The largest denominations by number of members in 2000 were The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with 311,425; (2008: 406,764) the Roman Catholic Church with 130,847; the Assemblies of God with 18,745; and the United Methodist Church with 17,683.
Gross state product for 2004 was US$43.6 billion. The per capita income for 2004 was US$26,881. Idaho is an important agricultural state, producing nearly one-third of the potatoes grown in the United States. All three varieties of wheat, Dark Northern Spring, Hard Red and Soft White are grown in the state. Nez Perce County is considered a premier Soft White growing locale.
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 world's largest factory for barrel cheese, the raw product for processed cheese is located in Gooding, Idaho. It has a capacity of 120,000 metric tons per year of barrel cheese and belongs to the Glanbia group. TheIdaho National Laboratory (INL), a government lab for nuclear energy research, is also an important part of the eastern Idaho economy. Idaho also is home to three facilities of Anheuser-Busch which provide a large part of the malt for breweries located across the nation.
Locally, a variety of industries are important. Outdoor recreation is a common example ranging from numerous snowmobile and downhill and cross-country ski areas in winter to the evolution of Lewiston as a retirement community based on mild winters, dry year-round climate and one of the lowest median wind velocities anywhere, combined with the rivers for a wide variety of activities. Other examples would be ATK Corporation, which operates three ammunition and ammunition components plants in Lewiston. Two are sporting and one is defense contract. The Lewis-Clark Valley has an additional independent ammunition components manufacturer and the Chipmunk rifle factory. Four of the world's six welded aluminum jet boat (for running river rapids) manufacturers are in the Lewiston-Clarkston, WA valley. Wine grapes were grown between Kendrick and Julietta in the Idaho Panhandle by the French Rothchilds until Prohibition. In keeping with this, while there are no large wineries or breweries in Idaho, there are numerous and growing numbers of award winning boutique wineries and microbreweries in the northern part of the state.
Today, the largest industry in Idaho is the science and technology sector. It accounts for over 25% of the State's total revenue and 70%+ of the State's exports (in dollars). Idaho's industrial economy is growing, with high-tech products leading the way. Since the late 1970s, Boise has emerged as a center for semiconductor manufacturing. Boise is the home of Micron Technology Inc., the only U.S. manufacturer of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips. Micron at one time manufactured desktop computers, but with very limited success. Hewlett-Packard has operated a large plant in Boise since the 1970s, which is devoted primarily to LaserJet printers production. ON Semiconductor, whose worldwide headquarters in Pocatello, is a widely recognized innovator in modern integrated mixed-signal semiconductor products, mixed-signal foundry services, and structured digital products. Coldwater Creek, a women's clothing retailer, is headquartered in Sandpoint. Sun Microsystems (now a part of Oracle Corporation) has two offices in Boise and a parts depot in Pocatello. Sun brings $4M in annual salaries and over $300M of revenue to the state each year.
A number of Fortune 500 companies started in or trace their roots to Idaho, including JC Penney (as The Golden Rule) in Twin Falls, Safeways in American Falls, Albertsons in Boise, JR Simplot across southern Idaho, Potlatch Corp. in Lewiston and Zimmerly Air Transport in Lewiston-Clarkston was one of the five companies in the merger centered around Varney Flying Service of Pasco, Washington, which became United Air Lines and subsequently Varney Air Group that became Continental Airlines.
The state personal income tax ranges from 1.6% to 7.8% in eight income brackets. Idahoans may apply for state tax credits for taxes paid to other states, as well as for donations to Idaho state educational entities and some nonprofit youth and rehabilitation facilities.
The state sales tax is 6% with a very limited, selective local option up to 6.5%. Sales tax applies to the sale, rental or lease of tangible personal property and some services. Food is taxed, butprescription drugs are not. Hotel, motel, and campground accommodations are taxed at a higher rate (7% to 11%). Some jurisdictions impose local option sales tax.
Idaho has a state gambling lottery which contributed $333.5 million in payments to all Idaho public schools and Idaho higher education from 1990–2006.
