Watercolor paintings. Hand-crafted art. Native American jewelry. Beautiful and intriguing work by Idaho artists can be found at local festivals and events.

You can also enjoy the sound of a classical music or Christmas concert, a play by William Shakespeare, or talented local and national musicians. Attend a Hispanic or Native American festival. Powwows feature drummers, horsemen, and dancers. Immerse yourself in celebrations stemming from Idaho’s roots as miners, loggers, and pioneers - great learning experiences unique to Idaho culture.

TOPOGRAPHIC FEATURES - Idaho lies entirely west of the Continental Divide, which forms its boundry for some distance westward from Yellowstone National Park. With a maximum north-south extent of 7° of latitude, its east-west extent of 6° of longitude at latitude 42° N., but only 1° of longitude at 49° N. The northern part of the State averages lower in elevation than the much larger central and southern portions, where numeous mountain ranges form barriers to the free flow of air from all points of the compass. In the north the main barrier is the rugged chain of Bitterroot Mountains forming much of the boundary between Idaho and Montana. The extreme range of elevation in the State is from 738 feet of the confluence of the Clearwater and Snake Rivers to 12,655 feet at Mt. Borah in Custer County.

Comprising rugged mountain ranges, canyons, high grassy valleys, arid plains, and fertile lowlands, the State reflects in its topography and vegetation a wide range of climates. Located some 300 miles from the Pacific Ocean, Idaho is, nevertheless, influenced by maritime air borne eastward on the prevailing westerly winds. Particularly in winter, the maritime influence is noticeable in the greater averagae cloudiness, greater frequency of precipitation, and mean temperatures, which are above those at the same latitude and altitude in midcontinent. This maritime influence is most marked in the northern part of the State, where the air arrives via the Columbia River Gorge with a greater burden of moisture than at lower latitudes. Eastern Idaho’s climate has a more continental character than the west and north, a fact quite evident not only in the somewhat greater range between winter and summer temperatures, but also in the reversal of the wet winter-dry summer pattern.

TEMPERATURE - The pattern of average annual temperatures for the State indicates the effect both of latitude and altitude. The highest annual averages are found in the lower elevations of the Clearwater and Little Salmon River Basins, and in the stretch of the Snake River Valley from the vicinity of Bliss downstream to Lewiston, including the open valleys of the Boise, Payette, and Weiser Rivers. At Swan Falls the annual mean is 55° F, highest in the State. Obsidian, at an elevation of 6,780 feet in Custer County, has the lowest annual average, 35.4° F, of any reporting station, with such places as Sun Valley, Chilly Barton Flat, Grouse, Island Park Dam, and Big Creek not far behind.

The range between the mean temperature of the coldest and warmest months of the year varies from less than 40° F at a number of northern stations, to well over 50° F at stations in the higher elevation of the central and eastern parts of the State. In the basin of the Snake River and its tributaries, between Twin Falls and Idaho Falls, monthly mean temperatures of 32° F or lower persist from December through February, while downstream from Twin Falls, at the lower elevations, monthly mean temperatures are freezing or below only in December and January. Low-level stations like Riggins and Lewiston show no month in the year with mean temperature 32° F or lower. In general, it can be said that monthly means are 32° F or lower at stations above 5,000 feet from November through March; between 4,000 and 5,000 feet, November through February; 3,000 to 4,000 feet, December through February; and 2,000 to 3,000 feet, only one or two months.

The diurnal range of temperature is, of course, most extreme in high valleys and in the semiarid plains of the Snake River Valley. The magnitude of diurnal range varies with the season, being lowest in winter when cloudiness is much more prevalent, and greatest in the warmer part of the year. At Boise, for example, the average diurnal range is only 14° F in January, but exceeds 30° F in July through September. Temperatures can range from -60° to 118° F. The coldest monthly mean minimum temperature has been -20° F, and the warmest monthly mean maximum 104° F. The highest long-term annual average has been 55°F at Swan Falls Power House, and the lowest long-term average 35° F at Obsidian.

Boise is the capital and largest city of Idaho, a state in the United States of America. As of the 2000 census, it has a population of 199,787. It is the county seat of Ada County, and the primary city of the Boise metropolitan area. Boise’s elevation is 2,842 feet.

