Government of Idaho

State of Idaho
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): Gem State
Motto(s): Esto perpetua (Latin for Let it be perpetual)
Official language	English
Demonym	Idahoan
Capital (and largest city)	Boise
Largest metro	Boise metropolitan area
Area	Ranked 14th
• Total	83,800 sq mi (216,900 km2)
• Width	305 miles (491 km)
• Length	479 miles (771 km)
• % water	0.98
• Latitude	42° N to 49° N
• Longitude	111°03′ W to 117°15′ W
Population	Ranked 39th
• Total	1,683,140 (2016 est)
• Density	20.1/sq mi  (7.76/km2) Ranked 44th
• Median household income	$51,624 (36th)
Elevation
• Highest point	Borah Peak 12,662 ft (3,859 m)
• Mean	5,000 ft  (1,520 m)
• Lowest point	Confluence of Snake and Clearwater River; Lewiston 713 ft (217 m)
Before statehood	Idaho Territory
Admission to Union	July 3, 1890 (43rd)
Governor	C. L. "Butch" Otter (R)
Lieutenant Governor	Brad Little (R)
Legislature	Idaho Legislature
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	House of Representatives
U.S. Senators	Mike Crapo (R) Jim Risch (R)
U.S. House delegation	1–Raúl Labrador (R) 2–Mike Simpson (R) (list)
Time zones
• north of Salmon River	Pacific: UTC −8/−7
• remainder of state	Mountain: UTC −7/−6
ISO 3166	US-ID
Abbreviations	ID
Website	www.idaho.gov

Idaho state symbols
The Flag of Idaho
The Seal of Idaho
Living insignia
Amphibian	Tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum)
Bird	Mountain bluebird (Sialia currucoides)
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	Huckleberry
Fossil	Hagerman horse (Equus simplicidens)
Gemstone	Star garnet
Motto	Esto perpetua ("Let it be perpetual")
Slogan	Great Potatoes. Tasty Destinations.
Soil	Threebear
Song	"Here We Have Idaho"
Other	Vegetable: potato
State route marker
State quarter
Released in 2007
Lists of United States state symbols

Idaho (ⁱ/ˈaɪdəhoʊ/) is a state in the northwestern region of the United States. It borders the state of Montana to the east and northeast, Wyoming to the east, Nevada and Utah to the south, and Washington and Oregon to the west. To the north, it shares a small portion of the Canadian border with the province of British Columbia. With a population of around 1.7 million people and an area of 83,569 square miles (216,440 km²), Idaho is the 14th largest and 39th most populous of the 50 states. The state's capital and largest city is Boise.

Idaho prior to European settlement was inhabited solely by Native American peoples, some of which still live in the area. In the early 19th century, Idaho was considered part of the Oregon Country, an area disputed between the U.S. and the United Kingdom. It officially became U.S. territory with the signing of the Oregon Treaty of 1846, but a separate Idaho Territory was not organized until 1863, instead being included for periods in Oregon Territory and Washington Territory. Idaho was eventually admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, becoming the 43rd state.