This page will contain additional articles about Idaho, as they become available.

Idaho

State nickname: Gem State
Other U.S. States
Capital Boise
Largest city Boise
Governor Dirk Kempthorne
Official languages none
Area 216,632 km² (14th)
 - Land 214,499 km²
 - Water 2,133 km² (0.98%)
Population (2000)
 - Population 1,293,953 (39th)
 - Density 6.04 /km² (44th)
Admission into Union
 - Date July 3, 1890
 - Order 43rd
Time zone Pacific: UTC-8/-7 (northern)
Mountain: UTC-7/-6 (southern)
Latitude 42° N to 49° N
Longitude 111° W to 117° W
Width 491 km
Length 771 km
Elevation
 - Highest 3,859 m
 - Mean 1,524 m
 - Lowest 216 m
Abbreviations
 - USPS ID
 - ISO 3166-2 US-ID
Web site www.idaho.gov

Idaho is a state located in the northwestern United States. Its capital is Boise and the U.S. postal abbreviation is ID.

The USS Idaho was named in honor of this state.

Name

Idaho is perhaps the only state to be named as the result of a hoax. When a name was being selected for new territory, eccentric lobbyist George M. Willing suggested "Idaho," an Indian term he claimed meant "gem of the mountains." It was later revealed Willing had made up the name himself, and the original Idaho territory was re-named Colorado because of it. Eventually the controversy was forgotten, and modern-day Idaho was given the made-up name when the Idaho Territory was formally created in 1863.

History

The Lewis and Clark expedition entered present-day Idaho on August 12, 1805, at the Lemhi Pass. At that time, approximately 8,000 Native Americans lived in the region.

Idaho was subsequently part of Oregon Territory and later Washington Territory, fur trading and missionary work attracting the first settlers to the region. While thousands passed through Idaho during the California gold rush of 1849, few people settled there. The first organized town in Idaho was Franklin, settled in 1860 by Mormon pioneers. When organized as a territory in 1863, Idaho's total population was under 17,000.

On March 4, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed an act creating Idaho Territory. The political stability of the territorial period encouraged settlement. Almost immediately, a public school system was created, stage coach lines were established and a newspaper, the Idaho Statesman, began publication. In 1865, Boise replaced Lewiston as capital. The 1861 discovery of gold in Idaho and the completion of the transcontinental railway in 1869 brought many new people to the territory, including Chinese laborers who came to work the mines. When President Benjamin Harrison signed the law admitting Idaho as a U.S. state on July 3, 1890, the population was 88,548. An interesting fact is that Idaho almost never became a state - in 1887, President Grover Cleveland refused to sign a bill that would have combined southern Idaho with Nevada and northern Idaho with the Washington Territory. Sectionalism in early Idaho was abated by moving the University of Idaho from its planned location in Eagle Rock (near Idaho Falls) to Moscow in northern Idaho. Idaho still operates under its original (1889) state constitution.

As Idaho approached statehood, mining and other extractive industries became increasingly important to her economy. By the 1890s, for example, Idaho exported more lead than any other state. Although Idaho's dependence on mining has decreased, the state remains a top producer of silver and lead. Today, Idaho's industrial economy is growing, as plants are built to process the state's rich agricultural and natural resources. Since in the late 1970s Boise has emerged as a center of semiconductor manufacturing. Boise is the home of Micron Technology Inc., the only U.S. manufacturer of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips. Hewlett-Packard has operated a large plant in Boise, in southwestern Idaho, since the 1970s, devoted primarily to Laserjet printers.[1] (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/mar04.html)

A troubling recent development in the Idaho panhandle region has been the location therein of a few right-wing extremist and "survivalist" political groups, most notably one holding Neo-Nazi views, the Aryan Nations. These groups are most heavily concentrated in the northern part of the state, particularly in the vicinity of Coeur d'Alene, a resort town. Although Idaho is a conservative state politically, the vast majority of its residents reject such hateful ideologies. Boise recently installed an impressive stone Human Rights Memorial featuring quotations from Anne Frank and many other writers extolling human freedom and equality. In 2002 the Aryan Nations compound, which had been located in Hayden Lake, Idaho, was confiscated as a result of a court case, and the organization moved out of state.

