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Everything about Idaho totally explained
As of 2005, Idaho has an estimated population of 1,429,096, which is an increase of 33,956, or 2.4%, from the prior year and an increase of 135,140, or 10.4%, since the year 2000. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 58,884 people (that is 111,131 births minus 52,247 deaths) and an increase due to net migration of 75,795 people into the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 14,522 people, and migration within the country produced a net increase of 61,273 people.
This makes Idaho the sixth fastest-growing state after Arizona, Nevada, Florida, Georgia, and Utah. From 2004 to 2005, Idaho grew the third-fastest, surpassed only by Nevada and Arizona.
Nampa, the state's second largest city, has experienced particularly strong growth in recent years. According to census estimates Nampa has grown 22.1% to nearly 65,000 residents between 2000 and 2003. As of 2007, the population in Nampa was estimated at 84,000. Growth of 5% or more over the same period has also been observed in Caldwell, Coeur d'Alene, Meridian, Post Falls and Twin Falls. (External Link )
Since 1990, Idaho's population has increased by 386,000 (38%).
The Boise Metropolitan Area (officially known as the Boise City-Nampa, ID Metropolitan Statistical Area) is Idaho's largest metropolitan area. Other metropolitan areas in order of size are Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Falls, Pocatello and Lewiston.
As of 2006, six official micropolitan statistical areas are based in Idaho. Twin Falls is the largest of these.
The center of population of Idaho is located in Custer County, in the town of Stanley. (External Link)
The largest reported ancestries in the state are: German (18.9%), English (18.1%), Irish (10%), American (8.4%), Norwegian (3.6%), Swedish (3.5%).
Religion
In 2004, the religious affiliations of Idahoans were surveyed as: (External Link)
Protestant – 29.3%
LDS (Mormon) – 22.8%
Catholic – 14.3%
Christian – 13.6%
None – 12.7%
Other – 7.2%
In 2001, the religious affiliations of the people of Idaho were surveyed as: (External Link) (External Link)
Christian – 79%
Other Religions – <1%
Non-Religious – 20%
As with many other Western states, the percentage of Idaho's population identifying themselves as "non-religious" is higher than the national average.
Economy
Gross state product for 2004 was US$43.6 billion. The per capita income for 2004 was US$26,881.
Idaho is an important agricultural state, producing nearly one third of the potatoes grown in the United States.
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 world's largest factory for barrel cheese, the raw product for processed cheese is located in Gooding, Idaho. It has a capacity of 120,000 metric tons per year of barrel cheese and belongs to the Glanbia group. The Idaho National Laboratory (INL), a government lab for nuclear energy research, is also an important part of the eastern Idaho economy. Idaho also is home to three facilities of Anheuser-Busch which provide a large part of the malt for breweries located across the nation.
Today, the largest industry in Idaho is the science and technology sector. It accounts for over 25% of the State's total revenue and 70%+ of the State's exports (in dollars). Idaho's industrial economy is growing, with high-tech products leading the way. Since the late 1970s, Boise has emerged as a center for 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, which is devoted primarily to LaserJet printers production.(External Link) Dell, Inc. operates a major customer support call center in Twin Falls. AMI Semiconductor, whose worldwide headquarter locates in Pocatello, is a widely recognized innovator in state-of-the-art integrated mixed-signal semiconductor products, mixed-signal foundry services and structured digital products. Coldwater Creek, a women's clothing retailer, is headquartered in Sandpoint.
The state personal income tax ranges from 1.6% to 7.8% in eight income brackets. Idahoans may apply for state tax credits for taxes paid to other states, as well as for donations to Idaho state educational entities and some nonprofit youth and rehabilitation facilities.
The state sales tax is 6%. Sales tax applies to the sale, rental or lease of tangible personal property and some services. Food is taxed, but prescription drugs are not. Hotel, motel, and campground accommodations are taxed at a higher rate (7% to 11%). Some jurisdictions impose local option sales tax.
Idaho has a state gambling lottery which contributed $333.5 million in payments to all Idaho public schools and Idaho higher education from 1990 - 2006.
Transportation
Major highways
Idaho is among the few states in the nation without a major freeway linking the two largest metropolitan areas of Boise in the south and Coeur d'Alene in the north. US-95 links the two ends of the state, but is, like many other highways in Idaho, in bad need of repair and upgrade. In 2007, the Idaho Transportation Department stated that the state's highway infrastructure faces a $200 million per year shortfall in maintenance and upgrades. Interstate 84 is the main highway linking the Southeast and Southwest portions of the state, along with Interstate 86 and Interstate 15.
