Capital: Boise

Governor: Dirk Kempthorne, R (to Jan. 2003)

Lieut. Governor: C. L. "Butch" Otter, R (to Jan. 2003)

Senators: Larry E. Craig, R (to Jan. 2003); Mike Crapo, R (to Jan. 2005)

Secy. of State: Pete T. Cenarrusa, R (to Jan. 2003)

State Controller: J. D. Williams, D (to Jan. 2003)

Atty. General: Alan G. Lance, R (to Jan. 2003)

Treasurer: Ron G. Crane, R (to Jan. 2003)

Organized as territory: March 3, 1863

Entered Union (rank): July 3, 1890 (43)

Present constitution adopted: 1890

Motto: Esto perpetua (It is forever)

State Symbols:

After its acquisition by the U.S. as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the region was explored by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in 1805-06. Northwest boundary disputes with Great Britain were settled by the Oregon Treaty in 1846 and the first permanent U.S. settlement in Idaho was established by the Mormons at Franklin in 1860.

After gold was discovered on Orofino Creek in 1860, prospectors swarmed into the territory, but left little more than a number of ghost towns.

In the 1870s, growing white occupation of Indian lands led to a series of battles between U.S. forces and the Nez Percé, Bannock, and Sheepeater tribes.

Mining, lumbering, and irrigation farming have been important for years. Idaho produces more than one fifth of all the silver mined in the U.S. It also ranks high among the states in antimony, lead, cobalt, garnet, phosphate rock, vanadium, zinc, and mercury.

Idaho's most impressive growth began when World War II military needs made processing agricultural products a big industry, particularly the dehydrating and freezing of potatoes. The state produces about one fourth of the nation's potato crop, as well as wheat, apples, corn, barley, sugar beets, and hops.

With the growth of winter sports, tourism now outranks mining in dollar revenue. Idaho's many streams and lakes provide fishing, camping, and boating sites. The nation's largest elk herds draw hunters from all over the world and the famed Sun Valley resort attracts thousands of visitors to its swimming and skiing facilities.

Other points of interest are the Craters of the Moon National Monument; Nez Percé National Historic Park, which includes many sites visited by Lewis and Clark; and the State Historical Museum in Boise.

Nickname: Gem State

Origin of name: Unknown. Though popularly believed to be an Indian word, it is an invented name whose meaning is unknown.

10 largest cities1 (1996 est.): Boise, 168,370; Pocatello, 52,781; Idaho Falls, 48,627; Nampa, 46,125; Twin Falls, 34,316; Coeur d'Alene, 33,659; Lewiston, 30,597; Meridian, 27,690; Caldwell, 23,373 Moscow, 19,905

Land area: 82,751 sq mi. (214,325 sq km)

Geographic center: In Custer Co., at Custer, SW of Challis

Number of counties: 44, plus small part of Yellowstone National Park

Largest county by population and area: Ada, 283,402 (1999 est.); Idaho, 8,485 sq mi.

State forests: 881,000 ac.

State parks: 23

Residents: Idahoan

1999 resident population est.: 1,251,700

1990 resident census population (rank): 1,006,749 (42). Male: 500,956; Female: 505,793. White: 950,451 (94.4%); Black: 3,370 (0.3%); American Indian: 13,780 (1.4%); Asian: 9,365 (0.9%); Other race: 29,783 (3.0%); Hispanic: 52,927 (5.3%). 1990 percent population under 18: 30.6; 65 and over: 12.0; median age: 31.5.