Law and government

State government

The current Governor of Idaho is Dirk Kempthorne (Republican), re-elected in 2002.

See: List of Idaho Governors

The constitution of Idaho provides for 3 branches of government: the executive, legislative and judicial branches. Idaho has a bicameral legislature, elected from 35 legislative districts, each represented by one Senator and two Representatives.

Federal government

United States Senators:

House of Representatives: Idaho has two House Representatives

Geography

Map of Idaho Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed in the Owyhee Mountains about 50 miles southwest of Boise, Idaho.

See: List of Idaho counties

Idaho borders Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Montana, Wyoming and the Canadian province of British Columbia (the Idaho-BC border which is 48 miles long). Idaho has a rugged landscape with some of the largest unspoiled natural areas in the country. Idaho is a Rocky Mountains state with exciting scenery and enormous natural resources. Idaho has towering, snow-capped mountain ranges, swirling white rapids, peaceful lakes and steep canyons. The churning waters of Snake River rush through Hells Canyon, which is deeper than the Grand Canyon. Shoshone Falls plunges down rugged cliffs from a height greater than that of Niagara Falls.

The major rivers in Idaho are the Snake River, the Clearwater River and the Salmon River. Other significant rivers include the Boise River and the Payette River.

Idaho's highest point is Borah Peak in the Lost River Mountains north of Mackay. Idaho's lowest point is in Lewiston, where the Clearwater River joins the Snake River and continues into Washington.

Lakes

Parks

Economy

The state's gross product for 2003 was $40 billion. The Per Capita Income for 2003 was $25,902.

Idaho is an important agricultural state, producing nearly one third of the potatoes grown in the United States. Other important agricultral products are beans, lentils, sugar beets, cattle, dairy products, wheat, and barley.

Important industries in Idaho are food processing, lumber and wood products, machinery, chemical products, paper products, electronics manufacturing, silver and other mining, and tourism. The Idaho National Laboratory (INL), a government lab for nuclear energy research, is also an important part of the eastern Idaho economy.

Demographics

As of 2003, the population of Idaho was 1,366,332.

The racial makeup of Idaho is:

The five largest ancestries in the state are: German (18.9%), English (18.1%), Irish (10%), American (8.4%), Norwegian (3.6%).

Religion

As with many other western states, the percentage of non-religious people in Idaho is fairly high when compared to the percentage of non-religious in the nation as a whole. Idaho is also the only state to have large numbers of both Mormons and non-Mormon Christians.

The religious affiliations of Idaho are as follows:

Important cities and towns

Education

Colleges and universities

Professional sports teams

The Minor League baseball teams are:

Other minor league sports teams:

Miscellaneous information

Major highways

Well-known Idahoans


This page about Idaho includes information from a Wikipedia article.
Additional articles about Idaho
News stories about Idaho
External links for Idaho
Videos for Idaho
Wikis about Idaho
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Images of Idaho

Other minor league sports teams:. When adjusted for inflation (1999 dollars; comparable to Census data above), the median household income was $50,543. The Minor League baseball teams are:. According to estimates by the San Diego Association of Governments, the median household income of San Diego in 2004 was $56,438 (not adjusted for inflation). The religious affiliations of Idaho are as follows:. Out of the total population, 20.0% of those under the age of 18 and 7.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. Idaho is also the only state to have large numbers of both Mormons and non-Mormon Christians. 14.6% of the population and 10.6% of families are below the poverty line.

As with many other western states, the percentage of non-religious people in Idaho is fairly high when compared to the percentage of non-religious in the nation as a whole. The per capita income for the city is $23,609. The five largest ancestries in the state are: German (18.9%), English (18.1%), Irish (10%), American (8.4%), Norwegian (3.6%). Males have a median income of $36,984 versus $31,076 for females. The racial makeup of Idaho is:. The median income for a household in the city is $45,733, and the median income for a family is $53,060. As of 2003, the population of Idaho was 1,366,332. For every 100 females there are 101.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 100.4 males.

