Origin of Name: Originally suggested for Colorado the name "Idaho." Idaho is an invented word, and is not a derivation of an Indian phrase "E Dah Hoe (How)" supposedly meaning "gem of the mountains."
Nick Name: Gem State - in 1863, Congress designated the Idaho Territory with the erronious understanding that Idaho was a Shoshone word meaning Gem of the Mountains.
Land of Famous Potatoes - Advertised as "Famous Potatoes" on license plates.
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 red band of below the Great Seal. Adopted on March 12, 1907.
State Bird: The Mountain Blue Bird was adopted as the state bird of Idaho by the state legistlature in 1931.
State Tree: The Western White Pine, is probably most notable since the largest remaining volume of the timer in the US gorws in the northern part of Idaho. White Pine has many fine qualities such as straight grain and soft even texture. Adopted on February 13, 1935 by the legislature.
State Seal: Idaho has the only state seal designed by a women. Emma Edwards Green. She won the competition sponsored by the First Legislature for the Stae of Idaho. She was handed the honorarium by Governor Norman B. Willey on March 5, 1891.
State Fish: The Cutthroat trout was designated the state fish by the legislature in 1990. The fish is native to Idaho are easy to identify from the red-orange slash or streak on the lower jaw.
State Vegetable: Two years ago, some school kids realized that Idaho needed a state vegetable. And what better vegetable would serve than the potato..
State Fruit: The Huckelberry was added as the state fruit in 2002. Huckleberries are a favorite food for bears. The Hucklberry bush takes up to 15 years to reach full maturity. They can be found in higher elevations where they are covered with snow during the winter.
State Insect:
Monarch Butterfly
State Horse:
Appaloosa
State Gem:
Star Garnet
State Fossil:
Hagerman Horse
State Song: "Here We Have Idaho" "And here we have Idaho Winning her way to fame Siler and gold in the sunlight blaze and romance lies in her name Singing, we're singing of you Ah, proudly too all our lives thru. We'll go singing, singing, of you singing of Idaho.
Capital
Boise
Motto
Esto Perpetua (It is perpetual)
Statehood
July 03, 1890 / 43rd state
Largest City
Boise, Pocatello, Idaho Falls, Nampa Coeur d'Alene
Northern: Pacific Standard Time Southern: Mountain Standard Time
Idaho Climate and Weather
Idaho enjoys a four-season climate, but conditions can be upredictable, especially in the mountains. It has been said if you don't like the weather wait 10 minutes and it will change.
