Idaho state symbols | |
---|---|
Living insignia | |
Amphibian | Tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) |
Bird |
|
Fish | Cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) |
Flower | Syringa (Philadelphus lewisii) |
Horse breed | Appaloosa |
Insect | Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) |
Tree | Western white pine (Pinus monticola) |
Inanimate insignia | |
Dance | Square dance |
Food |
|
Fossil | Hagerman horse (Equus simplicidens) |
Gemstone | Star garnet |
Soil | Threebear |
State route marker | |
Lists of United States state symbols |
Idaho is a state in the northwestern United States, and was the 43rd state to join the union.[4]
Idaho became a state in 1890, and it is the 11th largest state in land area, and the 14th largest in total area (land and water). Despite this, the population of Idaho was only 1,839,106 in 2020, making it ranked the 38th largest state by population.
Idaho is bordered by Washington and Oregon on the west, Montana and Wyoming on the east, Utah and Nevada on the south and the country of Canada (British Columbia) on the north side. Idaho is known for its vast mountainous landscapes, and it is literally covered from north to south by the Rocky Mountains.[5] Idaho is also home to the massive Snake River, which comes from the Grand Tetons in Wyoming and eventually flows to meld with the Columbia River in Washington state.[5] This river dissects Hell's Canyon, the deepest gorge in America,[6] which lies the state's Oregon border, and flows through south central Idaho. This river provides a fertile plain which is the base for most of the state's agricultural industries,[5] and the production of the potatoes for which Idaho is known. Idaho's state nickname is the "Gem State", despite also being known as the "Spud State", because of a man named George M. Willing who claimed it was derived from a Shoshone term.
Idaho's most prominent universities are Boise State University in its capital, Idaho State University in Pocatello, and the University of Idaho in Moscow.
Idaho's state motto is Esto perpetua, which is Latin for "Let it be forever".