The Idaho National Laboratory (INL), a government lab for nuclear energy research, is also an important part of the eastern Idaho economy. The median age is 32 years. Important industries in Idaho are food processing, lumber and wood products, machinery, chemical products, paper products, electronics manufacturing, silver and other mining, and tourism. In the city the population is spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 12.4% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who are 65 years of age or older. Other important agricultral products are beans, lentils, sugar beets, cattle, dairy products, wheat, and barley. The average household size is 2.61 and the average family size is 3.30. Idaho is an important agricultural state, producing nearly one third of the potatoes grown in the United States. 28.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older.

The Per Capita Income for 2003 was $25,902. There are 450,691 households out of which 30.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% are married couples living together, 11.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% are non-families. The state's gross product for 2003 was $40 billion. 25.40% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. Idaho's lowest point is in Lewiston, where the Clearwater River joins the Snake River and continues into Washington. The racial makeup of the city is 60.18% White, 7.86% African American, 0.62% Native American, 13.65% Asian, 0.48% Pacific Islander, 12.39% from other races, and 4.83% from two or more races. Idaho's highest point is Borah Peak in the Lost River Mountains north of Mackay. There are 469,689 housing units at an average density of 559.1/km² (1,448.1/mi²).

Other significant rivers include the Boise River and the Payette River. The population density is 1,456.4/km² (3,771.9/mi²). The major rivers in Idaho are the Snake River, the Clearwater River and the Salmon River. As of the census2 of 2000, there are 1,223,400 people, 450,691 households, and 271,315 families residing in the city. Shoshone Falls plunges down rugged cliffs from a height greater than that of Niagara Falls. Additionally, the numerous canyons that run through the city create natural boundaries and obstacles to development. The churning waters of Snake River rush through Hells Canyon, which is deeper than the Grand Canyon. The city's borders are very irregularly shaped because of the absorption of many suburbs into the city limits.

Idaho has towering, snow-capped mountain ranges, swirling white rapids, peaceful lakes and steep canyons. 840.0 km² (324.3 mi²) of it is land and 123.5 km² (47.7 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 12.82% water. Idaho has a rugged landscape with some of the largest unspoiled natural areas in the country. Idaho is a Rocky Mountains state with exciting scenery and enormous natural resources. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 963.6 km² (372.0 mi²). Idaho borders Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Montana, Wyoming and the Canadian province of British Columbia (the Idaho-BC border which is 48 miles long). San Diego is located at 32°46'46" North, 117°8'47" West (32.779541, -117.146344)1. See: List of Idaho counties. Almost every major freeway in the county crosses through the city, but all are important to the flow of goods and people into and out of the city.

House of Representatives: Idaho has two House Representatives. San Diego includes a comprehensive collection of freeways, highways, major arterial roads, and streets that forms circles around the interior and outlying areas in the county. United States Senators:. However, these systems serve limited routes and schedules; the vast majority of transportation in San Diego is by private automobile. Idaho has a bicameral legislature, elected from 35 legislative districts, each represented by one Senator and two Representatives. San Diego has trolley (LRT), bus [1] (http://www.sdcommute.com/Rider_Information/bus/), Coaster [2] (http://www.gonctd.com/), and Amtrak service. The constitution of Idaho provides for 3 branches of government: the executive, legislative and judicial branches. San Diego is about two and a half hours south of Los Angeles and about half an hour north of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.

See: List of Idaho Governors. Noted San Diego tourist attractions include:
. The current Governor of Idaho is Dirk Kempthorne (Republican), re-elected in 2002. Among the many attractions are its beaches, and climate, and deserts. In 2002 the Aryan Nations compound, which had been located in Hayden Lake, Idaho, was confiscated as a result of a court case, and the organization moved out of state. San Diego is a major tourist destination, attracting visitors from all over the world. Boise recently installed an impressive stone Human Rights Memorial featuring quotations from Anne Frank and many other writers extolling human freedom and equality. Largely because of their city's strong military presence, San Diegans have a reputation for being more politically conservative than residents of California's other coastal cities.

