Idaho
Gem State · Capital: Boise · West (Mountain)
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Bordering states: Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Montana.
About Idaho
Idaho is a Rocky Mountain state bordered by six states and, for about 45 miles at the tip of its narrow panhandle, by British Columbia. The land climbs from 710 feet at Lewiston to 12,668 feet on Borah Peak. The Snake River arcs across the southern plain, then turns north through Hells Canyon, which drops 7,993 feet below He Devil Peak, the deepest river gorge in North America. The Salmon River runs 425 miles without a dam. The panhandle catches Pacific moisture and grows cedar and hemlock, while the southern plain lies in a rain shadow and depends on irrigation.
The Nez Perce held the Clearwater and Salmon country, with the Coeur d'Alene to the north and the Shoshone and Bannock on the Snake River Plain. In September 1805 the Nez Perce fed the starving Lewis and Clark expedition on the Weippe Prairie. The Oregon Treaty of 1846 made the region American, and gold found on Orofino Creek in 1860 set off a mining boom. Idaho Territory was created in March 1863, two months after California Volunteers killed between 250 and 400 Shoshone at the Bear River. The Nez Perce War began at White Bird Canyon in 1877, and Idaho became the 43rd state on 3 July 1890.
The 2020 census counted 1,839,106 residents, up 17.3 percent from 2010, though the state still ranks 44th in density. Idaho grows roughly a third of the national potato crop, J.R. Simplot commercialised the frozen french fry in 1953, and milk regularly outranks potatoes in farm receipts. The desert west of Idaho Falls has hosted reactor research since 1949, and in 1955 Arco became the first town lit by nuclear power. Micron Technology, started in Boise in 1978, grew into the largest company based in the state. Sacagawea was born among the Lemhi Shoshone around 1788, and Philo Farnsworth conceived electronic television as a teenager near Rigby.
4 fun facts about Idaho
- Idaho grows about a third of all US potatoes, more than any other state.
- Idaho has more miles of whitewater rapids than any other state in the lower 48.
- Hells Canyon, on the Idaho-Oregon border, is deeper than the Grand Canyon (7,993 ft vs 6,093 ft).
- The name "Idaho" was made up by lobbyist George M. Willing, who claimed it meant "gem of the mountains" in Shoshone. It doesn't mean anything in any Native language.
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Frequently asked questions about Idaho
Is Idaho a US state?
Yes, Idaho is one of the 50 US states. It was admitted to the Union in 1890, making it the 43rd state. Its capital is Boise and its largest city is Boise.
What is the capital of Idaho?
The capital of Idaho is Boise.
When did Idaho become a state?
Idaho became a US state in 1890. It is the 43rd state admitted to the Union.
What is the abbreviation for Idaho?
The 2-letter USPS abbreviation for Idaho is ID.
How big is Idaho?
Idaho ranks #14 of 50 US states by area. With 22.3 residents per square mile in 2020, it was the 44th most densely populated state.
What is the population of Idaho?
Idaho had 1,839,106 residents at the 2020 census, the 38th largest population of the 50 states, up 17.3% since 2010. That count gives it 2 seats in the US House of Representatives.
What region is Idaho in?
Idaho is in the West region of the United States, per the US Census Bureau.
What time zone is Idaho in?
Idaho observes Mountain Time (the state spans multiple time zones).
Learn more
How to learn the 50 states (full guide)
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