The energy landscape of Idaho is favorable to the development of renewable energy systems. The state is rich in renewable energy resources but has limited fossil fuel resources. The Snake River Plain and smaller river basins provide Idaho with some of the best hydroelectric powerresources in the nation and its geologically active mountain areas have significant geothermal power and wind power potential. These realities have shaped much of the state’s current energy landscape.
Most of the energy consumed in Idaho is imported from other states. Imports account for more than 80% of total energy consumption, including all of Idaho's natural gas and petroleum supplies and more than half of its electricity. Of the electricity consumed in Idaho in 2005, 48% came from hydroelectricity, 42% was generated by burning coal and 9% was generated by burning natural gas. The remainder came from other renewable sources such as wind.
The state’s numerous river basins allow hydroelectric power plants to provide 556 thousand MWh, which amounts to about three-fourths of Idaho’s electricity generated in the state. Washington State provides most of the natural gas used in Idaho through one of the two major pipeline systems supplying the state. Although the state relies on out-of-state sources for its entire natural gas supply, it uses natural gas-fired plants to generate 127 thousand MWh, or about ten percent of its output. Coal-fired generation and the state’s small array of wind turbines supplies the remainder of the state’s electricity output. The state produces 739 thousand MWh but still needs to import half of its electricity from out-of-state to meet demand.
While Idaho’s 515 trillion Btu total energy consumption is low compared with other states and represents just 0.5% of United States consumption, the state also has the nation’s 11th smallest population, 1.5 million, so its per capita energy consumption of 352 million Btu is currently just above the national average of 333 million Btu. As the 13th largest state in land area, distance creates the additional problem of "line loss". When the length of an electrical transmission line is doubled, the resistance to an electric current passing through it is also doubled.
In addition, Idaho also has the 6th fastest growing population in the United States with the population expected to increase by 31% from 2008 to 2030. This projected increase in population will contribute to a 42% increase in demand by 2030, further straining Idaho’s finite hydroelectric resources.
Idaho is among the few states in the nation without a major freeway linking the two largest metropolitan areas of Boise in the south and Coeur d'Alene in the north. US 95 links the two ends of the state, but like many other highways in Idaho, it is badly in need of repair and upgrade. In 2007, the Idaho Transportation Department stated that the state's highway infrastructure faces a $200 million per year shortfall in maintenance and upgrades. Interstate 84 is the main highway linking the Southeast and Southwest portions of the state, along with Interstate 86 and Interstate 15.
Major federal aid highways in Idaho: North U.S. Highway 2 U.S. Highway 12 North/South U.S. Highway 93 U.S. Highway 95 Interstate 15 West/East U.S. Highway 20 U.S. Highway 26 U.S. Highway 30 Interstate 84 Interstate 86 Interstate 90 Southwest Interstate 184
Major airports include the Boise Airport serving the southwest region of Idaho, and the Spokane International Airport (located in Spokane, Washington), which serves northern Idaho. Other airports with scheduled service are the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport serving the Palouse; the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport, serving the Lewis-Clark Valley and north central and west central Idaho; The Magic Valley Regional Airport in Twin Falls; the Idaho Falls Regional Airport; and the Pocatello Regional Airport.
Idaho is served by two transcontinental railroads. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) connects North Idaho with Seattle, Portland and Spokane to the west, and Minneapolisand Chicago to the east. The BNSF travels through Kootenai, Bonner and Boundary Counties. The Union Pacific Railroad crosses southern Idaho traveling between Portland, Green River, WY, and Ogden, Utah and serves Boise, Nampa, Twin Falls, and Pocatello. Amtrak's Empire Builder crosses northern Idaho, with its only stop being in Sandpoint. There has been a push recently to return Amtrak service to southern Idaho, as well.
The Port of Lewiston is the farthest inland Pacific port on the west coast. A series of dams and locks on the Snake River and Columbia River facilitate barge travel from here to Portland, where goods are loaded on ocean-going vessels.
The Constitution of Idaho is roughly modeled on the national constitution with several additions. The constitution defines the form and functions of the state government, and may be amended through plebiscite. Notably, the state constitution presently requires the state government to maintain a balanced budget. As result, Idaho has limited debt (construction bonds, etc.).
