ORIGIN OF STATE NAME: Apparently coined by a lobbyist-politician, George M. Willing, who claimed the word came from an Indian term meaning “gem of the mountains.”

NICKNAME : The Gem State.

CAPITAL: Boise.

ENTERED UNION: 3 July 1890 (43rd).

OFFICIAL SEAL: With cornucopias at their feet, a female figure (holding the scales of justice in one hand and a pike supporting a liberty cap in the other) and a miner (with pick and shovel) stand on either side of a shield depicting mountains, rivers, forests, and a farm; the shield rests on a sheaf of grain and is surmounted by the head of a stag above whose antlers is a scroll with the state motto. The words “Great Seal of the State of Idaho” surround the whole.

FLAG: On a blue field with gilt fringe, the state seal appears in the center with the words “State of Idaho” on a red band below.

MOTTO: Esto perpetua (Let it be perpetual).

SONG: “Here We Have Idaho.”

FLOWER: Syringa.

TREE: Western white pine.

HORSE: Appaloosa.

BIRD: Mountain bluebird.

GEM: Star garnet.

LEGAL HOLIDAYS: New Year’s Day, 1 January; Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. and Idaho Human Rights Day, 3rd Monday in January; Presidents’ Day, 3rd Monday in February; Memorial Day, last Monday in May; Independence Day, 4 July; Labor Day, 1st Monday in September; Columbus Day, 2nd Monday in October; Veterans’ Day, 11 November; Thanksgiving Day, 4th Thursday in November; Christmas Day, 25 December.

TIME: 5 AM MST = noon GMT; 4 AM PST = noon GMT.

1 Location and Size

Situated in the northwestern United States, Idaho is the smallest of the eight Rocky Mountain states and 13th in size among the 50 states. The total area of Idaho is 83,564 square miles (216,431 square kilometers), of which land comprises 82,412 square miles (213,447 square kilometers), and inland water 1,152 square miles (2,984 square kilometers). With a shape sometimes described as a hatchet, a snub-nosed pistol, or a pork chop, Idaho extends a maximum of 305 miles (491 kilometers) east-west and 479 miles (771 kilometers) north-south. Its total boundary length is 1,787 miles (2,876 kilometers).

2 Topography

Idaho is extremely mountainous. Its northern two-thirds consists of a mountain massif broken only by river and stream valleys and by two prairies: the Big Camas Prairie and the Palouse Country. The Snake River Plain extends east to west across Idaho from Yellowstone National Park to the Boise area. A forested high-mountain area juts out of the southeastern corner of the state, but the rest of Idaho’s southern edge consists mostly of low, dry mountains. More than 40 peaks rise above 10,000 feet (3,000 meters), of which the highest is Mt. Borah, at 12,662 feet (3,862 meters). Idaho’s lowest point is at 710 feet (217 meters) near Lewiston, where the Snake River leaves the Idaho border and enters Washington.

The largest lakes are Pend Oreille, at 180 square miles (466 square kilometers), Coeur d’Alene, Priest, and Bear. The Snake River—one of the longest in the United States, extending 1,038 miles (1,671 kilometers) across Wyoming, Idaho, and Washington—dominates the southern part of the state. The Salmon River, also called the “River of No Return,” is a salmon-spawning stream. The Clearwater, Kootenai, Bear, Boise, and Payette are other major rivers.

There are ice caves near Shoshone and American Falls and a large scenic cave near Montpelier. Near Arco is an expanse of lava, craters, and caves called the Craters of the Moon, another scenic attraction. At Hell’s Canyon in the northernmost part of Adams County, the Snake River cuts the deepest gorge in North America, 7,913 feet (2,412 meters) deep.

