Introduction to Geography of Idaho
Idaho, one of the western states of the United States. It is part of the area known as the Pacific Northwest and is bordered by Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana and by British Columbia, Canada.
Idaho is the nation's 14th largest state, but one of the smallest in the West. Its area is 83,574 square miles (216,456 km2). More than 60 per cent of the state consists of federally owned range and forest lands.
Idaho's state bird is the mountain bluebird.Idaho in briefGeneral informationStatehood: July 3, 1890, the 43rd state.State abbreviations: Ida. (traditional); ID (postal).State capital: Boise, Idaho's capital since 1865. Lewiston served as capital from 1863 to 1865.State motto: Esto Perpetua (Let it be perpetual).Popular name: The Gem State.State song: "Here We Have Idaho." Words by McKinley Helm and Albert J. Tompkins; music by Sallie Hume-Douglas.Symbols of IdahoState bird: Mountain bluebird.State flower: Syringa.State tree: Western white pine.State flag and seal: Idaho's state flag, first adopted in 1907, bears the state seal on a blue background. On the seal, first adopted in 1891, the woman holding the scales and a spear symbolizes justice, liberty, and equality. The miner represents Idaho's mineral resources. The elk's head stands for wildlife and the pine tree for the state's forests. A sheaf of grain symbolizes agriculture. The seal was updated in 1957.Land and climateArea: 83,574 mi2 (216,456 km2), including 823 mi2 (2,131 km2) of inland water.Elevation: Highest--Borah Peak, 12,662 ft (3,859 m) above sea level. Lowest--Snake River at Lewiston in Nez Perce County, 710 ft (216 m) above sea level.Record high temperature: 118 °F (48 °C) at Orofino on July 28, 1934.Record low temperature: –60 °F –51 °C) at Island Park Dam on Jan. 18, 1943.Average July temperature: 67 °F (19 °C).Average January temperature: 23 °F (–5 °C).Average yearly precipitation: 19 in (48 cm).PeoplePopulation: 1,293,953.Rank among the states: 39th.Density: 15 per mi2 (6 per km2), U.S. average 78 per mi2 (30 per km2).Distribution: 66 percent urban, 34 percent rural.Largest cities in Idaho: Boise (185,787); Nampa (51,867); Pocatello (51,466); Idaho Falls (50,730); Meridian (34,919); Coeur d'Alene (34,514).EconomyChief productsAgriculture: barley, beef cattle, hay, milk, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat.Manufacturing: computer and electronic equipment, food products, wood products.Mining: molybdenum, phosphate rock, sand and gravel, silver.GovernmentState governmentGovernor: 4-year term.State senators: 35; 2-year terms.State representatives: 70; 2-year terms.Counties: 44.Federal governmentUnited States senators: 2.United States representatives: 2.Electoral votes: 4.Sources of informationFor information about tourism, write to: Idaho Division of Tourism Development, 700 W. State Street, Boise, ID 83720-0093. The Web site at http://www.visitidaho.org also provides information. For information on the economy, write to: Idaho Commerce and Labor, 700 W. State Street, P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0093. The Web site at http://cl.idaho.gov also provides information.The state's official Web site at http://www.state.id.us also provides a gateway to much information on Idaho's economy, government, and history.Physical Geography
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States.Idaho occupies part of three major physical regions of the United States: the Rocky Mountains, the Columbia Plateau, and the Great Basin.
LandThe Rocky Mountain section extends through the northern, central, and extreme eastern parts of the state. High rugged land prevails, especially in central Idaho. Among the loftiest ranges are the Bitterroot, Salmon River, Seven Devils, Sawtooth, Lost River, and Lemhi mountains. Numerous peaks exceed elevations of 10,000 feet (3,000 m). The highest, at 12,662 feet (3,859 m), is Borah Peak, in the Lost River Range. Major breaks in the mountainous terrain occur in the hilly Palouse region around Moscow and in the prairie lands northwest of Grangeville.
