Idaho is known for:
- Potatoes
- Gems
- Scenic mountain landscapes
- Miles of protected wilderness
- Outdoor recreation areas
- Huckleberries
- Mining
- Hot springs
Geography & Demographics
| State Abbreviation |
ID |
| State Capital |
Boise |
| State Size |
Total (Land + Water): 83,570 sq miles; Land Only: 82,747 sq miles |
| Number of Counties |
44 |
| Time Zone |
Mountain Time Zone, Pacific Time Zone |
| Bordering States |
Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming |
| Highest Point | Borah Peak, 12,668 feet |
| Tallest Building | Eighth & Main in Boise, 323 feet |
| Largest Stadium | Albertsons Stadium in Boise, capacity 37,000 |
| National Parks | None |
| State Population (2020) | 1,839,106 |
| State Population Density | 22.2 people / square mile |
| Area Codes |
208, 986 |
| Top 5 Cities (2020 population) |
Boise (229,776)
Meridian (121,182)
Nampa (103,215)
Idaho Falls (64,142)
Caldwell (60,674)
|
Government & Legislature
State Symbols
| State Amphibian | Idaho giant salamander |
| State Bird |
Mountain bluebird |
| State Dance | Square dance |
| State Fish | Cutthroat trout |
| State Flower |
Syringa |
| State Fossil | Hagerman horse fossil |
| State Fruit | Huckleberry |
| State Gem | Idaho star garnet |
| State Horse | Appaloosa horse |
| State Insect | Monarch butterfly |
| State Motto |
Esto perpetua (Let it be perpetual) |
| State Nickname |
Gem State |
| State Raptor | Peregrine falcon |
| State Tree |
Western white pine |
| State Vegetable | Potato |
Sports Teams
Popular Tourist Attractions
- Bogus Basin: Ski area near Boise, Idaho.
- Boise National Forest: National forest covering more than 2.5 million acres in Idaho.
- Craters of the Moon: National monument and national preserve in central Idaho.
- Farragut State Park: State park in northern Idaho.
- Harriman State Park: State park in eastern Idaho.
- Hells Canyon: Canyon on the border of western Idaho, eastern Oregon, and eastern Washington.
- Idaho Botanical Garden: Botanical garden in Boise, Idaho.
- Lake Coeur d'Alene: Lake in northern Idaho.
- Lake Pend Oreille: Lake in northern Idaho.
- Perrine Bridge: Bridge in Twin Falls, Idaho.
- Ponderosa State Park: State park in Valley County, Idaho.
- Redfish Lake: Lake in central Idaho.
- Shoshone Falls: Waterfall on the Snake river in southern Idaho.
- Silverwood Theme Park: Theme park in Athol, Idaho.
- Sun Valley Resort: Resort in Sun Valley, Idaho.
- Tamarack Resort: Resort in Tamarack, Idaho.
- World Center for Birds of Prey: Educational center in Boise, Idaho.
- Yellowstone Bear World: Drive-thru wildlife park in Rexburg, Idaho.
- Zoo Boise: Zoo in Boise, Idaho.
Festivals and Events
Top festivals and events in Idaho. They are listed in approximate order of when they take place during the year.
| Festival / Event |
When |
Location |
| McCall Winter Carnival | Late January to early February | McCall |
| Sun Valley Film Festival | Late March | Sun Valley |
| Treefort Music Fest | Late March | Boise |
| Idaho Shakespeare Festival | From May to September | Boise |
| McCall Mountain Brewfest | Late June | McCall |
| Teton Valley Balloon Rally | July | Driggs |
| National Lentil Festival | Late August | Pullman |
| Sawtooth Valley Gathering | Late August | Stanley |
| Western Idaho Fair | Late August | Boise |
| Eastern Idaho State Fair | Early September | Blackfoot |
| Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic | Early September | Boise |
Popular Iconic Idaho Foods
Idaho is famous for the following foods:
- Finger Steaks
- Croquetas
- Idaho Ice Cream Potato
- Huckleberry Ice Cream
- Morel Mushrooms
- The Idahoan
- Trout
Famous People Born In Idaho
Nobel Prize Winners
Pro Football Hall Of Fame Members
- Larry Wilson (Safety. Inducted in 1978)
Baseball Hall Of Fame Players
- Harmon Killebrew (First Baseman. Inducted in 1984)
Famous Actors And Actresses
- Sherry Jackson
- Aaron Paul
- Jeremy Shada
Idaho Fun Facts
- Idaho is a made-up word. When Congress was considering a name for present-day Colorado, lobbyist George Willing suggested the name "Idaho," claiming it was an Indian word that means "gem of the mountains." This name was not chosen for Colorado, but two years later it was used when the Idaho Territory was created in 1863.
- American Falls is unique from most communities because the entire town was moved in the mid-1920s when the original American Falls Dam was constructed.
- Hell's Canyon is the deepest gorge in America at 7,993 feet.
- Idaho is called the "Gem State" because nearly every known type of gemstone has been found in the state of Idaho. More than 72 different precious and semi-precious gemstones are mined from Idaho.
- Idaho is the only state in the United States with an official State Raptor, peregrine falcon.
- Soda Springs boasts the largest man-made geyser in the world.
- Idaho is one of only two places in the world where star garnets can be found in any significant quantities (India is the other).
- The statehouse in Boise is geothermally heated from underground hot springs.
- On July 17, 1955, the town of Arco became the first city in the world to be lit by atomic energy.
- Idaho's Shoshone Falls is called the "Niagara of the West." It is 212 feet high—45 feet higher than Niagara Falls.
This page was last updated on July 10, 2023.
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