Idaho Population Profile

Total population estimate in 2006:	1,466,465
Population change, 2000–06	13.3%
Hispanic or Latino†	9.1%
Population by race
One race:	98.0%
White:	91.8%
Black or African American:	0.4%
American Indian /Alaska Native:	1.1%
Asian:	1.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander:	0.1%
Some other race:	3.5%
Two or more races:	2.0%

Population by Age Group

Major Cities by Population
City	Population	% change 2000–05
Notes: †A person of Hispanic or Latino origin may be of any race. NA indicates that data are not available.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey and Population Estimates. www.census.gov/ (accessed March 2007).
Boise	193,161	4.0
Nampa	71,713	38.3
Pocatello	53,372	3.7
Idaho Falls	52,338	3.2
Meridian	52,240	49.6
Coeur d’Alene	40,059	16.1
Twin Falls	38,630	12.1
Caldwell	34,433	32.6
Lewiston	31,081	0.6
Rexburg	26,265	52.2

3 Climate

The four seasons are distinct in Idaho, but do not occur at the same time in all parts of the state. Boise and Lewiston are protected from severe weather by nearby mountains and have earlier springs and later winters than other areas. Eastern Idaho tends to have more extreme temperatures. Mean temperatures in Boise range from 29°f (-2°c) in January to 74°f (23°c) in July. The record low temperature in the state is -60°f (-51°c), set at Island Park Dam on 16 January 1943. The record high, 118°f (48°c), was set at Orofino on 28 July 1934. Humidity is low throughout the state. Precipitation in southern Idaho averages 13 inches (33 centimeters) per year. In the north, annual precipitation is over 30 inches (76 centimeters). The average annual snowfall in Boise is over 20 inches (53 centimeters). Much greater accumulations of snow are experienced in the mountains.

4 Plants and Animals

Idaho has some 3,000 native plants. Evergreens include Douglas fir and western white pine (the

Idaho Population by Race

Census 2000 was the first national census in which the instructions to respondents said, “Mark one or more races.” This table shows the number of people who are of one, two, or three or more races. For those claiming two races, the number of people belonging to the various categories is listed. The U.S. government conducts a census of the population every ten years.

	Number	Percent
Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Census 2000: Redistricting Data. Press release issued by the Redistricting Data Office. Washington, D.C., March, 2001. A dash (—) indicates that the percent is less than 0.1.
Total population	1,293,953	100.0
One race	1,268,344	98.0
Two races	24,265	1.9
White andBlack or African American	1,725	0.1
White andAmerican Indian/Alaska Native	8,112	0.6
White andAsian	3,929	0.3
White andNative Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	673	0.1
White andsome other race	8,094	0.6
Black or African American andAmerican Indian/Alaska Native	158	—
Black or African American andAsian	79	—
Black or African American andNative Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	12	—
Black or African American andsome other race	222	—
American Indian/Alaska Native andAsian	143	—
American Indian/Alaska Native andNative Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	42	—
American Indian/Alaska Native andsome other race	425	—
Asian andNative Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	254	—
Asian andsome other race	320	—
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander andsome other race	77	—
Three or more races	1,344	0.1

state tree). Oak/mountain mahogany and ponderosa pine are among the other main forest types. Syringa is the state flower. MacFarlanes four-o’clock, water howellia, Spalding’s catchfly, and Ute ladies-tresses were the state’s four threatened plant species as of April 2006.

Game mammals include the elk, mountain sheep, pronghorn antelope, black bear, moose, mule deer, mountain lion, and white-tailed deer. Pheasant, partridge, quail, and forest grouse are the main game birds. Trout, salmon, and bass are numerous in Idaho’s lakes and streams. Rare animal species include the wolverine, kit fox, and pika. As of April 2006, a total of 17 animal species were listed as threatened or endangered. They include the woodland caribou, whooping crane, three species of salmon, grizzly bear, bald eagle, woodland caribou, gray (timber) wolf, American peregrine falcon, and whooping crane.

5 Environmental Protection

The Department of Health and Welfare’s Division of Environment is responsible for enforcing environmental standards. Air quality improved greatly since 1978, following the passage of federal regulations strengthening the Clean Air Act. Vehicle emissions were responsible for high carbon monoxide levels in the Boise area in the late 1970s and 1980s. Emissions have dropped to the point that no carbon monoxide violations have occurred for several years.

Water quality is generally good. Most of the existing problems stem from runoff from agricultural lands. The state has 386,000 acres of wetlands. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has implemented plans to acquire privately owned wetlands deemed to be in danger.

Since 1953, nuclear waste has been buried at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory west of Idaho Falls or discharged in liquid form into the underground aquifer. Some isotopes are migrating toward the boundaries of the site. Tailings from a former uranium-ore milling operation near Lowman are a potential health hazard. A top-priority site for hazardous-waste cleanup is Bunker Hill Mining at Smelterville. Two sites in Pocatello are also considered candidates for cleanup. In 2003, the Environmental Protection Agency’s database listed 87 hazardous waste sites in the state, 6 of which were on the National Priorities List as of 2006.

