Idaho Information

Here is some general information about Idaho:

Recommended Reading

State Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols: A Historical Guide

This guide contains information about the symbols, mottoes, flowers, trees, birds, songs, and even license plates for each of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories.

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Name
Offical Name	State of Idaho
Nicknames	Gem State
Abbreviations	ID, US-ID
Origin of Name	An invented word that was falsely claimed to mean "the sun comes from the mountains" or "gem of the mountains" in the Shoshone Indian language - see history page for details

Government
Official Language	None
Admission to Union	3 July 1890
Time Zones	Mountain, Pacific
Official Web Site	www.idaho.gov

Population
Capital	Boise
Largest City	Boise
Population	1,293,953 (as of 2000 census)
Economy	Agriculture: potatoes, beans, lentils, sugar beets, cattle, dairy products, wheat, barley Industry: food processing, lumber and wood products, machinery, chemical products, paper products, electronics manufacturing, mining (especially silver), and tourism.

Geography
Area	83,642 square miles (216,632 km²)
Major Rivers	Coeur d'Alene River, Kootenai River, St. Joe River, St. Maries River, Snake River
Major Lakes	American Falls Reservoir, Bear Lake, Coeur d'Alene Lake, Lake Pend Oreille
Highest Point	Borah Peak - 12,662 feet (3,859 meters)
Bordering States	Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Montana
Bordering Country	Canada
Bordering Body of Water	None

Symbols
Flag
Motto	"Esto perpetua" - Let it be perpetual
Song	Here We Have Idaho
Bird	Mountain Bluebird
Horse	Appaloosa
Insect	Monarch Butterfly
Fish	Cutthroat Trout
Fossil	Hagerman Horse Fossil
Flower	Syringa
Tree	Western White Pine
Gemstone	Idaho Star Garnet
Soil	Threebear
Dance	Square Dance