Major airports include the Boise Airport, and the Spokane International Airport, which serves northern Idaho. Other airports with scheduled service are the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport serving the Palouse; the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport, serving the Lewis-Clark Valley and north central Idaho; The Magic Valley Regional Airport in Twin Falls; the Idaho Falls Regional Airport; and the Pocatello Regional Airport.
Idaho is served by two transcontinental railroads. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) connects North Idaho with Seattle, Portland and Spokane to the west, and Minneapolis and Chicago to the east. The BNSF travels through Kootenai, Bonner and Boundary Counties. The Union Pacific Railroad crosses southern Idaho travelling between Portland and Ogden, Utah and serves Boise, Nampa, Twin Falls, and Pocatello. Amtrak's Empire Builder crosses northern Idaho, with its only stop being in Sandpoint. There has been a push recently to return Amtrak service to southern Idaho as well.
The Port of Lewiston is the furthest inland Pacific port on the west coast. A series of dams and locks on the Snake River and Columbia River facilitate barge travel from here to Portland, where goods are loaded on ocean-going vessels.
Law and government
State government
The constitution of Idaho provides for three 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. Idaho still operates under its original (1889) state constitution.
Since 1946 statewide elected constitutional officers have been elected to four-year terms. They include: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Controller (Auditor before 1994), Treasurer, Attorney General, and Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Last contested in 1966, Inspector of Mines was an original elected constitutional office. Afterwards it was an appointed position and ultimately done away with entirely in 1974.
Idaho's government has an alcohol monopoly.
Executive Branch
The governor of Idaho serves a four-year term, and is elected during what is nationally referred to as midterm elections. As such, the governor isn't elected in the same election year as the president of the United States. The current governor is Republican C. L. "Butch" Otter, who was elected in 2006.
Legislative Branch
Idaho's legislature is part-time. However, the session may be extended if necessary, and often is. Because of this, Idaho's legislators are considered "citizen legislators", meaning that their position as a legislator isn't their main occupation.
Terms for both the Senate and House of Representatives are two years. Legislative elections occur every even numbered year.
The Idaho Legislature has been continuously controlled by the Republican Party since the late 1950s, although Democratic legislators are routinely elected from Boise, Pocatello, Blaine County and the northern Panhandle.
See also List of Idaho senators and representatives
Politics
Presidential elections results>
| Year |
Republican |
Democratic |
| 2004 |
68.38% 409,235 |
30.26% 181,098 |
| 2000 |
67.17% 336,937 |
27.64% 138,637 |
| 1996 |
52.18% 256,595 |
33.65% 165,443 |
| 1992 |
42.03% 202,645 |
28.42% 137,013 |
| 1988 |
62.08% 253,881 |
36.01% 147,272 |
| 1984 |
72.36% 297,523 |
26.39% 108,510 |
| 1980 |
66.46% 290,699 |
25.19% 110,192 |
| 1976 |
59.88% 204,151 |
37.12% 126,549 |
| 1972 |
64.24% 199,384 |
26.04% 80,826 |
| 1968 |
56.79% 165,369 |
30.66% 89,273 |
| 1964 |
49.08% 143,557 |
50.92% 148,920 |
| 1960 |
53.78% 161,597 |
46.22% 138,853 |
After the Civil War, many Southern Democrats moved to Idaho Territory. As a result, the early territorial legislatures were solidly Democrat-controlled. In contrast, most of the territorial governors were appointed by Republican Presidents and were Republicans themselves. This led to sometimes bitter clashes between the two parties. In the 1880s, Republicans became more prominent in local politics.
Since statehood, the Republican Party has usually been the dominant party in Idaho, as there was a polar shift in social and political stance between the two parties, when the Democrats became more liberal and the Republicans more conservative. In the 1890s and early 1900s, the Populist Party enjoyed prominence while the Democratic Party maintained a brief dominance in the 1930s during the Great Depression. Since World War II, most statewide elected officials have been Republicans.
Idaho Congressional delegations have also been generally Republican since its statehood. Several Idaho Democrats have had electoral success in the House over the years, but the Senate delegation has been a Republican stronghold for decades. Several Idaho Republicans, including current Senators Larry Craig and Mike Crapo, have won reelection to the Senate, but only Frank Church has won reelection as a Democrat. Church was the last Idaho Democrat to win a U.S. Senate race in 1974. No Democrat has won a U.S. House race in Idaho since Larry LaRocco in 1992.
In modern times, Idaho has been a reliably Republican state in presidential politics as well. It hasn't supported a Democrat for president since 1964. Even in that election, Lyndon Johnson defeated Barry Goldwater by less than two percentage points. In 2004, George W. Bush carried Idaho by a margin of 38 percentage points and 68.4% of the vote, winning in 43 of 44 counties. Only Blaine County, which contains the Sun Valley ski resort, supported John Kerry, who owns a home in the area.
