Idaho Summary

photo by rennerroby

Though Idaho is largely known for its pioneer heritage, the state boasts more than 28,000 miles of pristine wilderness, with the northwest region the most mountainous. Idaho’s federal land is protected from logging and its national forests are perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, who flock to the winter playgrounds and the summer trails of its craggy mountain ranges.

With the Continental Divide running east of the state, more than 3,100 miles of rivers cut through the region, creating deep gorges and whitewater tracts. This area is also the natural habitat for a variety of animals and birds, including black bears, wolves, moose, elk, beavers, river otters, and ospreys. For over 15,000 years Idaho was home to the Shoshone, Bannock, and Nez Perce peoples. In 1805, Lewis and Clark were the first explorers to travel across the region’s difficult terrain. Prospectors during the 1860s gold rush brought a flow of settlers to the region where, originally, only a small number of fur trappers and mountain men roamed. When the boom went bust, many of the mining camps languished until the railroad enabled the development of another flourishing industry.

Idaho produces the largest crop of potatoes in the United States, as well as growing grain and raising cattle and sheep throughout the irrigated plains of the Snake River Basin. Idaho remains free of urban encroachment, and each region’s distinctive geographical elements influence its economic infrastructure. Nevertheless, all contribute equally to the state’s vibrant economy, with the ski resort of Sun Valley alone generating millions of tourism dollars in the winter.