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Idaho

Coordinates: 44°21′03″N 114°36′47″W / 44.3509°N 114.6130°W / 44.3509; -114.6130 (State of Idaho)
From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Idaho
State of Idaho
Nickname
Gem State
Motto
Esto perpetua (Latin for "Let it be perpetual")
Anthem: "Here We Have Idaho"
Map of the United States with Idaho highlighted
Map of the United States with Idaho highlighted
CountryUnited States
Before statehoodOregon Territory, Washington Territory, Idaho Territory
Admitted to the UnionJuly 3, 1890 (43rd)
Capital
(and largest city)
Boise
Largest metro and urban areasBoise
Government
 • GovernorBrad Little (R)
 • Lieutenant GovernorScott Bedke (R)
LegislatureLegislature
 • Upper houseSenate
 • Lower houseHouse of Representatives
JudiciaryIdaho Supreme Court
U.S. senatorsMike Crapo (R)
Jim Risch (R)
U.S. House delegation1. Russ Fulcher (R)
2. Mike Simpson (R) (list)
Area
 • Total83,557[1] sq mi (216,443 km2)
 • Water926 sq mi (2,398 km2)  .99%
 • Rank14th
Dimensions
 • Length479 mi (771 km)
 • Width305 mi (491 km)
Elevation
5,000 ft (1,520 m)
Highest elevation
(Mt. Borah[1])
12,662[1] ft (3,859 m)
Lowest elevation
(Lewiston, ID[1])
738[1] ft (217 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total1,839,106
 • Rank38th
 • Density21.6/sq mi (8.33/km2)
  • Rank44th
 • Median household income
$52,225[2]
 • Income rank
41st
DemonymIdahoan
Language
 • Official languageEnglish[3]
Time zones
primaryUTC−07:00 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−06:00 (MDT)
Idaho PanhandleUTC−08:00 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−07:00 (PDT)
USPS abbreviation
ID
ISO 3166 codeUS-ID
Latitude42° N to 49° N
Longitude111°03′ W to 117°15′ W
Websitewww.idaho.gov
Idaho state symbols
Living insignia
AmphibianTiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum)
Bird
FishCutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii)
FlowerSyringa (Philadelphus lewisii)
Horse breedAppaloosa
InsectMonarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
TreeWestern white pine (Pinus monticola)
Inanimate insignia
DanceSquare dance
Food
FossilHagerman horse (Equus simplicidens)
GemstoneStar garnet
SoilThreebear
State route marker
Idaho state route marker
Lists of United States state symbols

Idaho is a state in the northwestern United States, and was the 43rd state to join the union.[4]

Idaho became a state in 1890, and it is the 11th largest state in land area, and the 14th largest in total area (land and water). Despite this, the population of Idaho was only 1,839,106 in 2020, making it ranked the 38th largest state by population.

Idaho is bordered by Washington and Oregon on the west, Montana and Wyoming on the east, Utah and Nevada on the south and the country of Canada (British Columbia) on the north side. Idaho is known for its vast mountainous landscapes, and it is literally covered from north to south by the Rocky Mountains.[5] Idaho is also home to the massive Snake River, which comes from the Grand Tetons in Wyoming and eventually flows to meld with the Columbia River in Washington state.[5] This river dissects Hell's Canyon, the deepest gorge in America,[6] which lies the state's Oregon border, and flows through south central Idaho. This river provides a fertile plain which is the base for most of the state's agricultural industries,[5] and the production of the potatoes for which Idaho is known. Idaho's state nickname is the "Gem State", despite also being known as the "Spud State", because of a man named George M. Willing who claimed it was derived from a Shoshone term.

Idaho's most prominent universities are Boise State University in its capital, Idaho State University in Pocatello, and the University of Idaho in Moscow.

Idaho's state motto is Esto perpetua, which is Latin for "Let it be forever".

Cities and towns

[change | change source]

Population > 100,000 (city area)

Population > 50,000 (city area)

Population > 30,000 (city area)

Population > 10,000 (city area)

Smaller Towns and Cities

History of Idaho

[change | change source]

Idaho was formerly Idaho Territory, until July 27, 1890, when it became the 43rd state. In the 1930s, Idaho suffered a lot economically as a result of the Great Depression. Prices plummeted for Idaho's major crops: in 1932, a bushel of potatoes was worth only ten cents compared to $1.51 in 1919, while Idaho farmers´ annual income of $686 in 1929 fell to just $250 by 1932.[7]

Politics

[change | change source]

Today, Idaho is a very conservative state. In the 2016 election, just two counties in Idaho supported Hillary Clinton. Idaho as a whole last voted Democratic in 1964, and that by a narrow margin of less than 2 percent. Both of Idaho's senators (Jim Risch and Mike Crapo) are Republican.

[change | change source]

References

[change | change source]
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Facts & Symbols". The Official Website of the State of Idaho. State of Idaho. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  2. "Median Annual Household Income". The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  3. "Idaho Statutes (73-121)". State of Idaho. 2017. Archived from the original on December 8, 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  4. "Idaho becomes 43rd state—Jul 03, 1890—HISTORY.com". HISTORY.com. Archived from the original on June 23, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Geography of Idaho - World Atlas". worldatlas.com. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  6. "Hells Canyon Overview". December 6, 2010. Archived from the original on December 6, 2010. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  7. Doyle, Randall (2004). A political dynasty in North Idaho, 1933-1967. University Press. p. 7.

44°21′03″N 114°36′47″W / 44.3509°N 114.6130°W / 44.3509; -114.6130 (State of Idaho)