4 IDAHO Water covers an area of more than 800 square miles in Idaho The capital of Idaho is Boise which is located in the southwestern part of the state The state song is Here We Have Idaho One of the largest diamonds ever found in the United States was discovered in Idaho near McCall The diamond weighed nearly 20 carats INTRODUCTION Located in the northwestern part of the United States Idaho is known for its natural beauty It is a mountainous state with magnificent forests countless rivers and streams and range after range of breathtaking peaks Areas of open wilderness such as meadows filled with wildflowers add variety to the landscape Idaho is nicknamed the Gem State More than 72 types of precious and semiprecious stones are found in the state’s mountains valleys and plains These gemstones along with valuable metals such as silver gold and lead are mined in Idaho Gemstones are not the only things that shine in Idaho Sparkling lakes gleaming waterfalls stunning landscapes booming industries and lively people help to make Idaho a true gem of a state Idaho shares its borders with seven neighbors Montana and Wyoming form Idaho’s eastern boundary while Oregon and Washington form its western boundary Utah and Nevada lie to the south and Canada is to the north Redfish Lake has clear mountain waters This glacial lake is five miles long and one mile wide
INTRODUCTION 5 A number of interstate highways run through Idaho Interstate 15 and U S 91 U S 93 and U S 95 run from north to south and Interstates 84 86 and 90 and U S 12 U S 20 U S 26 and U S 30 run east-west All major cities in the state have commercial airports The busiest airport in Idaho is the Boise Air Terminal Two transcontinental railroads serve the state Ships from the Pacific Ocean reach Idaho at the port of Lewiston on the border with Washington by traveling up the Snake and Columbia rivers Capital Boise Interstate highways Scale 0 0 40 65 80 Mi 130 Km Population 1,293,953 Size 83,574 square miles Highest peak Borah Peak 12,662 feet Idaho has thousands of miles of roads designated as scenic byways which are popular among vacationers Idaho Location Map Idaho is the 13th largest state covering an area of 83,574 square miles In the 2000 census Idaho ranked as the 39th state in population The square dance is Idaho’s official state folk dance Idaho is the only state whose state seal was designed by a woman Emma Edwards Green The painting on the seal highlights the industries of mining agriculture and forestry which are valuable to the state The seal’s Latin motto is Esto Perpetua which means It Is Forever or Let It Be Perpetual
6 IDAHO Idaho is a made-up name It is believed that the politician George M Willing invented the word In 1860 Willing told the U S Congress that Idaho was a Native American word meaning Gem of the Mountains Willing who had an interest in mining wanted to give the name Idaho to the Colorado region but Congress rejected the name when it learned that Idaho was not a Native American term after all Meanwhile the word had caught on in the north and the mines at the Clearwater and Salmon rivers in what is now central Idaho became known as the Idaho Mines Because of the popularity of the name Congress was forced to reconsider its earlier decision In 1863 the vast region including all of what is now Idaho Montana and Wyoming was named the Idaho Territory Because of the vast distances between the mining communities the Idaho Territory was thought to be too large to be easily governed Therefore it was split up In 1868 both Montana and Wyoming became their own territories giving Idaho its present borders The Nez Percé people who are native to Idaho are renowned breeders of the spotted horse known as the Appaloosa Idaho’s state horse is the Appaloosa The syringa is Idaho’s official state flower It is a wildflower that grows in clusters of white blossoms The Idaho star garnet is the state gemstone It is a rare gem that is thought to be found only in Idaho and the country of India Idaho’s most important rivers include the Snake the Salmon the Clearwater the Payette and the Boise Nestled in the Bald and Dollar mountains of Idaho the Sun Valley Resort is a popular destination for winter skiers
INTRODUCTION 7 In 1864 both the Northern Pacific and the Union Pacific railroads laid track in the area This made it easier for new settlers to travel to the region The railroads also began to ship out Idaho’s minerals lumber and farm products Soon large communities sprang up In 1890 Idaho became a state By that time its population had risen to about 90,000 people Thanks to mining forestry and farming the economy of the new state was thriving already Today Idaho is well known for its potatoes Vast potato fields spread across the southeastern part of the state Idaho produces more potatoes than any other state in the country Idaho potatoes account for almost one third of the national potato production and can be found on dinner tables all over the world Potatoes generally contribute more than 2 5 billion to the state’s economy each year The Thunder Mountain Railroad Line which served the mining and lumber industries in the early 1900s is now operated primarily for leisure travel Other nicknames for Idaho include the Potato State and the Spud State The mountain bluebird is Idaho’s state bird It can usually be found nesting in rock crevices or inside holes in trees The monarch butterfly was named the state insect in 1992 A monarch can migrate many miles in its short lifetime