6 Population

In 2006, Idaho ranked 39th in population in the United States with an estimated total of 1,466,465 residents. The state’s population density was 16.8 persons per square mile (7.33 per square kilometer) in 2004. The population is projected to reach nearly 1.6 million by 2015 and 1.8 million by 2025. In 2004, the median age was 34.3 years. Residents who were 65 years old or older accounted for 11% of the population, while nearly 27% were 18 or younger in 2005. Boise is the largest city. Its estimated population in 2005 was 193,161.

7 Ethnic Groups

According to the 2000 census, there were about 17,645 Native Americans living in Idaho. The largest group in the census year was the Nez Perce, with a reservation located in northern Idaho. There were 5,456 black Americans and 11,889 Asians, including 2,642 Japanese. Persons were of Hispanic or Latino origin accounted for 9.1% of the state’s population in 2006. There was also a very visible Basque community in the Boise area, with an organization devoted to preserving their language and culture. In 2000, the total number of foreign-born residents was 64,080, about 5% of the population.

8 Languages

In Idaho, English is a merger of Northern and North Midland features, with certain Northern pronunciations marking the panhandle. Of all residents five years old or older, 90.7% spoke only English in the home in 2000. Other languages spoken (and the number of speakers) were Spanish (80,241) and German (5,666).

9 Religions

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) has been the leading religion in Idaho since 1860. The number of Mormons in Idaho is second only to that in Utah. In 2006, membership in the Mormon church was reported at 376,661. According to 2000 estimates, Idaho had 18,745 adherents in the Assemblies of God, and 17,683 United Methodists. There were also 130,847 Roman Catholics, and an estimated 1,050 Jews.

10 Transportation

In 2004, Idaho had 47,101 miles (75,832 kilometers) of public roads and streets, the vast majority of which were rural. The major east–west highways are I-90, I-84, and US 12. US 95, Idaho 55, US 93, and I-15 are among the most traveled north–south routes. Idaho had 1.370 million registered vehicles in 2004, including about 569,000 automobiles, 751,000 trucks, and around 1,000 buses. In that same year, there were 942,983 licensed drivers. Boise, Pocatello, and Idaho Falls have mass transit system bus lines.

In 2003, there were 1,678 miles (2,701 kilometers) of railroad right of way used by the nine railroads operating within the state. Among the two Class I railroads, the Union Pacific Railroad served southern Idaho, while the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad crossed the panhandle. As of 2006, Amtrak provided east-west passenger service to Idaho via its Empire Builder train connection at Sandpoint to Chicago, or Seattle/Portland.

The modern airport at Boise is the state’s busiest. In 2005, there were a total of 204 airports, 44 heliports, 5 seaplane bases, and 2 STOLports (Short Take-Off and Landing). The Snake River port at Lewiston links Idaho, Montana, and the Dakotas with the Pacific via 464 miles (747 kilometers) of navigable waterways in Washington State.

11 History

The Shoshone, Northern Paiute, Salishan, and Shapwailutan tribal families were living in the area now known as Idaho when fur trappers and missionaries arrived in the early 1800s. The Oregon Trail opened in 1842, but for two decades people used it only to cross Idaho, not to settle there. In 1860 Mormons from Utah established Franklin, Idaho’s first permanent settlement, and began farming. Gold was discovered that summer in northern Idaho. A gold rush, lasting several years, led directly to the organizing of the Idaho Territory on 10 July 1863.

Idaho’s population nearly doubled between 1870 and 1880. The threat to Native American hunting and fishing grounds posed by growing white settlement touched off a series of wars in the late 1870s. The most famous of these conflicts was the Nez Perce War. With a population of 88,548 in 1890, Idaho was eligible to enter the Union, becoming the 43rd state on 3 July.

From 1895 onward, federal land and irrigation projects fostered rapid economic growth. The modern timber industry began in 1906 with the completion of one of the nation’s largest sawmills at Potlatch. By World War I, agriculture was a leading enterprise. Between the wars, Idaho suffered first from a farm depression in the 1920s, then from the nationwide Great Depression of the 1930s. After the war, an agro-industrial base was created, with fertilizers and potato-processing leading the way.