All of Idaho's state laws are contained in the Idaho Code. The code is amended through the Legislature with the approval of the Governor. Idaho still follows its original state Constitution.
The constitution of Idaho provides for three branches of government: the executive, legislative and judicial branches. Idaho has a bicameral legislature, elected from 35 legislative districts, each represented by one senator and two representatives. Idaho still operates under its original (1889) state constitution.
Since 1946, statewide elected constitutional officers have been elected to four-year terms. They include: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Controller (Auditor before 1994), Treasurer, Attorney General, and Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Last contested in 1966, Inspector of Mines was an original elected constitutional office. Afterward it was an appointed position and ultimately done away with entirely in 1974.
Idaho's government has an alcohol monopoly.
The governor of Idaho serves a four-year term, and is elected during what is nationally referred to as midterm elections. As such, the governor is not elected in the same election year as the president of the United States. The current governor is Republican C. L. "Butch" Otter, who was elected in 2006 and re-elected in 2010.
Idaho's legislature is part-time. However, the session may be extended if necessary, and often is. Because of this, Idaho's legislators are considered "citizen legislators", meaning that their position as a legislator is not their main occupation.
Terms for both the Senate and House of Representatives are two years. Legislative elections occur every even numbered year.
The Idaho Legislature has been continuously controlled by the Republican Party since the late 1950s, although Democratic legislators are routinely elected from Boise, Pocatello, Blaine County and the northern Panhandle.
See also List of Idaho senators and representatives
The highest court in Idaho is the Idaho Supreme Court. There is also an intermediate appellate court, the Idaho Court of Appeals, which hears cases assigned to it from the Supreme Court. The state's District Courts serdistricts.
Idaho is divided into political jurisdictions designated as counties. Since 1919 there are 44 counties in the state, ranging in size from 410 to 8,502 square miles (1,062 to 22,020 square kilometers).
County name | County seat | Year founded | Population 2008 Est. | Population Percentage | Area (sq. m.) | Area Percentage |
Ada | Boise | 1864 | 380,920 | 25.00 % | 1,060 | 1.21 % |
Adams | Council | 1911 | 3,499 | 00.23 % | 1,370 | 1.57 % |
Bannock | Pocatello | 1893 | 80,812 | 05.30 % | 1,147 | 1.31 % |
Bear Lake | Paris | 1893 | 5,798 | 00.38 % | 1,049 | 1.20 % |
Benewah | St. Maries | 1915 | 9,352 | 00.61 % | 784 | 0.90 % |
Bingham | Blackfoot | 1885 | 43,903 | 02.88 % | 2,120 | 2.42 % |
Blaine | Hailey | 1895 | 21,731 | 01.43 % | 2,661 | 3.04 % |
Boise | Idaho City | 1864 | 7,504 | 00.49 % | 1,907 | 2.18 % |
Bonner | Sandpoint | 1907 | 41,168 | 02.70 % | 1,920 | 2.19 % |
Bonneville | Idaho Falls | 1911 | 99,135 | 06.51 % | 1,901 | 2.17 % |
Boundary | Bonners Ferry | 1915 | 10,962 | 00.72 % | 1,278 | 1.46 % |
Butte | Arco | 1917 | 2,751 | 00.18 % | 2,234 | 2.55 % |
Camas | Fairfield | 1917 | 1,126 | 00.07 % | 1,079 | 1.23 % |