Although Idaho is a conservative state politically, the vast majority of its residents reject such hateful ideologies. San Diego has since become a center of the emerging biotech industry and is home to telecommunications giant Qualcomm. These groups are most heavily concentrated in the northern part of the state, particularly in the vicinity of Coeur d'Alene, a resort town. Following the end of the Cold War the military presence has diminished considerably. A troubling recent development in the Idaho panhandle region has been the location therein of a few right-wing extremist and "survivalist" political groups, most notably one holding Neo-Nazi views, the Aryan Nations. Since World War II, the military has played a leading role in the local economy. Hewlett-Packard has operated a large plant in Boise, in southwestern Idaho, since the 1970s, devoted primarily to Laserjet printers.[1] (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/mar04.html). San Diego hosted two World's Fairs, the Panama-California Exposition in 1915 and the California Pacific International Exposition in 1935.

manufacturer of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips. Naval presence began in 1907 with the establishment of the Navy Coaling Station. Boise is the home of Micron Technology Inc., the only U.S. Significant U.S. Since in the late 1970s Boise has emerged as a center of semiconductor manufacturing. San Diego was reincorporated as a city in 1886. Today, Idaho's industrial economy is growing, as plants are built to process the state's rich agricultural and natural resources. In 1885, San Diego was linked to the rest of the nation by railroad.

Although Idaho's dependence on mining has decreased, the state remains a top producer of silver and lead. The village was designated the seat of the newly designated "San Diego County" and incorporated as a city. By the 1890s, for example, Idaho exported more lead than any other state. However the population of the town shrank to little over a hundred persons, and by the late 1830s it lost its township until the province of Alta California became part of the United States of America in 1850 following the Mexican-American War. As Idaho approached statehood, mining and other extractive industries became increasingly important to her economy. Juan Maria Osuna was elected the first alcalde (or mayor), winning over Pio Pico in the 13 ballots cast. Idaho still operates under its original (1889) state constitution. The mission was secularized in 1834 and 432 persons petitioned Governor José Figueroa to form a town, and Commandant Santiago Arguello endorsed it.

Sectionalism in early Idaho was abated by moving the University of Idaho from its planned location in Eagle Rock (near Idaho Falls) to Moscow in northern Idaho. The governor of Alta California and Baja California moved the capital to San Diego from Monterey. An interesting fact is that Idaho almost never became a state - in 1887, President Grover Cleveland refused to sign a bill that would have combined southern Idaho with Nevada and northern Idaho with the Washington Territory. In 1821, Spain recognized Mexico's independence. state on July 3, 1890, the population was 88,548. By 1797 the mission had become the largest in California, with over 1,400 natives associated with it. When President Benjamin Harrison signed the law admitting Idaho as a U.S. Father Serra organized the rebuilding and two years later a more fire-proof adobe structure was started.

The 1861 discovery of gold in Idaho and the completion of the transcontinental railway in 1869 brought many new people to the territory, including Chinese laborers who came to work the mines. They killed the priest and two others, and burned the mission. In 1865, Boise replaced Lewiston as capital. Colonists began arriving in 1774, and the following year, 1775 the native people rebelled. Almost immediately, a public school system was created, stage coach lines were established and a newspaper, the Idaho Statesman, began publication. In 1769, Gaspar de Portolá and his expedition founded a presidio (or military post) and on Sunday July 16, Franciscan Fathers Junípero Serra, Juan Viscaino and Fernando Parron raised and blessed a cross, establishing the first mission in Upper California, Mission San Diego de Alcala. The political stability of the territorial period encouraged settlement. California was then part of the colony of New Spain.