In the 21st century, population expansion and the push for economic growth have collided with a new interest in the environment, creating controversies over land-use planning, mineral development, and water supply and dam construction.

12 State Government

Idaho’s 1889 constitution, amended 117 times as of January 2005, continues to govern the state today.

The legislature, consisting of a 35-seat Senate and a 70-member House of Representatives, meets annually on the Monday closest to 9 January. The executive branch is headed by the governor, lieutenant governor, and five other elected officials, all of whom serve four-year terms. The governor may only serve two consecutive terms. The governor can sign or veto a bill or let it become law without his signature. Vetoes may be overridden by a two-thirds vote of each legislative house.

The governor’s salary as of December 2004 was $98,500, and the legislative salary was $15,646 in that same year.

13 Political Parties

Idahoans usually vote Republican in presidential elections. In 2004 Republican George W. Bush received 68.5% of the vote while Democrat John Kerry won 30.4% of the vote. However, while the state has become increasingly conservative politically since the early 1960s, Democrats were elected governor during 1970–92.

In November 2006, Republican C. L. “Butch” Otter won election as governor. Following the 2006 elections, the state legislature had 28 Republicans and 7 Democrats in the state senate, and 51 Republicans and 19 Democrats in the state house. There were 29 women serving in the state legislature following the 2006 elections, or 27.6%. In the 2006 elections, Idaho voters again elected two Republicans to represent them in the US House. Its US senators, Larry Craig, reelected in 2002, and Mike Crapo, elected in 2004, are also Republicans. In 2004, there were 798,000 registered voters. There is no party registration in the state.

14 Local Government

As of 2005, Idaho had 44 counties, 200 municipal governments, 115 public school districts, and 798 special districts. Most counties elect three commissioners and other officers. Nearly all cities have an elected mayor and a council of four to six members.

15 Judicial System

Idaho’s highest court, the supreme court, consists of five justices. There is a three-member court of appeals. The district court is the main trial court in civil and criminal matters, while magistrates’ courts handle traffic, misdemeanor, and minor civil cases and preliminary hearings in felony cases. Idaho’s crime rates are low in almost every category. In 2004, Idaho had a violent crime rate (murder/nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault) of 244.9 incidents per 100,000 people. As of 31 December 2004, there were 6,375 inmates in Idaho’s state and federal prisons. The state permits execution by lethal injection. As of 1 January 2006, there were 20 persons under sentence of death.

Idaho Governors: 1890–2007

1890–1891	George Laird Shoup	Republican
1891–1893	Norman Bushnell Willey	Republican
1893–1897	William John McConnell	Republican
1897–1901	Frank Steunenberg Popularist	Democrat
1901–1903	Frank Williams Hunt	Democrat
1903–1905	John Tracey Morrison	Republican
1905–1909	Frank Robert Gooding	Republican
1909–1911	James Henry Brady	Republican
1911–1913	James Henry Hawley	Democrat
1913–1915	John Michiner Haines	Republican
1915–1919	Moses Alexander	Democrat
1919–1923	David William Davis	Republican
1923–1927	Charles Calvin Moore	Republican
1927–1931	H. Clarence Baldridge	Republican
1931–1937	C. Ben Ross	Democrat
1937–1939	Barzilla Worth Clark	Democrat
1939–1941	Clarence Alfred Bottolfsen	Republican
1941–1943	Chase Addison Clark	Democrat
1943–1945	Clarence Alfred Bottolfsen	Republican
1945	Charles Clinton Gossett	Democrat
1945–1947	Arnold Williams	Democrat
1947–1951	Charles Armington Robins	Republican
1951–1955	Leonard Beck Jordan	Republican
1955–1967	Robert Eben Smylie	Republican
1967–1971	Don William Samuelson	Republican
1971–1977	Cecil Dale Andrus	Democrat
1977–1987	John Victor Evans	Democrat
1987–1995	Cecil Dale Andrus	Democrat
1995–1999	Philip E. Batt	Republican
1999–2006	Dirk Kempthorne	Republican
2006	James E. Risch	Republican
2006–	C. L. Otter	Republican

16 Migration

Idaho’s first white immigrants came from Utah, California, and Oregon in the early 1860s. By the end of the Civil War, the chief sources of immigrants were the southern and border states. Homesteaders from the Midwest, Utah, and Scandinavia arrived at the end of the 19th century.