The Columbia Plateau section of the state consists mainly of the Snake River Plain, in the south, and low plateaus and mountains, in the southwest. Arid to semiarid conditions prevail nearly everywhere. On the Snake River Plain, which arcs across the state, are nearly all of Idaho's principal cities and most of its best farmland. Lava flows and other volcanic formations, sand dunes, and canyons are also prominent features of Idaho's part of the Columbia Plateau.
The Great Basin section, in the southeast, is part of a large arid region of the western United States. Scattered low mountain ranges, trending roughly north-south, are the chief features of Idaho's section of the basin.
WaterIdaho slopes generally downward from east to west, beginning at the Continental Divide, and is drained mainly by the Snake River and its tributaries. Among tributaries with large flows are the Salmon and Clearwater rivers; others include the Boise and Payette. Only the narrow northern part of the state, known as the Panhandle, and the Great Basin section of the state lie outside the Snake River basin. The Pend Oreille River drains most of the Panhandle.
Many of Idaho's rivers flow as white-water torrents through gorges and deep, scenic valleys. Hells Canyon, carved out by the Snake River on the Idaho-Oregon border, is one of the deepest chasms in the world.
Lakes are found throughout much of the state. Large natural lakes of great scenic beauty are mainly in the Panhandle, site of Pend Oreille, Coeur d'Alene, and Priest lakes. Sizable man-made lakes, created primarily to provide water for irrigation and electrical power, include Dworshak, Cascade, and American Falls reservoirs. In the high mountains are numerous glacial lakes known for their crystalline waters. Hot springs and waterfalls are also found in the state.
ClimateIdaho has a continental climate that varies greatly with elevation and location within the state. Winters in the mountains are long and bitterly cold. Lowlands and valleys, particularly in the far western part of the state, have milder winter weather, mainly because of lower elevation and greater exposure to moderating winds from the Pacific Ocean.
Average January temperatures in the lowlands and valleys range from 20° F. (-7° C.) on the eastern Snake River Plain to slightly above freezing in the Lewiston area. Average temperatures for July vary from about 65° F. (18° C.) in the Panhandle to about 75° F. (24° C.) in the valleys of the southwest. High daytime temperatures and cool nights are characteristic of the climate during summer.
Precipitation is meager throughout much of the state. Only the high mountains receive 40 inches (1,020 mm) or more each year. The Snake River Plain, the driest part of the state, usually receives only 8 to 12 inches (200 to 300 mm) annually. The greatest amount of precipitation occurs in the winter, the least in the summer. The yearly snowfall varies enormously, from less than 20 inches (510 mm) in some valleys to more than 200 inches (5,100 mm) in the high mountains.
Vegetation and WildlifeIdaho's state flower is the syringa.Forests cover about two-fifths of the state. They are found mostly in the mountains of central and northern Idaho. Western white pine, ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, western larch, Engelmann spruce, lodgepole pine, white fir, and western red cedar are among the chief trees. All are conifers. Cottonwoods, growing mostly along stream banks in the drier areas, and quaking aspen are the principal deciduous trees. Sagebrush, bunch grass, and other drought-resistant small plants provide a sparse covering throughout the semiarid to arid areas of the south.
Idaho—especially those parts that the federal government has designated as wilderness or primitive areas—is one of the nation's last great sanctuaries for large animals. Elk, moose, black bears, grizzly bears, mule deer, white-tailed deer, cougars, timber wolves, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats are among the animals found in the state. Songbirds, birds of prey, waterfowl, and other kinds of birds are abundant and varied. Lakes and streams abound with trout and other fish.