Introduction

Teetering between its rural roots and high-tech tomorrow, Boise’s distinctive neighborhoods tell a story of growth. Elegant subdivisions line manicured golf courses and caress the Boise River. Rolling eastward and westward, these neighborhoods have replaced farmland, shortening the boundaries between adjacent towns.

What were once sleepy, rural villages are now considered Boise’s bedroom communities like Meridian, Eagle, Nampa and Caldwell, all located west of Boise off Interstate 84. Boise proper is built around breathtaking mountains and sagebrush desert. Seven distinct districts, each with its own feel and attraction, introduce old Boise to new.

North End: The Beat of Boise Tree-lined Harrison Boulevard’s historic mansions set the tone for this old neighborhood. Including the downtown area, this northern district is referred to by locals as the North End. Young couples looking for charm are fixing up North End homes, creating a renewed interest in one of Boise’s original neighborhoods.

In the middle of the North End sits Hyde Park, with its boutiques and popular eateries like Lucky 13. For more than 20 years the Hyde Park Street Fair has set the tone for this funky neighborhood. Spilling into Camel’s Back Park, one of Boise’s more popular open spaces, the fair attracts visitors from all over the Treasure Valley.

East End: Mixing Old With New Like the North End, the area northeast of downtown Boise also boasts a historic street, Warm Springs Avenue. Posh Victorian homes make the avenue a tourist attraction. Many of the houses are geothermally heated, taking advantage of hot water sources for heat. Stretching high into the foothills, the East End also includes many modern homes with enviable views of the city.

In addition, the district hosts some of Boise’s most impressive parks. Julia Davis Park, hugs the neighborhood’s southern boundary while Warm Springs Golf Club stretches along its eastern edge. Nearby, the educational Morrison-Knudsen Nature Center is one of Boise’s main attractions.

As of 2004, the population of Idaho was estimated to be 1,393,262. There were 81,000 foreign-born in the state (comprising 5.6% of the state population), of which 19,000 were illegal aliens (illegal aliens comprised about one-fourth of the foreign-born population and 1.4% of state population).

Since 1990, Idaho’s population has increased 386,000 (38%).

Race
The racial makeup of Idaho:
88% White
7.9% Hispanic
1.4% Native American
0.9% Asian
0.4% Black
2% Mixed race

The five largest reported ancestries in the state are: German (18.9%), English (18.1%), Irish (10%), American (8.4%), Norwegian (3.6%).

Religion

A church in Idaho city

South-Eastern Idaho is primarily Mormon, while the Northern and South-Western regions of Idaho are traditional Christian (Protestants and Catholics).

As with many other western states, the percentage of Idaho’s population identifying themselves as “non-religious” (an umbrella term which is sometimes synonymous with or includes elements of atheism, agnosticism, skepticism, freethought, humanism, secular humanism, heresy, logical positivism, and apathy) is higher than the rest of the country.

The current religious affiliations of the people of Idaho are shown in the table below:
Christian - 80%
Protestant - 50%
Baptist - 10%
Methodist - 10%
Lutheran - 3%
Presbyterian - 3%
Other Protestant or general Protestant - 24%
Mormon - 14%
Catholic - 15%
Other Religions - <1%
Non-Religious - 20%

The state’s gross product for 2004 was USD 43.6 billion. The Per Capita Income for 2004 was USD 26,881. Idaho is an important agricultural state, producing nearly one third of the potatoes grown in the United States. Other important agricultural products are beans, lentils, sugar beets, cattle, dairy products, wheat, and barley.

Important industries in Idaho are food processing, lumber and wood products, machinery, chemical products, paper products, electronics manufacturing, silver and other mining, and tourism. The Idaho National Laboratory (INL), a government lab for nuclear energy research, is also an important part of the eastern Idaho economy.

Idaho: A Healthy and Diversified Economy
Idaho’s personal income increased nearly 22 percent between 1999 and 2003, ranking the state 10th nationally, exceeding the national average (BEA, 4/2003).
Idaho exports increased 6.5% in value during 2003, reversing two years of decline. Top export products include high tech, food and agriculture and wood and building materials. (U.S. Department of Commerce)
Idaho is number one in the nation in the production of potatoes, trout and winter peas. The state ranks in the top 10 in 22 other products.
Idaho is 7th in the nation in population growth rate. (U.S. Census)