuges

• Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge
• Camas National Wildlife Refuge
• Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge
• Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge
• Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge
• Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge

National Conservation Areas

• Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area

State Parks

See also: List of Idaho state parks

Lake Coeur d'Alene in northern Idaho. Coeur d'Alene (ˌkɔr dəˈlein is the County seat and largest city of Kootenai County, Idaho, United States. Pocatello (ˌpoʊkəˈtɛloʊ is the County seat and largest city of Bannock County, with a small portion on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in neighboring Idaho Falls is the County seat and largest city of Bonneville County, Idaho, United States. The City of Rocks or more formally the Silent City of Rocks is a U Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is a national monument and National preserve located in the Snake River Plain in central Idaho The California Trail was a major overland Emigrant route across the Western United States from Missouri to California in the middle 19th The City of Rocks or more formally the Silent City of Rocks is a U Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is a national monument and National preserve located in the Snake River Plain in central Idaho Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument near Hagerman Idaho, contains the largest concentration The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail is part of the National Trails System Minidoka Internment National Monument is a US National Monument located in Jerome The Nez Perce National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park comprising 38 sites located throughout the states of Idaho, Pioneers traveled across the Oregon Trail, one of the main overland migration routes on the North American Continent, in wagons in order to settle new parts of the The Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA is a United States National Recreation Area located in central Idaho within the Boise, Challis Hells Canyon National Recreation Area is a United States National Recreation Area located on the border between the states of Oregon and Idaho The Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge is an important breeding area for Mammals, Birds, and other animals The Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area is home to the largest concentration of nesting raptors in North America. This is a list of State parks in the US state of Idaho. Bear Lake State Park Box Canyon State Park

Education

Colleges and universities

Idaho State University in Pocatello. Bear Lake State Park is a State park of Idaho in the United States. Located south of Mountain Home Idaho, outside of Bruneau Idaho, Bruneau Dunes State Park is home to the several large sand Dunes and a The City of Rocks or more formally the Silent City of Rocks is a U Eagle Island State Park is on the outskirts of the City of Eagle in the state of Idaho approximately 14 miles Farragut State Park is a State park in northern Idaho. During World War II, it was the "Farragut Naval Training Station" a major training base Hells Canyon is a ten mile wide Canyon located along the border of eastern Oregon and western Idaho in the United States. Hells Gate State Park, situated on the Snake River, is the lowest elevation in Idaho at 713 feet above sea level Massacre Rocks State Park is a State park in the US state of Idaho. McCroskey State Park (full name Mary Minerva McCroskey State Park) is Idaho's second-largest state park Old Mission State Park is a State park and National Historic Landmark in northern Idaho. The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes is a Rail trail which follows the former Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way from Mullan, a mountain mining town near the

The Idaho State Board of Education oversees three comprehensive universities. The University of Idaho in Moscow was the first university in the state (founded in 1889). The University of Idaho is Idaho 's oldest public university located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County. Moscow (ˈmɒskoʊ is the County seat of Latah County in northern Idaho, along the Washington A land-grant institution, the UI is the state's flagship university. The University of Idaho is Idaho 's oldest public university located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County. Idaho State University in Pocatello opened in 1901 as the Academy of Idaho and was granted university status in 1963. Idaho State University (ISU is a public University operated by the U Pocatello (ˌpoʊkəˈtɛloʊ is the County seat and largest city of Bannock County, with a small portion on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in neighboring Boise State University is the most recent school to attain university status in Idaho. Boise State University is a Public university located near downtown Boise, the Capital city of the U The school opened in 1932 as Boise Junior College and became Boise State University in 1974. Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston is the only public, non-university 4 year college in Idaho. Lewis-Clark State College is a public Undergraduate College located in Lewiston Idaho. Lewiston is the County seat of and largest city in Nez Perce County, Idaho, United States.