Interesting facts about IdahoThe St. Joe River, which empties into Coeur d'Alene Lake, is the world's highest commercially navigable river. The St. Joe is navigable for about 50 miles (80 kilometers) east of the lake. The river flows more than 2,100 feet (630 meters) above sea level.The longest main street in the United States is located in Island Park. The street runs 33 miles (53 kilometers) through the village, which consists mainly of a long stretch of resorts that became incorporated into one town.Crystal Ice Cave, near American Falls, has a frozen river, frozen waterfall, and other beautiful formations of ice and stone. The cave is located 160 feet (49 meters) below the lava beds of the Columbia Plateau region. Some of the ice formations in the cave are hundreds of years old. While the temperature aboveground may reach 95 to 97 degrees F. (35 to 36 degrees C), the temperature in the ice cave remains at 32 degrees F. (0 degrees C) throughout the year.Lava Hot Springs is the home of world-famous hot springs. More than 6 million gallons (23 million liters) of steaming mineral water pour out of the springs each day.The Big Wood River has been called the upside down river. In one stretch, the river is about 100 feet (30 meters) deep and 4 feet (1.2 meters) wide, while a nearby section of the river is about 100 feet (30 meters) wide and 4 feet (1.2 meters) deep.Idaho's state tree is the western white pine.Economy
The Idaho quarter features an image of a peregrine falcon, Idaho’s official state bird of prey.Idaho's economy in the 19th century was based first on trapping and later on mining and farming. Mining began with the discovery of gold in 1860 and remained the leading economic activity until nearly the turn of the century. In the 1880's railway construction spurred the spread of ranching and farming. As in much of the West, farming was greatly aided by the development of irrigation, which in Idaho began on a large scale in the early 1900's. Commercial lumbering began to flourish about the same time. Only since World War II have manufacturing and tourism played significant roles in the economy.
The federal government strongly influences Idaho's economy through the leasing out of much public land for commercial mining, lumbering, and ranching.
By the number of jobs provided, the leading sectors of the economy are wholesale and retail trade, government, services, manufacturing, agriculture, and construction.
ManufacturingIdaho is one of the nation's least industrialized states and has very little heavy industry. Yet, by value, manufacturing is the state's leading economic activity. Idaho's leading manufactured products are computer and electronic equipment. Much of the manufacturing in Idaho involves the processing of farm, forest, and mine products. Forest products include lumber, mill-work, plywood, wood pulp, and paper. Smelting and the making of chemical fertilizers and industrial machinery are significant but limited to a few localities. Several major corporations have national headquarters in Idaho, mainly in the Boise area. Boise, the Nampa-Caldwell area, Pocatello, Twin Falls, Idaho Falls, and Lewiston are the leading manufacturing centers.
AgricultureSomewhat more than a fourth of the state is in farms and ranches, and agriculture continues to be economically important. Both irrigation and dry farming are widely practiced. In irrigated acreage Idaho usually ranks among the top five states in the nation. Most of the irrigated land is on the Snake River Plain, where a number of dams impound water for irrigation.
Livestock provides more than half of Idaho's farm income; crops provide the rest. Cattle and sheep are raised in many parts of the state. Cattle predominate; income from the sale of cattle and calves is usually greater than that of any single crop. Milk is also a leading farm product.
Potatoes, wheat, hay, and barley are the chief crops. The potato crop, coming mostly from the eastern part of the Snake River Plain, is the largest in the nation. Idaho is also a major producer of wheat, which is the principal crop of the Palouse region. Sugar beets are also significant crops. Orchards in numerous sheltered valleys, particularly in the Boise area, yield apples and other hardy fruit.
Lumbering and MiningIdaho usually ranks fairly high among the states in lumber production. The chief lumbering areas are in the north, where large quantities of western white pine and ponderosa pine are produced. Lewiston is the leading pulp and paper center.
By value of production Idaho's principal minerals are phosphate rock, silver, and molybdenum. Phosphate rock comes from strip mines in the southeast. Silver is mined in northern Idaho. Molybdenum is mined in the central part of the state, and gold is produced mainly in the east-central region.
Tourism and TransportationIdaho's natural beauty attracts a large number of vacationers and people interested in outdoor recreation. Tourism accounts for an important part of the state's economy.
Idaho is served by a modern highway and road system that includes four Interstate routes. Most of the roads are in the south, where some follow sections of the old Oregon and California trails, blazed by pioneers. There are relatively few roads in the high mountains. No roads are allowed in officially designated wilderness or primitive areas. Virtually all the railway trackage is on the Snake River Plain and in the Panhandle.
