State
Flag:
A silk flag, with a blue field, 5 feet 6 inches
fly, 4 feet 4 inches on pike is bordered by gilt fringe 2 1/2 inches wide,
with the State Seal of Idaho in the center. The words "State of Idaho"
are embroidered in gold block letters two inches high on a red band below
the Great Seal. Adopted by the 1907 legislature.
State
Seal:
In 1957, the thirty-fourth session of the Idaho legislature
authorized the updating and improvement of the Great Seal in order to
more clearly define Idaho's main industries, mining, agriculture and forestry
as well as highlight the state's natural beauty . Paul B. Evans and the
Caxton Printers, Ltd. were commissioned to revise the seal.
Land
Area:
83,751 square miles, 13th in area size
Water
Area:
823 square miles
Highest
Point:
12,662 feet above sea level at the summit of Mt. Borah, Custer County
in the Lost River Range
Lowest
Point:
770 feet above sea level at the Snake River at Lewiston.
Length:
479 Miles
Width:
305 miles at widest point
Geographic
Center:
Settlement of Custer on the Yankee Fork River, Custer County
Number of Lakes:
More than 2,000
Navigable Rivers:
Snake, Coeur d'Alene, St. Joe, St. Maries and Kootenai
Largest
Lake:
Lake Pend Oreille, 180 square miles
Temperature
Extremes:
Highest, 118 degrees at Orofino July 28, 1934 * Lowest, -60 degrees at
Island Park Dam, January 18, 1943.
Population
(as of 1995):
Total: 1,163,261 - 41st among states
Median age of population - 32.8
Number of households - 416,000
Persons per household - 2.74
Number of U.S. Senators - 2
Number of U.S. Representatives - 2
Number of U.S. Electoral College Votes - 4
Land Ownership:
Land federally owned - 63.7%
Land state owned - 5.1%
Land privately owned - 31.0%
Land city/county owned - 0.2%
State
of Idaho Facts Page
State
Folkdance:
The 1989
legislature designated the square dance as the American Folk Dance of
Idaho. The square dance was first associated with the American people
and recorded in history since 1651. Square dancing includes squares, rounds,
clogging, contra, line and heritage dances.
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State
Insect:
Monarch
Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
State
Fish:
Cutthroat Trout (Salmo
clarki)
State
Bird:
Mountain
Bluebird (Sialia currucoides)
State
Horse:
The Appaloosa
is an intelligent, fast and hard working breed. An easy going disposition
and exceptional abilities give this horse a great deal of versatility
that no doubt contributes to its rapidly rising popularity. Once the warhorses
of the Nez Perce, today the Appaloosa serves as a racehorse, in parades,
ranch work and youth programs. The coloring of the Appaloosa's coat is
distinct in every individual horse and ranges from white blanketed hips
to a full leopard. Adopted by the 1975 legislature.
State
Flower:
The Syringa
(Philadelphus lewisii), also known as Mock Orange, was designated
the state flower of Idaho by the legislature in 1931. It is a branching
shrub with clusters of white, fragrant flowers. The blossoms are similar
to the mock orange, have four petals, and the flowers grow at the ends
of short, leafy branches.
State
Tree:
The Western
White Pine (Pinus Monticola pinaceae), our state tree, is probably
most notable since the largest remaining volume of this timber in the
United States grows in the northern part of Idaho. White Pine has many
fine qualities such as straight grain and soft even texture. Adopted by
the 1935 legislature.
State
Fossil:
The 1988
legislature designated the Hagerman Horse Fossil (species Equus simplicidens
originally described as Plesippus shoshonensis) as the official
state fossil. A rich fossil bed 3.5 million years old, which has yielded
over 130 complete horse skeletons, was discovered in the 1920s near Hagerman
and is said to be the best known Pleistocene-epoch fossil site in the
world.
State
Gemstone:
Adopted
by the 1967 Legislature, the Idaho Star Garnet is treasured throughout
the world by collectors. This stone is considered more precious than either
Star Rubies or Star Sapphires. Normally the star in the Idaho Garnet has
four rays, but occasionally one has six rays as in a sapphire. The color
is usually dark purple or plum and the star seems to glide or float across
the dark surface.
State
Song:
Official
State Song by Enactment of the Twenty-first Session of the Idaho Legislature
Verses by Albert J.Tompkins
Chorus by McKinley Helm
Music by Sallie Hume-Douglas
Here
We Have Idaho
Youve
heard of the wonders our land does possess,
Its beautiful valleys and hills.
The majestic forests where nature abounds,
We love every nook and rill
Chorus:
And here we have Idaho,
Winning her way to fame.
Silver and gold in the sunlight blaze,
And romance lies in her name.
Singing, were
singing of you,
Ah, proudly too. All our lives thru,
Well go singing, singing of you,
Singing of Idaho.
Theres
truly one state in this great land of ours,
Where ideals can be realized.
The pioneers made it so for you and me,
A legacy well always prize.
Chorus
Click here to Listen
to the State Song! |