50 Interesting & Fun Facts About Idaho State to Know

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Idaho is a funny-shaped state in the Western part of the United States. You may not know much about it other than that it is popular for growing potatoes, but there are actually a lot of interesting things to learn about Idaho. So what is Idaho known for?

Idaho is known for its rare star garnets, 4.8 million acres of wilderness, and more than 107,000 miles of rivers. There is also an almost perfect ratio of one woman for every one man, and some claim Idaho natives have a "neutral" accent.

Some other interesting and fun facts about Idaho state include that it has the only state seal designed by a woman, and it is called the "Gem State." Keep reading for even more fun facts about the state that you won't believe!

50 Idaho State Facts

Idaho Fun Facts

Let's start with some fun facts of Idaho!

Idaho is the 14th largest state in the country by total area

Idaho is 83,557 square miles in size, making it the 14th largest state. A few thousand square miles of this land are wilderness that has not been inhabited or built on and does not even have any roads.

Borah Peak is the highest point in Idaho

The peak is part of the Lost River Ranger District, which the National Forest Service manages. Borah Peak reaches 12,662 feet, making it the highest in the state.

Idaho is called the Gem State

Idaho's nickname is the Gem State due to the more than 72 gems that can be found in Idaho. It has the widest variety of gems of any of the states in the US. The official state gem is the Idaho Star Garnet.

Hells Canyon in Idaho is deeper than the Grand Canyon

Hells Canyon is over 7,900 feet deep, which beats the 6,001-foot depth of the Grand Canyon. It is also the deepest river gorge in North America.

It was originally called the Snake River Canyon but was first called Hells Canyon in the 1895 book McCurdy's Marine History of the Pacific Northwest. The name was later popularized by its use in books and publications by a 1930s senator and has been used ever since.

From Heaven's Gate Lookout, you can see four states

On a clear day, you can see Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Montana from Heaven's Gate Lookout. You can also see the Seven Devils Mountains and Hells Canyon. The drive to the top of the lookout point is 19 miles long.

Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls is a 212-foot waterfall

This Idaho landmark is referred to as the "Niagara of the West" since it is such a large natural attraction, even bigger than Niagara Falls itself. The waterfall is in Twin Falls, Idaho, and flows into the Snake River.

Shoshone Falls stands at 212 feet and is 900 feet wide. Its flow can vary depending on the amount of rain and snow. As the snow melts at the end of winter and into spring, the falls reach their peak flow, sometimes as high as 20,000 cubic feet per second.

The state capitol building is warmed with renewable energy

It is the only U.S. state capitol building to be warmed with renewables. It is heated by geothermal water that comes from 3,000 feet underground. From the ground up, the building is 208 feet high, and it cost 2.1 million dollars to build between 1905 and 1920.

Sun Valley Resort was the first destination ski resort in the US

Count Felix Schaffgosch was hired to find a place to build a ski resort. When he saw how beautiful the town of Ketchum, Idaho, was, he decided it would be the perfect place.

Before he opened the resort, little was known about the town, and only 100 people lived there. One year later, people were coming to the town to see it, and "America's First Destination Ski Resort" was born in Ketchum, bringing new life to the town.

Idaho is larger in size than New England

New England, which is made up of six states (Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Maine), is 72,000 square miles in size. Idaho is over 11,000 square miles larger than all of New England at 83,569 square miles.

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Idaho is home to one of the world's longest floating boardwalks

Located in Coeur d'Alene Resort, you'll find a 3,300-foot-long floating boardwalk, one of the world's longest. That is five-eighths of a mile long, and it is free to walk along it. The walk gives you 360-degree views of the lake, and a walk down the boardwalk and back is 1.25 miles long.

Interesting Facts About Idaho

There are also a lot of interesting facts on Idaho to learn.

One of the biggest U.S. sand dunes is in Bruneau Dunes State Park

Located in Bruneau Dunes State Park, Idaho, is one of the U.S.' largest sand dunes at 470 feet tall. This sand dune is also the largest single-structured sand dune in the United States. There are a lot of other dunes in the park that are pretty tall too.

Idaho has more than 4.8 million acres of wilderness

The vast 4.8 million acres of wilderness is protected by the government and cannot be developed or otherwise changed. This wilderness designation protects the natural environment and the wildlife that lives there. The largest wilderness area in Idaho is the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness, which covers over 2.35 million acres.

Idaho has a neutral dialect

Native Idahoans do not have any sort of accent, based on a study of how people talk across the country. Of all the states, they had the most average pronunciation of words and therefore have the most neutral accent of all 50 states.

It is said that the Nez Perce Tribe was the first to breed horses for certain traits

It's believed that the Nez Perce and Palouse tribes in Idaho, Washington, and Oregon first bred horses in the US. They selectively bred horses to develop traits like speed, intelligence, and endurance. These horses were more skilled and valuable than those not bred.

Idaho has more than 107,000 miles of rivers

Eight hundred ninety-one of the 107,000 miles of rivers in Idaho are designated wild and scenic rivers. The longest river is the Snake River which is 1,078 miles long.

