Idaho (ID) is located in the northwest of the USA, the state is known for its diverse nature that includes mountains, forests and lakes. A well-known attraction is Yellowstone National Park. Potato farming is also important to the state’s economy, as it is a major producer. The capital and largest city in Idaho is Boise. An interesting fact about Idaho is that it is the only state where all 72 known types of gemstones have been mined.
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Table of Contents
Quick Facts
Name Idaho Abbreviation ID Capital Boise Largest city Boise (Population: 235 421) Current time 10:20 Time zone MST (UTC-7) is in effect in most of the state, PST (UTC-8) is in effect in areas to the west and northwest. The state observes daylight saving time MDT (UTC-6) and PDT (UTC-7) Population 1,839,117 (#38 most populous US state) Area 83,745 mi² (#14 largest US state) Admitted to the Union July 3, 1890 (#43 state to join) ⭐ Capital of Idaho
The capital of Idaho is Boise, whose creation in 1863 was the result of the gold rush and ongoing territorial battles. The origin of the name Boise is still not entirely clear; it became the capital of Idaho after its admission to the Union on July 3, 1890. Prior to that, Boise had already been the capital of the Idaho Territory.
🏙️ Largest City in Idaho
The largest city in Idaho is Boise, with a population of 235,421 in 2023. The second largest city is Meridian with a population of 134,801 and the third largest city is Nampa with a population of 114,268.
🕒 Time in Idaho
The current time in Boise, Idaho is [timezone=”America/Boise” format=”G:i”]. Most of the state observes Mountain Standard Time (MST, UTC-7), with a switch to Daylight Saving Time MDT (UTC-6) during the year. Only a smaller area in northern Idaho recognizes Pacific Standard Time (PST, UTC-8), switching to PDT (UTC-7) in the summer.
🧑🤝🧑 Population of Idaho
As of 2023, Idaho had a population of 1,839,117, ranking it as the 38th most populous state in the USA.
📍 Area of Idaho
The total area of the state of Idaho is 83,745 mi², with 82,908 mi² being land and 837 mi² being water. Idaho is the 14th largest state in the USA.
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Fun Facts About Idaho
🧩 Idaho Neighboring States
Idaho shares its borders with six American states. Oregon to the west, Washington to the northwest, Montana to the east, Wyoming to the east, Utah to the southeast, and Nevada to the southwest. In addition, it has a long border with the Canadian province of British Columbia to the north 45 mi.
📅 Date of Idaho Statehood
Idaho entered the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state to be created from part of the original Idaho Territory.
📛 Nickname of the State of Idaho
Idaho’s official nickname is “The Gem State”, and more than 70 precious and semi-precious stones and over 280 other minerals can be found in the state. The most famous star garnet is found only in Idaho and India, nowhere else in the world.
The other nickname, “The Potato State,” refers to the fact that approximately one-third of all potatoes grown in the USA come from Idaho.
⛰️ Highest Mountain in Idaho
The highest mountain in Idaho is with 12,668 ft Borah Peak in the Lost River Range.
🏞️ Rivers in Idaho
The longest river in Idaho is the Snake River with a total stream length of 1,078 mi. Next in order are the Kootenai River (485 mi), Salmon River (425 mi), Bear River (348 mi), and Owyhee River (346 mi).
🎓 Universities in Idaho
The largest university in Idaho is Brigham Young University, which was founded in 1888 in Rexburg and is attended by approximately 43,000 students. The second largest is Boise State University with 24 thousand students and the third largest is Idaho State University, which is attended by around 12 thousand students.
✉️ Idaho ZIP Codes
Idaho has a dedicated zip code range of 832xx-838xx. For an overview map, see ZIP Codes in the USA, and to find the ZIP code for a specific address, visit the USPS website.
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Weather in Idaho
The best time of year to visit Idaho is summer, with pleasant temperatures and minimal rainfall. The weather is conducive to outdoor activities such as hiking or camping.
Spring in Idaho lasts from March to May, and the weather is very changeable. While temperatures in March are around 36°F to 54°F, in May, some days already exceed 68°F. High temperature differences between day and night are common, rain is common at lower altitudes and snow may fall on the mountains.
Summers in Idaho are warm, with temperatures between June and August ranging between 68°F and 90°F. Temperatures are warmer in the lowlands and cooler in the mountains, creating favorable conditions for outdoor activities. Most summer days are sunny, rainfall is minimal and can occasionally be accompanied by short but intense thunderstorms.
Autumn in Idaho begins in earnest in October, with a gradual cooling to November’s 32°F to 48°F. Rainfall is more frequent, and snow may already be falling on the mountains during October.
Winters in Idaho are cold, with temperatures from December to February usually ranging between 23°F and 37°F. At higher altitudes, frosts are more frequent and more pronounced, and it can snow up to 30 cm per month.
🌡️ Average Temperatures and Precipitation in Idaho
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Things to Do in Idaho
1️⃣ Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
In southern Idaho, lava fields, craters, and volcanic tunnels that resemble a lunar landscape cover an area of more than 1,178 mi². Visitors to the Craters of the Moon National Reserve can walk through them by following one of the hiking trails that wind through the volcanic formations.
2️⃣ Shoshone Falls
Shoshone Falls is known as the Niagara Fallsof the West, located on the Snake River in southern Idaho. Interestingly, with a height of 212.0 ft, Shoshone Falls is even higher than the American side of Niagara Falls, where water falls from 167.0 ft. Visitors can view the falls from viewing platforms, with the best conditions for visiting in the spring when the Snake River is at its highest.
3️⃣ Old Idaho Penitentiary
In the city of Boise, you can visit the historic Old Idaho Penitentiary, which was in operation between 1872 and 1973 and now serves only as a museum. Visitors can see the prison cells, the execution chamber or learn about the lives of famous prisoners. The prison’s exhibition includes historical weapons and other objects from the time of its operation.
