Idaho - The Gem State

About Idaho

Idaho, officially the State of Idaho, is a mountainous state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. With nearly 2 million residents, it is known for its dramatic natural beauty, vast wilderness areas, and outdoor recreation opportunities. Boise serves as both the state capital and largest city, home to nearly half the state's population in its metropolitan area.

Idaho's geography is among the most rugged in America, with the Rocky Mountains dominating the central and northern regions. The state contains more federally designated wilderness than any state in the Lower 48, with pristine areas like the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness covering 2.4 million acres. The Snake River, one of America's great rivers, flows across southern Idaho, carving spectacular canyons including Hells Canyon, the deepest river gorge in North America at 7,993 feet deep—deeper than the Grand Canyon.

Famous Idaho Potatoes

Idaho is synonymous with potatoes, producing nearly one-third of all potatoes grown in the United States. The state's unique combination of rich volcanic soil, clean water from mountain snowmelt, warm sunny days, and cool nights creates ideal conditions for growing exceptional potatoes. Idaho's russet Burbank potatoes are considered the gold standard, prized by restaurants and food processors worldwide for their high starch content, fluffy texture, and excellent flavor.

The potato industry has shaped Idaho's economy and identity since the late 1800s. Today, Idaho grows potatoes on approximately 300,000 acres, producing over 13 billion pounds annually. The famous "Big Idaho Potato Tour" features a six-ton, 28-foot-long potato on wheels that travels America promoting Idaho potatoes. While potatoes are iconic, Idaho's agricultural sector is diverse, also leading in trout production (raising 75% of commercial trout in America), sugar beets, wheat, barley, and hops for craft brewing.

Beyond agriculture, Idaho has cultivated a growing technology sector. Boise has emerged as a tech hub, earning the nickname "Silicon Valley of the Rockies." Major companies including Micron Technology (a global leader in semiconductors), Hewlett-Packard, and numerous tech startups have established operations in Idaho, attracted by quality of life, lower costs, and an educated workforce from Boise State University and other institutions.

Wilderness & Outdoor Recreation

Idaho is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise, offering unparalleled wilderness experiences. The state contains nine designated wilderness areas covering 4.8 million acres, more than any state in the Lower 48. The Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness is the largest contiguous wilderness area in the continental United States outside Alaska, an immense roadless region where wolves, bears, elk, and mountain lions roam freely.

The Salmon River, known as the "River of No Return," carves through central Idaho's wilderness, offering world-class whitewater rafting and fishing. This legendary river was named because early explorers found it impossible to navigate upstream through its fierce rapids and narrow canyons. Today, it attracts adventurers from around the world for multi-day float trips through pristine wilderness. The river also supports important salmon and steelhead runs, though populations have declined from historic levels.

Idaho's mountain ranges provide exceptional skiing and snowboarding. Sun Valley, founded in 1936, was America's first destination ski resort, attracting celebrities, world leaders, and skiing pioneers for generations. Other renowned ski areas include Schweitzer, Bogus Basin, Brundage, and Grand Targhee. In summer, these same mountains offer hiking, mountain biking, and backpacking through alpine meadows, past pristine lakes, and up granite peaks. Craters of the Moon National Monument presents a starkly different landscape—a surreal volcanic terrain so moonlike that NASA astronauts trained there before Apollo missions.

Basque Culture & Heritage

Idaho, particularly Boise, is home to the largest Basque community in the United States and one of the largest outside the Basque Country of Spain and France. Beginning in the 1890s, Basque immigrants came to Idaho to work as sheepherders in the remote mountains and high desert ranges. These hardy people from the Pyrenees Mountains found Idaho's rugged landscape familiar and established a thriving community that has preserved its unique culture for over a century.

Boise's Basque Block is the cultural heart of this community, featuring Basque restaurants serving traditional cuisine like solomo (pork loin), chorizo, and lamb stews served family-style. The Basque Museum and Cultural Center, located in the historic Cyrus Jacobs-Uberuaga House, preserves and shares Basque heritage through exhibits, festivals, and educational programs. Every five years, Boise hosts Jaialdi, the largest Basque festival outside the Basque Country, attracting thousands of participants and visitors.

Basque traditions remain vibrant in Idaho, from traditional dancing and music to the sport of pelota (Basque handball) played at frontons throughout the state. Basque sheepherders carved arborglyphs (tree carvings) into aspen trees during lonely seasons in mountain camps; these historical carvings are now protected cultural artifacts. The Basque community's contribution to Idaho extends beyond culture—Basque families built successful businesses, ranches, and played important roles in state politics and society.

Lewis & Clark Expedition

Idaho played a crucial role in the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the first American overland expedition to the Pacific coast and back. In September 1805, the Corps of Discovery entered present-day Idaho, crossing the Continental Divide at Lemhi Pass. They met the Shoshone people, whose chief, Cameahwait, was the brother of Sacagawea, the expedition's invaluable guide and interpreter. The Shoshone provided horses essential for the expedition's survival.

The expedition's journey through Idaho proved to be the most difficult of their entire adventure. Following the treacherous Lolo Trail across the Bitterroot Mountains, they nearly starved while navigating steep, snow-covered terrain with little game. The Nez Perce people saved the expedition, providing food and assistance when they emerged exhausted from the mountains. The Nez Perce also cared for the expedition's horses during the winter and helped them build canoes to navigate the Clearwater and Snake Rivers toward the Pacific.

The relationship between the Nez Perce and Americans began positively but tragically deteriorated. Despite never engaging in hostilities against the United States, the Nez Perce were eventually forced from most of their ancestral lands. The Nez Perce War of 1877, led by Chief Joseph, saw the tribe's dramatic 1,170-mile fighting retreat toward Canada, ending just 40 miles from the border. Chief Joseph's surrender speech—"I will fight no more forever"—remains one of American history's most poignant moments. Today, the Nez Perce Tribe maintains its presence in Idaho, working to preserve language, culture, and sacred sites.

Mining Heritage & the Gem State

Idaho earned its nickname "The Gem State" from its rich mineral resources and stunning natural beauty. The state has produced significant quantities of silver, lead, zinc, and other minerals. The Coeur d'Alene Mining District in northern Idaho was one of the world's richest silver mining regions, producing over 1.2 billion ounces of silver since the 1880s. Mining towns like Wallace and Kellogg boomed, attracting prospectors, miners, and entrepreneurs from around the world.

Idaho produces 72 types of precious and semi-precious gemstones, more varieties than any other state. The star garnet, found primarily in Idaho and India, is Idaho's state gem. Rockhounds and gem hunters visit Idaho to search for opals, jasper, garnets, and other treasures in the mountains and rivers. Gold mining also played an important role in Idaho's history, with significant strikes in the Boise Basin, Warren, and other districts bringing thousands of prospectors during the 1860s gold rush.

Modern Idaho has diversified beyond extractive industries while maintaining some mining operations. The state leads in production of pumice and silver, and mining remains important in some regions. Environmental cleanup efforts in areas like the Coeur d'Alene Basin work to remediate historical mining pollution while preserving this important heritage. Mining ghost towns scattered across Idaho serve as reminders of boom-and-bust cycles that shaped the state's development.

Major Cities

Counties

Idaho has 44 counties. Major counties include:

Interesting Facts

Neighboring States

Idaho also shares a short border with British Columbia, Canada to the north.