Geography and Climate of Idaho
Idaho is bordered by Washington and Oregon to the west, Montana and Wyoming to the east, British Columbia to the north and Nevada and Utah to the south. With the snow-capped Rocky Mountains running through the state and several vast lakes, river rapids and cavernous canyons scattered throughout the area, the wilderness of Idaho is one of the most rugged and unspoiled American landscapes.
Snake River runs through the deepest canyon in the U.S., Hells Canyon, while Shoshone Falls, which is higher than Niagara Falls, is located five miles east of Twin Falls. Other major rivers that flow through the state include the Clark Fork or Pend Oreille River, Clearwater River, Salmon River, Coeur d’Alene or Spokane River, Boise River and Payette River.
The Port of Lewiston is the farthest inland seaport in the Pacific Northwest, where the Clearwater and Snake rivers meet. Borah Peak is the highest point in Idaho at 12,662 feet, located in the Lost River Range just north of Mackay.
Coeur d’Alene, Moscow, Lewiston and Sandpoint are north of the Salmon River, with cultural and economical ties to Spokane, Washington. The Boise metropolitan area, Idaho Falls, Pocatello and Twin Falls are larger industrial regions. Idaho is home to many national parks, including Yellowstone National Park, the Oregon National Historic Trail, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, as well as a multitude of lakes, state parks and wildlife refuges.
Although Idaho has a continental climate, it varies considering the border is 300 miles from the Pacific Ocean but northern enough to experience cold Midwestern climates. Maritime weather patterns occur during winter, when cloud coverage and precipitation increase in the northern part of the state. Hot summers and low humidity are also common. In the southern part of the state, summers are usually wetter and winters are dry and cold.
History of Idaho
Native American tribes, including the Nez Perce, Shoshone, Bannock and Coeur d’Alene, lived in Idaho before European settlers arrived. However, unlike other states in the U.S., Idaho was one of the last explored. Lewis and Clark traveled through Idaho in 1805 at Lemhi Pass. Wilson Price Hunt and his group navigated the Snake River in 1811, traveling from Astoria, Oregon, to St. Louis, Missouri.
Fort Henry, on the upper part of Snake River, was the first fur post west of the Rocky Mountains. Established in 1810, Fort Henry was quickly abandoned. The Hudson Bay Company from Britain followed in the 1820s and controlled trade in the Snake River area. At this point, William H. Ashley and Jedediah Smith brought the St. Louis fur trade to Idaho, while missionary work attracted settlers.
Henry H. Spalding developed an irrigation system and started growing Idaho’s first potatoes. In 1832 in Teton County, the Native American Gros Ventre tribes battled American trappers and the allied Nez Perce and Flathead tribes.
Originally part of an unorganized territory known as Oregon Country, Idaho became part of the boundaries of the Oregon Territory. Many pioneers traveled through Idaho on the Oregon Trail during the California gold rush, but few people stayed to settle in the area.
By 1853, the Washington Territory formed, creating present-day Idaho. By 1862, the discovery of gold in what is now Pierce and Clearwater County brought permanent settlers to the northern and southern regions of the state. After boundaries were redrawn, Idaho became its own territory and gained admittance to the Union in 1890.
Mining strikes in the 1890s rocked Idaho’s early years as a state, such as the Burke-Canyon incident, which turned into a shooting war between union miners and guards. The Western Federation of Miners union continued to battle mining districts, concluding with the 1905 assassination of Gov. Frank Steunenberg.
Some mining communities became ghost towns, such as Silver City, or turned into resort communities, like Sun Valley. Agricultural communities sprouted up in the Magic Valley region and along the Snake River near Milner Dam.
Idaho pushed for progressive legislation such as women’s suffrage, prohibition and Free Silver. During the 1950s and 1960s, Idaho fell victim to the nuclear testing fallout at the Nevada Test Site. The 1980s brought the closure of Bunker Hill Mine, which left Shoshone County in economic despair and led to the rise of several Neo-Nazi extremist groups. These political separatists have grown around other parts of Idaho, including Hayden Lake. Tourism has since helped recover the area, with Coeur d’Alene a lakeside resort town.
Demographics of Idaho
As of 2005, Idaho’s estimated population reached 1,429,096, and it's the sixth fastest-growing state. Boise, Coeur d’Alene, Pocatello, Twin Falls and Idaho Falls are the state’s largest cities and metro areas.
There is a large Basque community settled mostly in Boise, along with leftover populations of Polish and Irish ancestry. Other groups include German, English, Norwegian and Swedish.
While around 20 percent of Idahoans consider themselves non-religious, much of the remaining population is Christian. Close to a fifth of the population claim the Mormon faith.
Economy of Idaho
Idaho’s gross state product in 2004 was $43.6 billion. The state’s per capita income was $26,881.
Known for its agriculture, Idaho produces a third of the potatoes grown in the U.S. It is also home to the world’s largest barrel cheese factory and three huge Anheuser-Busch breweries. Food processing, machinery, chemical products, electronics manufacturing, lumber, mining and tourism make up the rest of Idaho’s diversified economic structure.
Though Idaho holds the title as the largest potato grower, science and technology are the largest industries. Science and technology comprise over 25 percent of state revenue. Boise is the center for semiconductor manufacturing.
Idaho Law and Government
Currently, Republican C.L. “Butch” Otter is serving as the Governor of Idaho. Congressional representatives Bill Sali and Mike Simpson and U.S. Senators Larry Craig and Mike Crapo, all Republicans, serve in the U.S. House and Senate, respectively.
Idaho is a conservative state that tends to vote Republican. At the turn of the 21st century, the Populists gained prominence. Idaho voted Democrat during the Great Depression.
Idaho Transportation
Idaho has no freeway connecting Boise to Coeur d’Alene, with the exception of I-95, the only route that runs north to south through Idaho. I-84 extends through the south of the state, along with I-15 and I-86.
The Boise Airport and Spokane International Airport serve the state, along with several other regional airports. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe links northern Idaho with Seattle, Portland, Spokane, Minneapolis and Chicago. The Union Pacific Railroad travels from southern Idaho through Twin Falls, Pocatello and Boise.
Major Cities and Towns of Idaho
Boise is Idaho’s most populous city, with a large Basque community that hosts the Jaialdi festival once every five years in the Basque Block. Several cultural museums ranging from art to history and science are located in Boise, along with the Boise Centre on the Grove and Gove Plaza, both of which offer conventions, conferences and outdoor functions. Boise’s biggest attractions include the Bogus Basin Mountain Resort and hike and bike trails at the foothills north of downtown.
Idaho Educational System
The University of Idaho is the flagship university, with a strong emphasis on agribusiness, along with Idaho State University and Boise State University. There are also several private universities, including a branch of Brigham Young and three regional community colleges.
Find out more at the Idaho State Board of Education.
Idaho Sports Teams and Recreational Activities
While Idaho does not have any major sports franchises, it is home to two minor league baseball teams, the Boise Hawks and the Idaho Falls Chukars. There are a few minor league basketball, ice hockey and arena football teams. The University of Idaho Vandals play Division I football, squaring off every season with rivals Washington State, Boise State and the University of Montana.
Idaho’s immense landscape make it a great place for recreational activities like fishing, boating, wakeboarding, hiking, biking, hunting and camping. During the winter, several ski resorts attract several hundred thousand tourists to the slopes for excellent skiing and snowboarding.
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