Idaho History Facts

Capital: Boise

State abbreviation/Postal code: Idaho/ID

Governor: C. L. Butch Otter, R (to Jan. 2015)

Lieut. Governor: Brad Little, R (to Jan. 2015)

Senators: Mike Crapo, R (to Jan. 2017); Jim Risch, R (to Jan. 2015)

U.S. Representatives: 2

Historical biographies of Congressional members

Secy. of State: Ben Ysursa, R (to Jan. 2015)

Atty. General: Lawrence Wasden, R (to Jan. 2015)

Treasurer: Ron G. Crane, R (to Jan. 2015)

Organized as territory: March 3, 1863

Entered Union (rank): July 3, 1890 (43)

Present constitution adopted: 1890

Motto: Esto perpetua (It is forever)

State symbols: flower syringa (1931)
tree white pine (1935)
bird mountain bluebird (1931)
horse Appaloosa (1975)
gem star garnet (1967)
song “Here We Have Idaho”
folk dance square dance
fish cutthroat trout (1990)
fossil Hagerman horse fossil (1988)


Nickname: Gem State

Origin of name: An invented name whose meaning is unknown.

10 largest cities (2005 est.): Boise, 193,161; Nampa, 71,713; Pocatello, 53,372; Idaho Falls, 52,338; Meridian, 52,240; Coeur d'Alene, 40,059; Twin Falls, 38,630; Caldwell, 34,433; Lewiston, 31,081; Rexburg, 26,265

Land area: 82,747 sq mi. (214,315 sq km)

Geographic center: In Custer Co., at Custer, SW of Challis

Number of counties: 44, plus small part of Yellowstone National Park

Largest county by population and area: Ada, 344,727 (2005); Idaho, 8,485 sq mi.

State forests: 881,000 ac.

State parks: 30 (43,000+ ac.)

Residents: Idahoan

2005 resident population est.: 1,429,096

2000 resident census population (rank): 1,293,953 (39). Male: 648,660 (50.1%); Female: 645,293 (49.9%). White: 1,177,304 (91.0%); Black: 5,456 (0.4%); American Indian: 17,645 (1.4%); Asian: 11,889 (0.9%); Other race: 54,742 (4.2%); Two or more races: 25,609 (2.0%); Hispanic/Latino: 101,690 (7.9%). 2000 percent population 18 and over: 71.5; 65 and over: 11.3; median age: 33.2.


Tags:  boise abbreviation governor biographies historical congressional members constitution