Idaho
From Free net encyclopedia
- For the music group, see Idaho (band).
Idaho is a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.
Contents |
Geography
Image:National-atlas-idaho.PNG Image:Idaho population map.png Image:Owyhee Mountains.jpg Image:Crooked Creek in Gospel Hump Wilderness.jpg Image:Idaho USA12.jpg Template:See Idaho borders Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Montana, Wyoming and the Canadian province of British Columbia (the Idaho-BC border is 48 miles (77 km)long). The landscape is rugged with some of the largest unspoiled natural areas in the country. It is a Rocky Mountain state with exciting scenery and enormous natural resources. The state has towering, snow-capped mountain ranges, swirling white rapids, peaceful lakes and steep canyons. The churning waters of Snake River rush through Hells Canyon, which is deeper than the Grand Canyon. Shoshone Falls plunges down rugged cliffs from a height greater than that of Niagara Falls.
The major rivers in Idaho are the Snake River, the Clearwater River and the Salmon River. Other significant rivers include the Boise River and the Payette River.
Idaho's highest point is Borah Peak in the Lost River Mountains north of Mackay. Idaho's lowest point is in Lewiston, where the Clearwater River joins the Snake River and continues into Washington.
Most major cities in Idaho, including Boise (The Capital), Idaho Falls, Pocatello and Twin Falls are in the Mountain Standard Time Zone. Areas north of the Salmon River, including Coeur d'Alene and Lewiston are in the Pacific Standard Time Zone.
Lakes
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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
State Parks
History
See History of Idaho
Demographics
| Historical populations | |
|---|---|
| Census year | Population |
| 1870 | 14,999 |
| 1880 | 32,610 |
| 1890 | 88,548 |
| 1900 | 161,772 |
| 1910 | 325,594 |
| 1920 | 431,866 |
| 1930 | 445,032 |
| 1940 | 524,873 |
| 1950 | 588,637 |
| 1960 | 667,191 |
| 1970 | 712,567 |
| 1980 | 943,935 |
| 1990 | 1,006,749 |
| 2000 | 1,293,953 |
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 Nevada, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, and Utah. From 2004 to 2005, Idaho was the third fastest grower, 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 percent to nearly 65,000 residents between 2000 and 2003. Growth of 5% or more over the same period has also been observed in Caldwell, Coeur d'Alene, Meridian and Twin Falls [1].
Since 1990, Idaho's population has increased 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.
Race
The racial makeup of Idaho:
- 88% White
- 7.9% Hispanic
- 1.4% Native American
- 0.9% Asian
- 0.4% Black
- 2% Mixed race
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
As with many other western states, the percentage of Idaho's population identifying themselves as "non-religious" (an umbrella term which is sometimes synonymous with or includes elements of atheism, agnosticism, skepticism, freethought, humanism, secular humanism, heresy, logical positivism, and apathy) is higher than the rest of the country.
The current religious affiliations of the people of Idaho are shown in the table below:
- Christian – 65%
- Protestant – 50%
- Baptist – 10%
- Methodist – 10%
- Lutheran – 3%
- Presbyterian – 3%
- Other Protestant or general Protestant – 24%
- Catholic – 15%
- LDS – 14%
- Protestant – 50%
- Other Religions – <1%
- Non-Religious – 20%
Economy
Image:Wiki idaho.jpg The state's gross domestic 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. Other important agricultural products are beans, lentils, sugar beets, cattle, dairy products, wheat, and barley.
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 Idaho National Laboratory (INL), a government lab for nuclear energy research, is also an important part of the eastern Idaho economy.
Although Idaho's dependence on mining has decreased, the state remains a top producer of silver and lead. Today, 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 printer production.[2]. Dell, Inc. operates a major customer support call center in Twin Falls.
The state personal income tax ranges from 1.6 percent to 7.8 percent in 8 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 5 percent. 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 percent to 11 percent). Some jurisdictions impose local option sales tax.
Transportation
Major highways
Law and government
State government
The constitution of Idaho provides for 3 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.
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 is not elected in the same election year as the president of the United States.
The current governor is Dirk Kempthorne (Republican), elected in 1998, re-elected in 2002, his term expires in January 2007. On March 16, 2006, Kempthorne was nominated by President George W. Bush to be United States Secretary of the Interior. If Kempthorne is confirmed by the United States Senate, Lieutenant Governor Jim Risch (Republican) will assume the office of governor for the remainder of Kempthorne's term. Template:See
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 is not their main occupation.
Terms for both the Senate and House of Representatives are two years. Legislative elections occur every even numbered year.
See also List of Idaho senators and representatives
On the national level Idaho is a strongly Republican state which has not 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.
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.
Idaho is an alcohol monopoly or Alcoholic beverage control state.
Important cities and towns
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Population > 100,000 (urbanized area) (state capital) |
Population > 10,000 (urbanized area)
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Smaller Towns and Cities
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Education
Colleges and universities
Professional sports teams
Idaho's Minor League baseball teams are:
Other minor league sports teams:
Miscellaneous topics
Idaho is nicknamed the Gem State because of its abundance of natural resources. The state motto is Esto perpetua (Latin for "Let It Be Perpetual").
Origin of name
Idaho has a very unusual name. It is perhaps the only state to be named as the result of a hoax. When a name was being selected for new territory, eccentric lobbyist George M. Willing suggested "Idaho," which he claimed was a Native American term meaning "gem of the mountains". It was later revealed Willing had made up the name himself, and the original Idaho territory was re-named Colorado because of it. Eventually the controversy was forgotten, and modern-day Idaho was given the made-up name when the Idaho Territory was formally created in 1863.
Well-known Idahoans
See also
- Red Rock Pass - The pass where the ancient Lake Bonneville was emptied.
External links
- State of Idaho's Government Website
- Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation
- Visit Idaho site
- A photographic virtual tour of Idaho
- U.S. Census Bureau
- Idaho Newspapers
| Image:Idaho state flag.png | |
|---|---|
| State capital: | |
| Regions: |
Boise metropolitan area / Treasure Valley | Eastern Idaho | Idaho Panhandle | Magic Valley | North Central Idaho | Wood River Valley |
| Largest cities: |
Boise | Coeur d'Alene | Idaho Falls | Meridian | Nampa | Pocatello | Twin Falls |
| Smaller cities: |
Blackfoot | Burley | Caldwell | Chubbuck | Eagle | Garden City | Hayden | Jerome | Lewiston | Moscow | Mountain Home | Post Falls | Rexburg | Sandpoint | |
| Counties: |
Ada | Adams | Bannock | Bear Lake | Benewah | Bingham | Blaine | Boise | Bonner | Bonneville | Boundary | Butte | Camas | Canyon | Caribou | Cassia | Clark | Clearwater | Custer | Elmore | Franklin | Fremont | Gem | Gooding | Idaho | Jefferson | Jerome | Kootenai | Latah | Lemhi | Lewis | Lincoln | Madison | Minidoka | Nez Perce | Oneida | Owyhee | Payette | Power | Shoshone | Teton | Twin Falls | Valley | Washington | |
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