On March 4, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed an act creating Idaho Territory. The explorers camped near a Native American village called "Nipaguay" and celebrated Mass in honor of San (or Saint) Diego de Alcala (Saint Didacus of Alcalá). When organized as a territory in 1863, Idaho's total population was under 17,000. The San Diego Bay and the area of present day San Diego were given their present names by Sebastian Vizcaino when he was mapping the coastline of Alta California for Spain in 1602. While thousands passed through Idaho during the California gold rush of 1849, few people settled there. The first organized town in Idaho was Franklin, settled in 1860 by Mormon pioneers. He named it San Miguel. Idaho was subsequently part of Oregon Territory and later Washington Territory, fur trading and missionary work attracting the first settlers to the region. The first European to visit the region was Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, sailing for Spain, in 1542.

At that time, approximately 8,000 Native Americans lived in the region. The area has long been inhabited by the Kumeyaay people. The Lewis and Clark expedition entered present-day Idaho on August 12, 1805, at the Lemhi Pass. North Island is also known as the birthplace of Naval Aviation, (though Pensacola Naval Station makes a rival claim to being the "Cradle of Naval Aviation."). Eventually the controversy was forgotten, and modern-day Idaho was given the made-up name when the Idaho Territory was formally created in 1863. N.S. Willing suggested "Idaho," an Indian term he claimed meant "gem of the mountains." It was later revealed Willing had made up the name himself, and the original Idaho territory was re-named Colorado because of it. Several Navy vessels have been named USS San Diego in honor of the city.

When a name was being selected for new territory, eccentric lobbyist George M. One of the United States Marine Corps' two Recruit Depots is located here. Idaho is perhaps the only state to be named as the result of a hoax. It is the home port of the largest naval fleet in the world, including two Navy supercarriers, the USS Nimitz and the USS Ronald Reagan, five amphibs, several nuclear submarines, and numerous smaller ships. The USS Idaho was named in honor of this state. San Diego is the home of various military facilities including Navy ports, Marine bases, and Coast Guard stations. postal abbreviation is ID. The city is the second largest in California and the seventh largest in the United States.

Its capital is Boise and the U.S. As of 2005 the California Department of Finance estimates the city to have 1,305,736 residents. Idaho is a state located in the northwestern United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 1,223,400. See Category:People from Idaho. It is the county seat of San Diego County, California. The city is noted for its temperate climate and numerous beaches. Idaho Steelheads. San Diego is a city located in the southwestern corner of the state of California and the southwestern corner of the continental United States.

Idaho Stampede. San Diego City Schools. Idaho Falls Chukars. University of San Diego, USD (Roman Catholic). Boise Hawks. University of California, San Diego, UCSD (University of California). Non-Religious — 20%. Thomas Jefferson School of Law.

Non-Christian Religions — 0%. San Diego Community College District, (San Diego City College, San Diego Mesa College, San Diego Miramar College). Mormon — 16%. San Diego State University, SDSU (California State University). Catholic — 16%. National University. Other Protestants/general Protestants — 22%. Point Loma Nazarene University, PLNU (Nazarene).

Presbyterian — 3%. California Western School of Law. Lutheran — 3%. Alliant International University, AIU (Formerly United States International University-USIU). Methodist — 10%. Soledad Veteran's Memorial, future National Historic Landmark. Baptist — 10%. Mt.

Protestant — 48%

    . USS Midway (CV-41), aircraft carrier museum. Christian — 80%
      . Seaport Village. 2% Mixed race. Berkeley, ferry boat. 0.4% Black. Star of India, barque sailing ship.

      0.9% Asian. San Diego Presidio. 1.4% American Indian. Old Mission Dam in Mission Trails Regional Park. 7.9 Hispanic. Mission San Diego de Alcala. 88% White. Mission Beach Roller Coaster at Belmont Park.

      2nd District: Mike Simpson (Republican). Little Italy (see also Little Italy). "Butch" Otter (Republican). La Casa de Estudillo. 1st District: C.L. Balboa Park. Mike Crapo (Republican). Qualcomm Stadium.

      Craig (Republican). Petco Park. Larry E. Gaslamp Quarter. Torrey Pines State Reserve. Torrey Pines Golf Course.

      SeaWorld. Old Town. Mission Bay Park. San Diego Wild Animal Park.

      San Diego Zoo.