Seventy percent of the trout sold in the U.S. is from Idaho

The state produces the most trout of any state, with a production of around 41 million pounds of trout every year. The trout are farm-raised, and trout are a large part of Idaho's commercial farming industry.

Part of the Rocky Mountains are in Idaho

The Rocky Mountains are split into four sections: Northern, Middle, Southern, and the Wyoming Basin. The northern and middle sections of the Rockies go into Idaho. The biggest part of the mountain range in Idaho is the northern section of the mountains, found in the north-central part of the state.

Idaho grows famous potatoes and its the state vegetable

Idaho is home to famous, delicious potatoes, thanks to the growing conditions in the state. The soil, water, air, and climate are perfect, which is why Idaho produces so many potatoes. The potato is also the official state vegetable of Idaho.

The Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve is a dried lava flow

As the name suggests, you feel like you are on the moon when you visit here. The park comprises ancient lava flows, as well as islands of cinder cones and sagebrush.

The state tree of Idaho is the Western White Pine

The largest concentration of this tree in the United States is in Idaho, which is why the Idaho state tree is the Western White Pine. It can grow as tall as 175 feet, with a diameter between five and eight feet. Today, the tallest Western White Pine is 219 feet tall, and it grows near the town of Elk River.

Funny Facts About Idaho

There is also some funny information on Idaho that you will enjoy.

The Dog Bark Park Inn is the world's largest beagle

The beagle-shaped inn is a BnB where guests can stay overnight in a dog-themed room. It's also the world's largest beagle structure and sits next to a 12-foot-tall beagle statue, the second-largest beagle structure in the world.

The dog BnB has a second-story deck from which guests can enter. The sleeping space is inside the head of the dog.

In Idaho, you can eat an ice cream potato

The name of this dessert comes from its appearance, as this ice cream sundae looks like a loaded baked potato. But it is actually vanilla ice cream shaped like a baked potato and then topped with cocoa powder to look like the skin. Then, the toppings like whipped cream and chocolate shavings look like those you would commonly see on a loaded baked potato.

The movie Napoleon Dynamite was filmed in Idaho

More specifically, Napoleon Dynamite was filmed in Preston, Idaho, which is where the two creators of the movie are from. One of the most recognizable spots from the city is the high school used in the film. The movie put the town on the map and led people to visit to see the locations used in the film.

There is a ski resort in Idaho that is home to the Brundage Bra Tree

The tree is at the Brundage Mountain Ski Resort in McCall, ID, and people pass it when they ride up the ski lift. It is unsure how the tradition started, but it is still a tradition today for women to throw bras at the tree as they pass it.

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The Smurf Turf is in Idaho

The Smurf Turf is the nickname for the turf at Albertsons Stadium. It's the first blue and non-green turf used on a football field.

The turf is at Boise State, and it was the only school with a non-green field for more than 20 years. It was installed in 1986 in Bronco Stadium, now called Albertsons Stadium.

Weird Facts About Idaho

This section has some weird and unusual facts about Idaho.

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Idaho has a potato museum

The Idaho potato museum is in Blackfoot, Idaho. It opened in 1988 to educate people about the Idaho potato. The museum is in the old Oregon Short Line Railroad Depot. It has everything from the potato's history to the potato industry's evolution over time.

Idaho has a funny shape with a panhandle

Idaho features a distinctive panhandle shape. The western border of the state follows the 117th Meridian line. The few areas without a straight border are because Oregon and Washington were already established and kept their land when Idaho officially became a state.

Idaho also used to be bigger, but it lost some of its lands to the east when Montana was created. The border between Idaho and Montana is along the Bitterroot Mountains, which is somewhat jagged and adds to Idaho's unique shape.

The longest straw bale maze in the world was in Idaho

The temporary maze in Rupert, Idaho, entered the Guinness World Record book at measured 96,847 square feet. It was eight times the size required by Guinness World Records to be considered a new record. There were 3,202 bales of straw that made up the maze, and each bale weighed around 1,100 pounds. The maze itself was 1.6 miles long.

The largest potato chip is in Idaho

The world's largest potato chip is on display at the Idaho Potato Museum in Blackfoot, ID. It is a Pringle chip, and it was made in Jackson, Tennessee, in 1990. It measures 23 inches by 14.5 inches.

Idaho has an almost perfect ratio of one man to one woman

It is one of two states with a very close ratio, the other being Washington. There are slightly more men in Idaho, with 50.4% of the population. That leaves a 49.6% female population. So, for every 1,000 people, there are only two more men than women, making a ratio of approximately one man to one woman.

Cool Facts About Idaho

Here are some more cool and fun Idaho facts.

Sixty-three percent of Idaho is public land

This land is managed by the federal government, and Idaho is one of the largest public land-holding states in the US. Different agencies manage it depending on the land, like the Department of Agriculture, the National Park Service, and the Bureau of Land Management.

The largest hops farm in the world is in Idaho

Idaho is the second largest producer of hops in the U.S. after Washington state. It's also home to the world's largest hop farm, Elk Mountain Farms. This farm covers 1,700 acres, and farmers here have been growing hops for over three decades.

They grow hops for Anheuser-Busch Brewing, and more than 50 varieties are grown at the farm. The climate in this area is suitable for growing hops as long as there is not too much rain or mud.