🗺️ Boise, Idaho
4️⃣ Yellowstone National Park
A small portion of Yellowstone National Park is located in Idaho and serves as the gateway to the western portion of the park. This area is less traveled, making it ideal for a quieter exploration of the geysers, thermal springs and other beautiful scenery of the national park. Those who want to explore the park in more depth can use the services of the campsites and hike along one of the hiking trails.
5️⃣ Silverwood Amusement Park
Silverwood is the largest amusement park in the northwestern United States, located northeast of Spokane. The park has over 70 rides in operation, the most popular of which are the wooden and steel roller coasters that will get your adrenaline pumping. In the hot summer months, the adjacent Boulder Beach Water Park offers welcome refreshment.
🗺️ Athol, Idaho
6️⃣ Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
Hagerman Fossil Beds is one of the richest mammal fossil sites in North America, earning the site protection as a national monument.
The centerpiece is a visitor center with interactive exhibits showing prehistoric animal remains over 3 million years old. There are several hiking trails around the national monument with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside.
7️⃣ Salmon River
The Salmon River is one of the major rivers in North America whose flow is not regulated by dams. The river is popular with kayaking, rafting and fishing enthusiasts. Several campgrounds operate around the river, giving visitors a unique opportunity to experience Idaho’s wildlife. The campgrounds also serve as a starting point for hiking and exploring the nearby forests and canyons.
8️⃣ Kirkham Hot Springs
Idaho is known for its thermal springs, which are located across the state. The most famous of these are Kirkham Hot Springs, located northeast of the city of Boise. The thermal springs are accessible year-round, giving visitors the opportunity to relax in natural hot water pools while enjoying the surrounding landscape, which is mostly made up of mountains and rivers.
9️⃣ Lake Coeur d’Alene
The picturesque Lake Coeur d’Alene lies in northern Idaho surrounded by forests and mountains. Visitors here have good conditions for paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing and other water sports. Those who prefer to walk on solid ground can take advantage of the hiking trails in the surrounding mountains.
🔟 Boise River Greenbelt Trail
The Boise River Greenbelt is a trail about 30.0 mi long, running along the Boise River and passing through the city of the same name. The greenway is not only suitable for cyclists but also for hiking, and there are several interesting parks and cultural sites along the route. The parks are a great stop for families with children.
🗺️ Boise, Idaho
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Largest Cities in Idaho
The table below shows the ten largest cities in the state of Idaho in 2023, the source of the data is the United States Census Bureau, a federal agency whose primary function is to count the population.
City County Population 1 Boise Ada 235,421 Map of Boise 2 Meridian Ada 134,801 Map of Meridian 3 Nampa Canyon 114,268 Map of Nampa 4 Caldwell Canyon 68,336 Map of Caldwell 5 Idaho Falls Bonneville 68,001 Map of Idaho Falls 6 Pocatello Bannock, Power 58,064 Map of Pocatello 7 Coeur d’Alene Kootenai 56,894 Map of Coeur d’Alene 8 Twin Falls Twin Falls 54,943 Map of Twin Falls 9 Post Falls Kootenai 44,798 Map of Post Falls 10 Rexburg Madison 39,975 Map of Rexburg -
Sports Teams in Idaho
🏒 Ice Hockey (NHL)
There are no teams playing in the NHL in Idaho.
🏈 American Football (NFL)
There is no team from Idaho in the NFL.
🏀 Basketball (NBA)
No team from Idaho plays in the NBA.
⚾ Baseball (MLB)
There is no team from Idaho in the MLB league.
⚽ Soccer (MLS)
Idaho is not represented in the MLS soccer league.
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Idaho State Symbols
Idaho’s state symbols honor the state’s heritage and culture, below is a selection of some of them.
State Flag of Idaho
First adopted in 1907, the first version of the Idaho flag takes the form of the state seal on a blue field, topped by a red and gold decorative ribbon that reads “State of Idaho”. Modifications to the flag occurred in 1927 and 1957, when the state seal was slightly altered.
Great Seal of Idaho
Idaho’s state seal was adopted in 1863 and had already been redrawn several times before entering the Union in 1890. The central motif of the seal is a miner and a woman, representing equality, liberty, and justice. They are complemented by natural resources, mines, forests, farmland and wildlife.
State Vegetable
Idaho is one of the largest producers of potatoes in the USA, and since 2002 the vegetable has been one of the state’s legally recognised symbols. The fourth grade students at Grand View Elementary School made this happen.
State Flower
The official flower of Idaho is the Lewis’ mock-orange (Philadelphus lewisii), an up to 10 ft tall plant with white flowers usually growing in direct sunlight at the edges of forests.
State Fish
Since 1990, the state symbol has included the cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii), which is found in various areas across the state.
State Bird
As early as 1931, the mountain bluebird (Sialia currucoides), which inhabits areas at higher elevations, was included among Idaho’s symbols.
State Amphibian
In 2015, the Idaho giant salamander (Dicamptodon aterrimus), which grows up to 33 cm and is generally found in moist coniferous forests, was added to the official state symbols.
State Tree
Since 1935, the legislature has thought of the official state tree as the western white pine (Pinus monticola), found in northern Idaho.
State Gem
Since 1967, Idaho’s official state gemstone has been a dark red to purple garnet with a white star that usually has four or six rays. It is referred to as the “Star Garnet” and is found only in Idaho and India, nowhere else in the world.
State Horse
Idaho is one of the states whose legislature has an official horse breed in mind. Since 1975, it has been the Appaloosa, whose breeding in North America began in the 16th century after the Spaniards brought it across the ocean.
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