Since 1960, immigrants have come largely from California. In 1998, 1,504 immigrants from foreign countries arrived in Idaho. In the period 2000–05, net international migration

Idaho Presidential Vote by Major Political Parties, 1948–2004

YEAR	IDAHO WINNER	DEMOCRAT	REPUBLICAN
* Won US presidential election.
** Independent candidate Ross Perot received 130,395 votes in 1992 and 62,518 votes in 1996.
1948	*Truman (D)	107,370	101,514
1952	*Eisenhower (R)	395,081	180,707
1956	*Eisenhower (R)	105,868	166,979
1960	Nixon (R)	138,853	161,597
1964	*Johnson (D)	148,920	143,557
1968	*Nixon (R)	389,273	165,369
1972	*Nixon (R)	380,826	199,384
1976	Ford (R)	126,549	204,151
1980	*Reagan (R)	110,192	290,699
1984	*Reagan (R)	108,510	297,523
1988	*Bush (R)	147,272	253,881
1992**	Bush (R)	137,013	202,645
1996**	Dole (R)	165,443	256,595
2000	*Bush, G. W. (R)	138,637	336,937
2004	*Bush, G. W. (R)	181,098	409,235

was 14,522 people, while net domestic migration was 61,273 people, giving a net population gain of 75,795.

17 Economy

Currently, agriculture, mining, forest products, and food processing comprise Idaho’s largest industries. The early 1980s brought a national recession to Idaho. Recovery, which required a restructuring of Idaho’s mining, forest products, and agricultural industries, came slowly. In some areas of the economy, the labor force has shrunk permanently. Modernization in lumber and wood products eliminated hundreds of jobs. Employment in chemical manufacturing, the paper industry, electronics, and tourism increased, however.

Disputes with the federal government over the management of federal lands—60% of Idaho’s public land—remain central to discussion of Idaho’s economic policy. The disputes center on such matters as grazing fees, costs of water from government projects, species protection, and mining regulations.

The electronics industry grew during the 1990s, but so too did other manufacturing sectors. From 1997 to 2000 the state’s overall manufacturing output grew by 37%. However, in the national recession of 2001, there was a substantial decrease in manufacturing output. Idaho’s economy was also negatively impacted by drought conditions in 2002 that reduced grazing lands and threatened the state’s potato crop. The state’s farmers were also affected by historically low milk prices in 2002 and 2003.

Idaho’s gross state product (GSP) in 2004 was $43.571 billion, of which manufacturing accounted for the largest portion at 14.3%, followed by real estate at 11.9%, and health care and social services at 6.6% of GSP. In 2005, the state’s GSP totaled $47 billion.

In 2004, of the 43,675 businesses that had employees, 97% were small companies.

18 Income

In 2004, per capita (per person) personal income in Idaho was $26,877, which was well below the national average of $33,050. Average median household income in Idaho for the three-year period 2002 through 2004, was $42,519 compared to the national average of $44,473. In that same period, an estimated 10.5% of the state’s residents lived below the federal poverty level, compared to 12.4% nationwide.

19 Industry

Although resource industries such as food processing, chemical manufacturing, and lumber production, continued to be important manufacturing sectors in Idaho’s economy, computer and electronic product manufacturing were the state’s primary manufacturing sectors in 2004.

Overall, the shipment value of all products manufactured in the state in 2004 totaled $16.583 billion, of which computer and electronic product manufacturing accounted for $6.076 billion, followed by food manufacturing at $4.455 billion. The state’s manufacturing sector employed 56,479 people in 2004.

20 Labor

In April 2006, the civilian labor force in Idaho numbered 761,200, with approximately 25,600 workers unemployed, yielding an unemployment rate of 3.4%, compared to the national average of 4.7% for the same period. According to preliminary nonfarm employment data for April 2006, about 8.1% of the labor force was employed in construction; 10% in manufacturing; 19.9% in trade, transportation, and public utilities; 4.9% in financial activities; 12.6% in professional and business services; 10.8% in educational and health services; 9.7% in leisure and hospitality services; and 18.1% in government.

