Quick Facts: Idaho

Idaho is a state in the northwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon and Washington to the west, Montana and Canada to the north, Montana and Wyoming to the east, with Utah and Nevada to the south.

ABBREVIATION: ID
NICKNAME: The Gem State
POPULATION: 2,001,619 (2024 est.)
CAPITAL: Boise
STATE BIRD: Mountain Bluebird
STATE FLOWER: Syringa
AREA: 83,570 sq. mi.
TIME ZONE: – North of Salmon River: Pacific – Remainder: Mountain
ENTERED UNION: July 3, 1890
ALTITUDE: High, 12,662 ft. Borah Peak
CLIMATE: Cold winters, fairly cool summers. Light rainfall; heavy winter snows in the mountains.

It was the buffalo-hunting Shoshone of the Great Plains who gave the name, which means, “behold the sun coming down the mountain”. Nineteenth Century legislators created its panhandle conformation. In the north the “handle” reaches to the Canadian border. Folded, indented and crumbled as by the squeeze of a giant hand, it includes such mountain groups as the Coeur d’Alene, Clearwater, Salmon River and Sawtooth, and is edged on the east by the towering Bitterroot Range. To the south is attached the pan itself, the broad basin of the Snake River.

In neither area, north or south, is nature kind to man and his endeavors. Dry and sunny, the Snake River Plain on which most Idahoans are concentrated, is a productive farming area-but mainly because of the technology of irrigation. Here the land yields a variety of special crops such as dry beans, alfalfa and sugar beets. Best known of all the state’s products are Idaho potatoes, famous for their size, taste and baking qualities. The annual crop is valued at more than $500 million.

The mountain region was, for a long time, almost isolated from the Snake River Plain for lack of north-south highways and railroads (the transcontinental lines constructed in the 1880’s run east-west). In this ruggedly beautiful area lies Sun Valley, to which skiers flock each winter. On the Oregon border is the spectacular gorge of Hell’s Canyon, at 7,993 feet the deepest in North America (although mountain He Devil – being the reference for the canyon’s depth – is more than five miles away and not perceivable from the river).

Shoshone Falls, Idaho

Mining is important to Idaho. Large amounts of lead, zinc, silver and other minerals are taken from the land each year. The state’s hydroelectric power facilities and isolated areas have been useful, too, to the Atomic Energy Commission. Idaho once contained more experimental nuclear reactors than any other state. Experimental Breeder Reactor I (EBR-I) is now a U.S. National Historic Landmark, it was decommissioned in 1964.

Fun Facts:

Arco was the first city in the world to be lighted with electricity generated by nuclear power.
To prepare for missions to the moon, NASA’s Apollo astronauts spent time learning about volcanic rocks at Craters of the Moon National Monument.
The Big Wood River, sometimes known as the Upside Down river, has the curious feature of changing from 100 feet wide by 4 feet deep to 4 feet wide by 100 feet deep a short distance away.
Five of history’s pioneer trails, including the Oregon Trail and the California Trail, cross Southern Idaho. Wagon ruts are still visible all along the rugged terrain.
Crystal Ice Cave is a remarkable underground chamber containing a frozen river, waterfall, and other formations all preserved at a consistent 32 degrees Fahrenheit even when the outside temperature is 95-97 degrees.
Silver Valley in northern Idaho is one of the top 10 mining districts in the world. The area has produced more than $4 billion in precious metal since 1884.

History:

The history of Idaho is a story shaped by rugged landscapes, Native cultures, westward expansion, and the evolution from frontier territory to modern statehood. Located in the northwestern United States, Idaho’s history reflects the broader themes of American settlement, resource development, and cultural diversity.

Long before European contact, Idaho was home to several Native American tribes, including the Nez Perce, Shoshone, Bannock, and Coeur d’Alene. These tribes adapted to the region’s mountains, plains, and rivers, relying on hunting, fishing, and seasonal migrations.

The Nez Perce in particular became known for their horse culture and complex trade networks. Indigenous people lived in the area for thousands of years, leaving behind rich traditions and deep connections to the land.

The first known European exploration of Idaho occurred in 1805 when the Lewis and Clark Expedition passed through the region on their way to the Pacific Ocean. The explorers were guided in part by the Lemhi Shoshone woman Sacagawea, whose knowledge of the terrain was invaluable.

Following their expedition, fur trappers and traders entered the area in increasing numbers, drawn by the abundant beaver and other game.

During the 1830s and 1840s, missionaries established outposts, and emigrants traveled through Idaho along the Oregon Trail. Fort Boise and Fort Hall became important waystations for pioneers heading west. While many settlers passed through, few remained initially, due to the area’s remote and rugged terrain.

Idaho’s first major population boom came during the gold rush era of the 1860s. Gold was discovered in the Clearwater and Salmon River regions, drawing thousands of miners. Boomtowns sprang up overnight, and the influx of people led the U.S. government to establish the Idaho Territory in 1863. The territory originally included parts of present-day Montana and Wyoming.

As mining expanded, conflicts with Native Americans increased, especially with the Nez Perce, who resisted forced relocation. The Nez Perce War of 1877, led by Chief Joseph, was a tragic chapter in Idaho’s history, ending with the defeat and removal of the Nez Perce from their ancestral lands.

By the late 19th century, Idaho’s economy began to diversify. Irrigation projects and railroads opened up the Snake River Plain to agriculture, especially potatoes, which would become Idaho’s most famous crop. Logging and mining also remained important industries. Idaho gained statehood on July 3, 1890, becoming the 43rd state in the Union.

In the 20th century, Idaho continued to develop. The New Deal era brought infrastructure and conservation projects, while World War II created economic opportunities. However, the war also brought injustices, including the internment of Japanese Americans at the Minidoka War Relocation Center.

Today, Idaho is known for its natural beauty, from mountain ranges and lakes to vast forests and river canyons. Its economy is a blend of agriculture, technology, and outdoor recreation. While deeply rooted in its frontier heritage, Idaho continues to evolve—balancing growth with its traditions, and honoring the complex history of its land and people.