Joe River in Idaho is the highest navigable river in the world

This tributary of Coeur d'Alene Lake is navigable since it is wide enough and deep enough for a boat to pass through it, despite being at a high elevation. At a height of 2,129 feet, it's the highest such river in the world.

Idaho has rare star garnets

Star Garnets are only found in India and Idaho. They get their name from their reflection, which looks like a star. There is a special place called the Emerald Creek Garnet Area where you can collect these gems without hurting the environment. Digging for them is not allowed as it affects the water quality, aquatic life, and public safety.

Idaho grows a significant amount of the United State's lentils

The Palouse region grows 90% of all the country's lentils. This region covers Idaho and Washington state around the Moscow-Pullman area. Idaho is also the fourth largest producer of lentils and dry peas in the United States.

Random Facts About Idaho

There is also some random Idaho information to know in the following section.

Evil Knievel tried jumping the Snake River Canyon

Motorcycle daredevil Evil Knievel attempted to make the jump over the 500-foot-deep canyon in September 1974. He tried the jump on a steam-powered skycycle. Unfortunately, he could not make the jump, but he survived and only broke his nose.

The longest gondola ride in North America is in Idaho

North America's longest gondola ride is at Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg, Idaho. Its course is 3.1 miles long, and you start in Kellogg before heading up to the Mountain House. At the top are biking and hiking trails, panoramic views, and food, making it a popular attraction.

Ernest Hemingway is buried in Ketchum Cemetery

The author is buried in a simple grave in Sun Valley, Idaho. He took his own life in 1961, as did his father, brother, and sister before him. The town is where he lived then, so it was easiest to leave his remains in the town's cemetery.

The Snake River Plain was formed by a volcanic hot spot

The Snake River Plain was created when the North American plate drifted over a hot spot found in the Earth's crust. Dark lava flows across the plains, and there are also volcanic buttes in the area that give evidence of the hot spot under the plain.

The Idaho state insect is the Monarch Butterfly

The Monarch butterfly became the state insect in 1992. The name comes from early settlers who named it after King Willam, who was the Prince of Orange. It is a fitting name since the butterflies have lots of orange in their pattern.

Historical Facts About Idaho

There is a lot of history in Idaho, so below, you will find details on Idaho facts and history.

The Idaho state seal was designed during a contest in 1890

It is the only state seal designed by a woman, and the design she submitted to the contest won unanimously. The seal is on the state flag and is used on official government documents and properties all over the state.

The name Idaho does not come from a Native American word

This "fact" about Idaho is a myth, and the name Idaho was actually made up in the 1800s. Similar to how many states are named, the people of Idaho wanted a Native American name for their state.

So, the man who came up with the name said it was a Native American name meaning "gem of the mountains." Many people still believe the word means that today.

Idaho became the 43rd U.S. state in 1890

It first became a territory on March 4th, 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln signed the Territorial Act. Then, Idaho became a state on July 3rd, 1890 when President Benjamin Harrison signed it into the country.

Sacagawea was born in Idaho

Not much is known about this explorer, but Sacagawea was born in 1788 or 1789 in the Salmon River region in present-day Idaho. She was part of the Shoshone tribe and is an important historical figure because she explored with Lewis and Clark from 1804 to 1806.

The state motto of Idaho is "Esto Perpetua"

The motto translates to "It is perpetuated" or "May it endure forever." It is on the Idaho state seal, and the government adopted it in mid-March, 1891.

Important Facts About Idaho

Finally, there are some important little-known facts about Idaho.

The state fruit of Idaho is the huckleberry

There are wide varieties of huckleberries that are native to Idaho, but the most common is the black, thin-leaved huckleberry. Many of the state's bears eat huckleberries, but the fruit tree takes up to 15 years to grow fully. Huckleberries grow in elevations between 2,000 and 11,000 feet.

The Syringa is the Idaho state flower

In 1931, the Syringa was designated as the state flower, and its formal name is the Philadelphus lewisii, after Meriwether Lewis of Lewis and Clark. He wrote about the flower in his journal as he journeyed through the land. The plant has clusters of white flowers and grows between three and ten feet tall.

The official state horse is the Appaloosa

While Idaho does not have a state mammal as many states do, they have the Appaloosa horse as one of their animal symbols. Native American tribes bred the horses, and each Appaloosa horse has a distinct coat.

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Boise is the capital of Idaho

Boise became the state capital in December 1864. It is in the southwest corner of the state and has a population of just over 237 thousand people. The city is significantly bigger than the second-largest city, Meridian, with a population of 126,000 people.

The Mountain Bluebird is the official bird of the state of Idaho

The Mountain Bluebird became the state bird in 1931, and its official name is the "Sialia Currucoides." These birds live in grasslands and trees. They are easy to spot when they are flying since they fly in a zig-zag pattern.

Conclusion

This interesting Idaho facts list should have prepared you for your next Idaho trivia night. From funny and weird facts to historical and important facts, all of these fun Idaho facts make the state what it is today. Hopefully, you learned something new about Idaho with the list above!

This article was edited by Henry Grahame.

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