Several regional and trunk airlines provide service at the state's chief cities. Boise's airport is the largest and busiest. Lewiston, at the head of navigation on the Snake River, is the only river port.
The People
In 2000 the population density was 15.6 persons per square mile (6.0 per km2). Most of the people lived in the Panhandle and on the Snake River Plain, site of Idaho's chief cities.
Whites made up 91 per cent of Idaho's population. Of the state's American Indian population (17,645), most live on reservations. Some of the largest tribes are the Cherokee, Navajo, Sioux, Chippewa, and the Shoshone.
Annual events in IdahoJanuary-AprilMcCall Winter Carnival (January-February); Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow (February); Dodge National Finals Rodeo in Pocatello (March); Dogwood Festival in Lewiston (April).May-AugustChallis Mountain Lilac Festival in Challis (May-June); National Oldtime Fiddlers Contest and Festival in Weiser (June); Snake River Stampede in Nampa (July); Shoshone-Bannock Indian Festival at Fort Hall Indian Reservation near Blackfoot (August); Western Idaho Fair in Boise (August).September-DecemberEastern Idaho State Fair in Blackfoot (September); Lewiston Roundup (September); Art in the Park in Boise (September); Lumberjack Days in Orofino (September); Idaho Spud Day in Shelley (September); Trailing of the Sheep in Ketchum (October).Education
Idaho's state department of education is headed by a superintendent of public instruction, elected for a four-year term. The state board of education consists of the superintendent and five members appointed by the governor. Besides establishing public school policy, it functions as the board of regents of the University of Idaho. School attendance is compulsory from ages 7 to 16.
The first schools in Idaho were established by Mormon settlers at Franklin in 1860 and in the Teton Valley in 1888.
The University of Idaho was opened in 1892 as a land-grant institution. The campus and agricultural experiment stations at Moscow cover nearly 1,400 acres (567 hectares). Idaho State University, until 1947 a part of the University of Idaho, is at Pocatello.
Government
Idaho's State Capitol is in Boise, the capital since 1865.Idaho is governed under its original constitution of 1889. The legislature consists of a Senate of 35 members and a House of Representatives of 70 members, all elected for two-year terms. The legislature meets annually. The governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, controller, treasurer, attorney general, and superintendent of public instruction are elected for four years. Idaho has the initiative, referendum, and recall.
The judiciary consists of the Supreme Court, a court of appeals, district courts, and various lower courts. There are 44 counties in the state. Idaho is represented in Congress by two senators and two representatives.
Governors of IdahoNamePartyTermGeorge L. Shoup Republican1890N. B. Willey Republican1891-1893William J. McConnell Republican1893-1897Frank Steunenberg Democratic1897-1901Frank W. Hunt Democratic1901-1903John T. Morrison Republican1903-1905Frank R. Gooding Republican1905-1909James H. Brady Republican1909-1911James H. Hawley Democratic1911-1913John M. Haines Republican1913-1915Moses Alexander Democratic1915-1919D. W. Davis Republican1919-1923Charles C. Moore Republican1923-1927H. C. Baldridge Republican1927-1931C. Ben Ross Democratic1931-1937Barzilla W. Clark Democratic1937-1939C. A. Bottolfsen Republican1939-1941Chase A. Clark Democratic1941-1943C. A. Bottolfsen Republican1943-1945Charles C. Gossett Democratic1945Arnold Williams Democratic1945-1947C. A. Robins Republican1947-1951Len B. Jordan Republican1951-1955Robert E. Smylie Republican1955-1967Don Samuelson Republican1967-1971Cecil D. Andrus Democratic1971-1977John V. Evans Democratic1977-1987Cecil D. Andrus Democratic1987-1995Phil Batt Republican1995-1999Dirk Kempthorne Republican1999-2006Jim Risch Republican2006-2007C. L. “Butch” Otter Republican2007-