Idaho was a pioneer in establishing the eight-hour day, and in outlawing so-called “yellow dog contracts,” which were agreements workers were required to sign as a condition of employment, that prohibited them from joining a union. In 2005, a total of 31,000 of Idaho’s 606,000 employed wage and salary workers were members of a union. This represented 5.2% of those so employed, and well under the national average of 12% for that same year.

21 Agriculture

The receipts from farm marketings totaled $4.5 billion in 2005 (21st in the United States). As of 2004, Idaho led the United States in potato production, was second in sugar beet and barley production, third in hops and peppermint oil, and fourth in spearmint oil.

Development of the russet potato in the 1920s gave Idaho its most famous crop. In 2004, the state produced 131.97 million hundredweight (5.98 billion kilograms) of potatoes (29% of the US total). Most were grown on irrigated land on the Snake River plain. About three-fourths of the crop is processed into frozen french fries, instant mashed potatoes, and other products. Other leading crops were hay, wheat, barley, and sugar beets.

As of 2004, Idaho had 11.9 million acres (5.4 million hectares) in farmland, roughly 22% of the state’s land area, with an estimated 25,000 farms, (including ranches). Almost 3.5 million acres (1.4 hectares) of land were irrigated.

22 Domesticated Animals

In 2005, there were an estimated 2 million cattle and calves worth around $2.2 billion. In 2004, Idaho had an estimated 21,000 hogs and pigs worth around $2.1 million. Idaho had an estimated 404,000 dairy cows, which produced 8.8 billion pounds (3.4 million kilograms) of milk in 2003. In the same year, Idaho produced an estimated 2.3 million pounds (1 million kilograms) of chicken, and an estimated 243 million eggs worth $14.5 million. Also during 2003, the state produced an estimated 24.7 million pounds of sheep and lambs, which grossed $20.8 million for Idaho farmers. Shorn wool production in 2004 was estimated at 2.1 million pounds (0.95 million kilograms).

23 Fishing

In 2004, there were some 403,741 licensed sport fishermen catching trout along with salmon, steelhead, bass, and 32 other game-fish species. Idaho is a leading producer of farm-raised trout. The state’s 55 trout farms had $32.6 million in sales in 2004. There are about 19 state hatcheries and 3 national fish hatcheries located within the state. The Idaho Fish Health Center in Orofino is a federally sponsored research facility.

24 Forestry

As of 2004, Idaho forests covered 23.5 million acres (9.5 million hectares), or about 40% of the state’s land area, with 16,824,000 acres (6,809,000 hectares) classified as commercial timberland. Of the total forest area in 2003, the federal government controlled 79%, while the state government controlled 5%, and private owners had 16%. National forest system lands in Idaho totaled 21,575,000 acres (8,731,000 hectares) in 2005. Idaho forests are used increasingly for ski areas, hunting, and other recreation, as well as for timber and pulp. Total lumber production was 1.7 billion board feet (10th in the United States) in 2004, almost all softwoods.

25 Mining

The estimated value of nonfuel mineral production for Idaho in 2004 was $446 million. Phosphate rock, construction sand and gravel, molybdenum concentrates, silver, portland cement, and crushed stone were the leading minerals, accounting for 91% of output by value in 2004. In that same year, Idaho was second nationally in the production of phosphate rock; third in silver and lead; fourth in molybdenum concentrates and zeolites; fifth in pumice and zinc; and sixth in gemstones. In 2004, early data put the state’s production of crushed stone at 3.2 million metric tons, and sand and gravel for construction at 18.2 million metric tons.

26 Energy and Power

In 2003, net summer electric power generating capacity was 3.002 million kilowatts, with total production that same year at 10.422 billion kilowatt hours. Hydroelectric power generation accounted for 80.1% of all electricity produced, followed by 13.2% from natural gas-fired plants. The remaining output came from other types of renewable sources, and from coal-fired plants.

Idaho’s large size, widespread and relatively rural population, and lack of public transportation foster reliance on motor vehicles and imported petroleum products. Natural gas is also imported. Hot water from thermal springs is used to heat buildings in Boise. As of 2004, Idaho had no known proven reserves of, or production of crude oil, or natural gas. Nor are there any refineries located within the state.

