- Idaho's state seal, based on an 1866 design for the territorial seal. A female figure, combining …
Most of Idaho lies in the highlands of the Rocky Mountains, and the state is nicknamed the Gem of the Mountains. Idaho is known for its natural beauty. In addition to towering mountains it features evergreen forests, high waterfalls, steep canyons, and rich agricultural land. It is unclear how the state of Idaho got its name. Some sources claim that a U.S. congressman chosen to find a Native American word for the territory simply made something up. Others claim that the name comes from the Shoshone Indian saying E-da-how (meaning “it is sunup”). GeographyThe land and water of Idaho cover 83,564 square miles (216,430 square kilometers) in the northwestern United States. Idaho is bordered by six other states. Montana and Wyoming lie to the east, Utah and Nevada to the south, and Oregon and Washington to the west. Canada lies to the north. Idaho can be divided into four natural regions. The Northern Rocky Mountains cover most of the northern half of the state. The Middle Rocky Mountains run along the state's southeastern border. The Columbia Plateau covers the area around the Snake River. The Great Basin is a triangle-shaped region in the south between the Middle Rockies and the Columbia Plateau. - The Salmon River flows through Boise National Forest in Idaho.
At 12,662 feet (3,859 meters), Borah Peak in the Northern Rocky Mountains is the state's highest point. The Salmon and Clearwater rivers are two of the longest rivers in the United States to lie entirely within one state. Pend Oreille is the state's largest lake. Plants and animalsThe mountains of Idaho contain forests of evergreens. Aspen, maple, willow, birch, and mountain ash often carpet the lower slopes of higher mountains, especially in the north. Idaho is home to many different animals. It is one of the few states in which grizzly bears and timber wolves roam free (though in very small numbers). Vast wilderness areas and forested lands are also home to elk, Rocky Mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and grouse (a type of bird). Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge in the southeastern corner of the state is trying to save the endangered whooping crane. Idaho also is known for its fish. People and cultureThe earliest people known to live in Idaho were the Nez Percé Indians in the north and the Shoshone and Bannock in the south. After wars with white settlers, most of these Native Americans were forced to move to reservations. The state was settled largely by European Americans who traveled from the eastern United States. Idaho has attracted few immigrants and minority groups. At the end of the 20th century, residents from other states, especially California, moved to Idaho looking for jobs. CitiesAlthough Idaho is a relatively large state in land area, it has a population of only 1,293,953, according to the 2000 census. The largest city is Boise, which is also the capital. Boise serves as a trade and agricultural center in the southwestern part of the state. The city of Pocatello is the railroad and trade hub of the southeastern corner of the state. Idaho Falls, on the upper Snake River, is noted for its agricultural products. Lewiston, in northern Idaho, is a major manufacturer of lumber and wood products. Twin Falls is the distribution center for a fertile farming area in the Snake River Plain. RecreationBig game hunting and fishing are popular sports in the rugged, wild areas of the state. There are about 20 skiing areas, of which Sun Valley is the best known. The state's natural wonders are major attractions. Yellowstone National Park is situated partly in eastern Idaho. EconomyAgriculturePotatoes are the state's chief crop. Wheat, barley, sugar beets, peas, beans, hops, mint, onions, alfalfa hay, apples, plums, cherries, and other fruit are also sources of income. Cattle and sheep ranches were introduced in Idaho in the 19th century, and large herds still graze in the prairie regions and among the plateaus. MiningIdaho has long been the nation's leading silver producer, but many of the silver mines have shut down since the world price of that metal dropped. Valuable sites are still mined for lead, zinc, and phosphate. Stone and gravel also are mined. ManufacturingMost of the manufacturing in Idaho is done by small plants scattered among the 12 cities that have a population of more than 16,000. A huge quantity of lumber is cut from commercial timberlands each year. After the manufacture of timber and wood products, the second leading industry is food processing. Some of the products turned out include meat, butter, canned and frozen fruits and vegetables, flour and meal, and bakery goods. Among the other industries are chemicals, printing and publishing, glass products, fabricated metal products, computers, and transportation equipment. HistoryBefore the arrival of European settlers in the 19th century, Native Americans had lived in the area that is now Idaho for at least 10,000 years. The famous explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark came to the region in 1805. For much of the early 1800s, fur trappers were the main visitors. In the 1830s, a fur-trading company known as the Hudson's Bay Company built forts in Idaho that became stopover points on the Oregon Trail (a famous wagon route to the northwestern United States). The discovery of gold on Orofino Creek in Clearwater County in 1860 started a gold rush. The population increased sharply because of it. The U.S. Congress established the Territory of Idaho in 1863. At the time, the territory was larger than Texas. Later, the states of Montana and Wyoming were separated from it, leaving Idaho with its present borders. Idaho was admitted to the Union in 1890 as the 43rd state. Federal troops were called in during the new state's early years to help break up a series of mining strikes. Southern Idaho faced problems between Mormons and other religious groups. During the 20th century, Idaho developed its agriculture, forestry, and industry. One of the issues of greatest concern to the state was how to develop its economy while maintaining the quality of its magnificent outdoors. Population (2000 census), 1,293,953. |