In the 2006 elections, Republicans led by Governor-elect C. L. "Butch" Otter won all of the state's constitutional offices and retained both of the state's seats in the United States House of Representatives. However, Democrats picked up several seats in the Idaho Legislature, notably in the Boise area. (External Link)
Important cities and towns
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Population > 50,000 (urbanized area)
Boise (state capital) - Home of Boise State University
Nampa - Home of Northwest Nazarene University
Idaho Falls - Location of the main offices of the Idaho National Laboratory
Pocatello - Home of Idaho State University
Meridian - Suburb of Boise
Population > 30,000 (urbanized area)
Caldwell - Home of the College of Idaho
Coeur d'Alene - Home of North Idaho College, major tourist hub
Lewiston - Home of Lewis-Clark State College
Twin Falls - Home of College of Southern Idaho, BASE jumping
Population > 10,000 (urbanized area)
Blackfoot - Home of Idaho Potato Museum
Burley
Eagle - Suburb of Boise
Garden City
Hayden -Suburb of Coeur d'Alene
Kuna - Suburb of Boise
Moscow - Home of the University of Idaho and New Saint Andrews College
Mountain Home
Post Falls- Suburb of Coeur d'Alene and Spokane, Washington.
Rexburg - Home of Brigham Young University-Idaho
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Smaller Towns and Cities
American Falls - historical town, first town to be entirely relocated
Arco - first city to be lit by electricity generated from a nuclear power plant
City of Rocks - First rockclimbing station in Idaho
Driggs - skiing (Grand Targhee)
Eden
Emmett
Greenleaf - passed a law requiring residents to own a firearm
Fruitland
Hazelton
Island Park - snowmobiling, world-class fishing
Jerome
Kellogg - skiing (Silver Mountain)
Malad City
McCall - major tourist hub
Middleton
Montpelier
Mullan
New Plymouth - first planned community in Idaho, third west of the Rocky Mountains
Notus
Paris, Idaho - County seat of Bear Lake County
Payette - county seat of Payette County
Plummer
Rupert- County Seat of Minidoka County
Rigby - television birthplace
Salmon, Idaho
Sandpoint - Major year round tourist town with Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort and Lake Pend Oreille.
Soda Springs - US's only captive geyser
St. Anthony - sand dunes and several lava tubes
St. Maries
Stanley, Idaho
Sun Valley - major year-round resort with world-class skiing
Wallace - birthplace of Lana Turner
Worley
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National Parks
California National Historic Trail
City of Rocks National Reserve
Craters of the Moon National Monument
Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
Minidoka Internment National Monument
Nez Perce National Historical Park
Oregon National Historic Trail
Yellowstone National Park
National Recreation Areas
Sawtooth National Recreation Area
Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
National Wildlife Refuges
Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Camas National Wildlife Refuge
Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge
Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge
Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge
National Conservation Areas
Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area
State Parks
Education
Colleges and universities
The Idaho State Board of Education oversees three comprehensive universities. The University of Idaho in Moscow was the first university in the state (founded in 1889). A land-grant institution, the UI is the state's flagship university. Idaho State University in Pocatello opened in 1901 as the Academy of Idaho and was granted university status in 1963. Boise State University is the most recent school to attain university status in Idaho. The school opened in 1932 as Boise Junior College and became Boise State University in 1974. Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston is the only public, non-university 4 year college in Idaho.
Idaho has three regional community colleges: North Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene; College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls; and The College of Western Idaho in Nampa, which is set to open in 2009.
Private institutions in Idaho are Brigham Young University-Idaho in Rexburg, which is affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; The College of Idaho in Caldwell, which still maintains a loose affiliation with the Presbyterian Church; Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa; and New Saint Andrews College in Moscow, of reformed Christian theological background.
Sports
Boise is the host to the largest 5 K run for women, the St. Luke's Women's Fitness Celebration.
Official State Emblems
State Bird: Mountain Bluebird
State Dance: Square Dance
State Fish: Cutthroat Trout
State Flower: Syringa (Philadelphus lewisii)
State Fossil: Hagerman Horse (Equus simplicidens)
State Fruit: Huckleberry
State Gem: Idaho star garnet
State Horse: Appaloosa
State Motto: "Esto perpetua"
State Insect: Monarch butterfly
State Raptor: Peregrine falcon
State Song: Here We Have Idaho
State Tree: Western White Pine
State Soil: Threebear (soil)
Notable Idahoans
See List of people from Idaho.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Idaho'.
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