27 Commerce

In 2002, Idaho’s wholesale trade sector registered $11.4 billion in sales, while the state’s retail trade sector had sales in that same year of $13.5 billion. Motor ve4hicle and motor vehicle parts dealers accounted for the largest portion of retail sales in 2002 at $3.7 billion, followed by general merchandise stores at $2.3 billion, and food and beverage stores at $1.8 billion. Exports of goods produced in Idaho totaled $3.2 billion in 2005.

28 Public Finance

Idaho’s annual budget is prepared by the Division of Financial Management. The fiscal year runs from 1 July to 30 June. The state constitution requires that the legislature pass a balanced budget, and the governor, as the chief budget officer, has regularly assured that expenditures do not exceed revenues.

Idaho had total revenues in 2004 of $7.1 billion, while total expenditures that same year were $5.76 billion. The largest general expenditures were for education ($2.01 billion), public welfare ($1.19 billion), and highways ($524 million). The debt of the Idaho state government at the end of 2004 was $2.38 billion, or $1,708.85 per capita (per person).

29 Taxation

As of 1 January 2006, the personal income tax schedule had eight categories, ranging from 1.6% to 7.8%. Idaho’s flat tax on corporate income was 7.6%. Idaho has a retail sales tax rate of 6%, while local sales tax rates can reach as much as 3%, making the overall sales tax rate 9%. Although groceries are not exempt from the sales tax, the state does extend a grocery tax credit. The state also levies selective sales taxes (excises) on such items as gasoline and cigarettes. Other state taxes include various kinds of license fees.

There is no state property tax. Local property taxes are the only major source of local revenue.

Total state government tax collections in 2005 were $2.934 billion, or $2,054 per person, which was under the national average of $2,192. Sales taxes accounted for the largest share of the state’s tax revenues at 38.5%, followed by 35.5% from individual income taxes, and 12.7% from excise taxes. Corporate income taxes that year, accounted for 4.8% of tax collections.

30 Health

In October 2005, Idaho’s infant mortality rate was estimated at 6.3 per 1,000 live births. The state’s crude death rate in 2003 was 7.6 deaths per 1,000 inhabitants. As of 2002, the death rates (per 100,000 people) for heart disease was 188.8; cancer 159.4; cerebrovascular disease 54.9; chronic lower respiratory disease 44.4; and diabetes 23.9. As of 2004, about 17.4% of the population were smokers. In the same year, the reported AIDS case rate was around 1.6 per 100,000 people.

In 2003, Idaho had 39 community hospitals with around 3,400 beds. There were 657 nurses per 100,000 people in 2005. In 2004, there were 175 physicians per and 824 dentists per 100,000 population. The average daily expense for hospital care was $1,235 in 2003. About 17% of the state’s population were uninsured in 2004.

31 Housing

In 2004, there were an estimated 578,774 housing units within the state, of which 515,252 were occupied. About 72.4% of all units were owner-occupied, and around 71.1% were single-family, detached homes. Mobile homes accounted for 10.8% of all homes. Most units relied on utility gas and electricity for heating. It was estimated that 22,347 units were without telephone service, 2,419 lacked complete plumbing facilities, and 3,220 lacked complete kitchen facilities. The average household size was 2.64 people.

In 2004, a total of 18,100 privately owned housing units were authorized for construction. Median home value was at $120,825. The median monthly cost for mortgage owners was about $953, while renters paid a median of $566 per month.

32 Education

As of 2004, a total of 84.7% of Idaho residents over 25 were high school graduates, while 23.8% had obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Total enrollment in public schools was estimated at 250,000 in fall 2003, and was expected to reach 283,000 by fall 2014. Enrollment in private schools in fall 2003 was 10,994. Expenditures for public education in 2003/2004 were estimated at $1.7 billion.

As of fall 2002, there were 72,072 students enrolled in college or graduate school. In 2005, Idaho had 14 degree-granting institutions. The leading public higher educational institutions are the University of Idaho at Moscow, Idaho State University (Pocatello), Boise State University, and Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston.