Idaho has three regional community colleges: North Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene; College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls; and The College of Western Idaho in Nampa, which is set to open in 2009. North Idaho College (NIC is a comprehensive Community college with over 4000 students located in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, at the north end of Lake Coeur d'Alene (ˌkɔr dəˈlein is the County seat and largest city of Kootenai County, Idaho, United States. College of Southern Idaho (CSI is an American public Community college. For the motion picture see Twin Falls Idaho (film Twin Falls is the County seat and largest College of Western Idaho (CWI is an American public community college located in Nampa, Idaho. For other things named "Nampa" see Nampa. Nampa (ˈnæmpə is the largest city in Canyon County, Idaho, United

Private institutions in Idaho are Brigham Young University-Idaho in Rexburg, which is affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; The College of Idaho in Caldwell, which still maintains a loose affiliation with the Presbyterian Church; Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa; and New Saint Andrews College in Moscow, of reformed Christian theological background. Brigham Young University–Idaho (also known as BYU–Idaho or BYU–I) is a four-year private College owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Rexburg is a city in Madison County, Idaho, in the United States. The College of Idaho is a Liberal arts college with an enrollment of 930 students located in Caldwell Idaho. Caldwell is a city in and the County seat of Canyon County, Idaho, United States. Northwest Nazarene University (NNU is a Christian Liberal arts college in Nampa, Idaho. For other things named "Nampa" see Nampa. Nampa (ˈnæmpə is the largest city in Canyon County, Idaho, United New Saint Andrews College is a classical Christian college located in Moscow Idaho. Moscow (ˈmɒskoʊ is the County seat of Latah County in northern Idaho, along the Washington

Sports

Boise is the host to the largest 5 K run for women, the St. Boise State University is a Public university located near downtown Boise, the Capital city of the U Brigham Young University–Idaho (also known as BYU–Idaho or BYU–I) is a four-year private College owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day The College of Idaho is a Liberal arts college with an enrollment of 930 students located in Caldwell Idaho. College of Southern Idaho (CSI is an American public Community college. Idaho State University (ISU is a public University operated by the U Lewis-Clark State College is a public Undergraduate College located in Lewiston Idaho. New Saint Andrews College is a classical Christian college located in Moscow Idaho. North Idaho College (NIC is a comprehensive Community college with over 4000 students located in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, at the north end of Lake Northwest Nazarene University (NNU is a Christian Liberal arts college in Nampa, Idaho. The University of Idaho is Idaho 's oldest public university located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County. The Boise Hawks are a Short-Season A classification Minor league baseball team located in Boise, Idaho. Baseball is a Bat-and-ball Sport played between two teams of nine players each Part of the History of baseball series Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of Professional baseball leagues in North The Idaho Falls Chukars are a Minor league baseball affiliate of the Kansas City The Idaho Stampede are an American Basketball team that play in the NBA Development League. Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m The NBA Development League, or D-League, is the National Basketball Association 's officially sponsored and operated developmental Basketball organization The Boise Burn is an Arena football team based in Boise, Idaho. This article is about the sport of Arena Football See Arena Football (video game for the EA Sports Video game of the same name af2 (short for arenafootball2) is the name of the Arena Football League 's Minor league, which started play in 2000. The Idaho Steelheads are a minor league Ice hockey team in Boise, Idaho. Ice hockey, often referred to simply as hockey, is a team Sport played on Ice. The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a Professional Ice hockey league based in Princeton New Jersey, with teams scattered Luke's Women's Fitness Celebration.

Official State Emblems

• State Bird: Mountain Bluebird
• State Dance: Square Dance
• State Fish: Cutthroat Trout
• State Flower: Syringa (Philadelphus lewisii)
• State Fossil: Hagerman Horse (Equus simplicidens)
• State Fruit: Huckleberry
• State Gem: Idaho star garnet
• State Horse: Appaloosa
• State Motto: "Esto perpetua"^[10]
• State Insect: Monarch butterfly
• State Raptor: Peregrine falcon
• State Song: Here We Have Idaho
• State Tree: Western White Pine
• State Soil: Threebear (soil)

Notable Idahoans

Main article: List of people from Idaho

See also

• List of Idaho-related topics

References

External links

• State of Idaho government website
• Idaho State Databases - Annotated list of searchable databases produced by Idaho state agencies and compiled by the Government Documents Roundtable of the American Library Association.
• Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation
• Visit Idaho site
• USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of Idaho
• U.S. Census Bureau
• Idaho Newspapers
• Idaho State Facts
• The History of Idaho
• Log Cabins in America:The Finnish Experience, a National Park Service Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) lesson plan