Capital: Boise
Population: 1,293,953
Governor: C. L. "Butch" Otter (R, to January 2011)
Entered the Union: July 3, 1890
as the 43rd state
Motto: Esto perpetua (It is forever)
Nicknames: Gem State, Spud state
Flower: Syringa
Bird: Mountain Bluebird
Song: Here We Have Idaho
Sports Teams: None
Origin of Name: Unknown
Major Industries: silver mining, potatoes, tourism
Historical Sites: Nez Perce National Historic Park, State Historical Museum in Boise, Cataldo Mission, Coeur d'Alene District Mining Museum, Silver City ghost town, Old Fort Hall
Points of Interest: Craters of the Moon National Park, Crystal Ice Cave, Lava Hot Springs, Peregrine Fund World Center for Birds of Prey, Sun Valley ski resort
Bordering States: Idaho borders Montana, Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah
Source: State of Idaho
Population, 2006 estimate: 1,466,465
Population, percent change, April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006: 13.3%
Population, 2000: 1,293,953
Persons under 5 years old, percent, 2006: 7.7%
Persons under 18 years old, percent, 2006: 26.9%
Persons 65 years old and over, percent, 2006: 11.5%
Female persons, percent, 2006: 49.6%
White persons, percent, 2006 (a): 95.2%
Black persons, percent, 2006 (a): 0.7%
American Indian and Alaska Native persons, percent, 2006 (a): 1.4%
Asian persons, percent, 2006 (a): 1.1%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, percent, 2006 (a): 0.1%
Persons reporting two or more races, percent, 2006: 1.5%
Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin, percent, 2006 (b): 9.5%
White persons not Hispanic, percent, 2006: 86.3%
Living in same house in 1995 and 2000, pct 5 yrs old & over: 49.6%
Foreign born persons, percent, 2000: 5.0%
Language other than English spoken at home, pct age 5+, 2000: 9.3%
High school graduates, percent of persons age 25+, 2000: 84.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher, pct of persons age 25+, 2000: 21.7%
Persons with a disability, age 5+, 2000: 200,498
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16+, 2000: 20.0
Housing units, 2006: 615,624
Homeownership rate, 2000: 72.4%
Housing units in multi-unit structures, percent, 2000: 14.4%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2000: $106,300
Households, 2000: 469,645
Persons per household, 2000: 2.69
Median household income, 2004: $40,509
Per capita money income, 1999: $17,841
Persons below poverty, percent, 2004: 11.5%
Source: U.S.Census Bureau
(a) Includes persons reporting only one race.
(b) Hispanics may be of any race, so also are included in applicable race categories.
Total Gross Domestic Product by State: 45,891
Private industries: 39,542
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting: 2,233
Crop and animal production (Farms): 1,791
Forestry, fishing, and related activities: 442
Mining: 189
Oil and gas extraction: 3
Mining, except oil and gas: 154
Support activities for mining: 31
Utilities: 832
Construction: 2,891
Manufacturing: 6,450
Durable goods: 4,974
Wood product manufacturing: 581
Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing: 114
Primary metal manufacturing: 29
Fabricated metal product manufacturing: 253
Machinery manufacturing: 146
Computer and electronic product manufacturing: 3,355
Electrical equipment and appliance manufacturing: 28
Motor vehicle, body, trailer, and parts manufacturing: 96
Other transportation equipment manufacturing: 85
Furniture and related product manufacturing: 108
Miscellaneous manufacturing: 180
Nondurable goods: 1,476
Food product manufacturing: 836
Textile and textile product mills: 12
Apparel manufacturing: 9
Paper manufacturing: 118
Printing and related support activities: 93
Petroleum and coal products manufacturing: 3
Chemical manufacturing: 297
Plastics and rubber products manufacturing: 108
Wholesale trade: 2,542
Retail trade: 3,908
Transportation and warehousing, excluding Postal Service: 1,292
Air transportation: 59
Rail transportation: 257
Water transportation: 1
Truck transportation: 644
Transit and ground passenger transportation: 43
Pipeline transportation: 14
Other transportation and support activities: 216
Warehousing and storage: 59
Information: 1,094
Publishing including software: 284
Motion picture and sound recording industries: 30
Broadcasting and telecommunications: 731
Information and data processing services: 49
Finance and insurance: 2,034
Federal Reserve banks, credit intermediation and related services: 1,170
Securities, commodity contracts, investments: 139
Insurance carriers and related activities: 714
Funds, trusts, and other financial vehicles: 12
Real estate and rental and leasing: 5,142
Real estate: 4,891
Rental and leasing services and lessors of intangible assets: 251
Professional and technical services: 3,178
Legal services: 332
Computer systems design and related services: 239
Other professional, scientific and technical services: 2,607
Management of companies and enterprises: 679
Administrative and waste services: 1,320
Administrative and support services: 1,221
Waste management and remediation services: 99
Educational services: 279
Health care and social assistance: 3,083
Ambulatory health care services: 1,814
Hospitals and nursing and residential care facilities: 961
Social assistance: 308
Arts, entertainment, and recreation: 374
Performing arts, museums, and related activities: 148
Amusement, gambling, and recreation: 226
Accommodation and food services: 1,139
Accommodation: 310
Food services and drinking places: 829
Other services, except government: 883
Government: 6,349
Federal civilian: 1,063
Federal military: 609
State and local: 4,677
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
Longitude: 111° W to 117° W
Latitude: 42° N to 49° N
Length / Width: Idaho is 479 miles long and 305 miles wide.
Geographic Center: The geographic center of Idaho is located in Custer County, on the Yankee Fork River, southwest of Challis.
Borders: In the north, Idaho shares an international border with Canada. In the south, Idaho borders Nevada and Utah. Idaho is bordered by Montana and Wyoming on the east and by Washington and Oregon on the west.
Total Area: Idaho covers 83,574 square miles, making it the 14th largest of the 50 states.
Land Area: 82,751 square miles of Idaho are land areas.
Water Area: 823 square miles of Idaho are covered by water.
Highest Point: The highest point in Idaho is Borah Peak at 12,662 feet above sea level.
Lowest Point: The lowest point in Idaho is only 710 feet above sea level; the Snake River in the northwestern part of the state near Lewiston.
Mean Elevation: The Mean Elevation of the state of Idaho is 5,000 feet above sea level.
Major Rivers: Coeur d'Alene River, Snake River, St. Joe River, St. Maries River, Kootenai River
Major Lakes: Lake Pend Oreille, American Falls Reservoir, Bear Lake, Coeur d'Alene Lake
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Interactive
Campaign 2008A glimpse at presidential hopefuls and a fund-raising overview as the campaign gears up.
Interactive
America On GuardThe Homeland Security Department, the terror alert system, preparedness quiz and more.
More In-depth
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