33 Arts

The Idaho Commission on the Arts, founded in 1966, offers grants to support both creative and performing artists. The Commission is a partner with the regional Western States Arts Federation. The Idaho Humanities Council was established in 1973. In 2005, the state received $530,730 dollars in the form of six grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The Boise Philharmonic is Idaho’s leading professional orchestra. Other symphony orchestras are in Coeur d’Alene, Moscow, Pocatello, and Twin Falls. Boise and Moscow have seasonal theaters. The annual summer Idaho Shakespeare Festival, in Boise, presents a series of plays in its outdoor Festival Amphitheater and Reserve. Boise is also home to Ballet Idaho, the state’s professional ballet company.

34 Libraries and Museums

As of September 2001, Idaho had 106 public library systems, with 143 libraries, 39 of which were branches, and a combined book stock of 3.57 million volumes and a circulation of more than 8.7 million. The largest public library system is the Boise Public Library and Information Center. The leading academic library is at the University of Idaho (Moscow). The state also has 31 museums, notably the Boise Art Museum, Idaho State Historical Museum (Boise), and the Idaho Museum of Natural History (Pocatello). The University of Idaho Arboretum is at Moscow.

35 Communications

As of 2004, a total of 94.1% of Idaho’s occupied housing units had telephones. As of 2005, the state had 43 major operating radio stations (8 AM, 35 FM), and 13 major television stations. Several large cable systems serviced the state in 2005. A total of 21,563 Internet domain names were registered in the state in 2000. In 2003, computers were in 69.2% of all Idaho households, while 56.4% had computer access.

36 Press

Idaho, site of the first printing press in the Northwest, had 12 daily newspapers in 2005 (10 morning and 2 evening), and 8 Sunday papers. The most widely read newspaper was the Idaho Statesman, published in Boise, with a circulation of 63,023 daily and 83,857 Sundays in that same year. Caxton Printers, founded in 1902, is the state’s leading publishing house. Leading magazines from the state are Idaho magazine, and the industry trade magazines, Spudman and Sugar.

37 Tourism, Travel & Recreation

In 2004, Idaho’s tourist industry earned $2.97 billion. Tourists come to Idaho primarily for outdoor recreation—river trips, skiing, camping, hunting, fishing, and hiking. There are 19 ski resorts, of which by far the most famous is Sun Valley. Tourist attractions include the Craters of the Moon National Monument, the Nez Percé National Historical Park, and two US parks. Portions of the Lewis and Clark Trail and the Oregon Trail lie within the state as well.

38 Sports

Although Idaho has no major league sports teams, the state is represented in college sports. The Idaho State Bengals and the University of Idaho Vandals play Division I basketball and Division I-A football in the Big Sky and Big West Conferences, respectively. Boise State University is the largest university in the Big West Conference, with a football team in Division I.

Most county seats hold quarter-horse racing a few days a year and Boise’s racing season (including thoroughbreds) runs three days a week for five months. World chariot racing championships have been held at Pocatello, as are the National Circuit Rodeo Finals. Polo was one of Boise’s leading sports from 1910 through the 1940s. Idaho cowboys have won numerous riding, roping, and steer-wrestling championships. Skiing is very popular throughout the state and there is a world-class resort at Sun Valley. Golf is also quite popular.

39 Famous Idahoans

Leading federal officeholders born in Idaho include Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994), US secretary of agriculture from 1953 to 1961, and Cecil D. Andrus (b.Oregon, 1931), governor of Idaho from 1971 to 1977 and secretary of the interior from 1977 to 1981. Republican William E. Borah (b.Illinois, 1865–1940) served in the US Senate from 1907 until his death, chairing the foreign relations committee for 16 years. Senator Frank Church (1924–1984) became chairman of the same committee in 1979; however, he was defeated in his bid for a fifth term in 1980. Important state officeholders were the nation’s first Jewish governor, Moses Alexander (b.Germany, 1853–1932), and New Deal governor C. Ben Ross (1876–1946).

Idaho was the birthplace of poet Ezra Pound (1885–1972). Nobel Prize-winning novelist Ernest Hemingway (b.Illinois, 1899–1961) is buried at Ketchum. Gutzon Borglum (1871–1941), the sculptor who carved the Mt. Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota, was an Idaho native. Baseball slugger Harmon Killebrew (b.1936), football star Jerry Kramer (b.1936), and Olympic ski champion Picabo Street (b.1971) are Idaho’s leading sports personalities.