Canyon | Caldwell | 1891 | 183,939 | 12.07 % | 604 | 0.69 % |
Caribou | Soda Springs | 1919 | 6,826 | 00.45 % | 1,799 | 2.06 % |
Cassia | Burley | 1879 | 21,348 | 01.40 % | 2,580 | 2.95 % |
Clark | Dubois | 1919 | 910 | 00.06 % | 1,765 | 2.02 % |
Clearwater | Orofino | 1911 | 8,176 | 00.54 % | 2,488 | 2.84 % |
Custer | Challis | 1881 | 4,254 | 00.28 % | 4,937 | 5.64 % |
Elmore | Mountain Home | 1889 | 28,997 | 01.90 % | 3,101 | 3.54 % |
Franklin | Preston | 1913 | 12,454 | 00.82 % | 668 | 0.76 % |
Fremont | St. Anthony | 1893 | 12,551 | 00.82 % | 1,896 | 2.17 % |
Gem | Emmett | 1915 | 16,513 | 01.08 % | 566 | 0.65 % |
Gooding | Gooding | 1913 | 14,295 | 00.94 % | 734 | 0.84 % |
Idaho | Grangeville | 1861/1864 | 15,448 | 01.01 % | 8,502 | 9.71 % |
Jefferson | Rigby | 1913 | 23,860 | 01.57 % | 1,106 | 1.26 % |
Jerome | Jerome | 1919 | 20,468 | 01.34 % | 602 | 0.69 % |
Kootenai | Coeur d'Alene | 1864 | 137,475 | 09.02 % | 1,316 | 1.50 % |
Latah | Moscow | 1886 | 35,906 | 02.36 % | 1,077 | 1.23 % |
Lemhi | Salmon | 1869 | 7,808 | 00.51 % | 4,570 | 5.22 % |
Lewis | Nezperce | 1911 | 3,594 | 00.24 % | 480 | 0.55 % |
Lincoln | Shoshone | 1895 | 4,503 | 00.30 % | 1,206 | 1.38 % |
Madison | Rexburg | 1914 | 37,456 | 02.46 % | 473 | 0.54 % |
Minidoka | Rupert | 1913 | 18,645 | 01.22 % | 763 | 0.87 % |
Nez Perce | Lewiston | 1861/1864 | 38,975 | 02.56 % | 856 | 0.98 % |
Oneida | Malad City | 1864 | 4,130 | 00.27 % | 1,202 | 1.37 % |
Owyhee | Murphy | 1863 | 10,877 | 00.71 % | 7,697 | 8.79 % |
Payette | Payette | 1917 | 22,966 | 01.51 % | 410 | 0.47 % |
Power | American Falls | 1913 | 7,683 | 00.50 % | 1,443 | 1.65 % |
Shoshone | Wallace | 1861/1864 | 12,913 | 00.85 % | 2,636 | 3.01 % |
Teton | Driggs | 1915 | 8,833 | 00.58 % | 451 | 0.52 % |
Twin Falls | Twin Falls | 1907 | 74,284 | 04.87 % | 1,928 | 2.20 % |
Valley | Cascade | 1917 | 8,862 | 00.58 % | 3,734 | 4.27 % |
Washington | Weiser | 1879 | 10,206 | 00.67 % | 1,474 | 1.68 % |
Total Counties: 44. Total 2008 Population Est.: 1,523,816. Total Area: 87,530 square miles (226,700 km2).
Three counties were first designated as such by the Washington Territorial Legislature in 1861; they were subsequently re-designated as Idaho counties in 1864. The 1861 Nez Perce county has since been broken up into Nez Perce, Lewis, Boundary, Benewah, Latah, Kootenai and Clearwater counties.
Idaho license plates begin with a county designation based on the first letter of the county's name. Where a letter is at the beginning of more than one name, a number accompanies precedingly in alphabetical order. This reflects an anomalous coincidental situation wherein 10 counties begin with B, seven with C and four with L, which is 21 of the 44 counties.
Presidential elections results
Year | Republican | Democratic |
2008 | 61.5% 403,012 | 36.1% 236,440 |
2004 | 68.38% 409,235 | 30.26% 181,098 |
2000 | 67.17% 336,937 | 27.64% 138,637 |
1996 | 52.18% 256,595 | 33.65% 165,443 |
1992 | 42.03% 202,645 | 28.42% 137,013 |
1988 | 62.08% 253,881 | 36.01% 147,272 |
1984 | 72.36% 297,523 | 26.39% 108,510 |
1980 | 66.46% 290,699 | 25.19% 110,192 |
1976 | 59.88% 204,151 | 37.12% 126,549 |
1972 | 64.24% 199,384 | 26.04% 80,826 |
1968 | 56.79% 165,369 | 30.66% 89,273 |
1964 | 49.08% 143,557 | 50.92% 148,920 |
1960 | 53.78% 161,597 | 46.22% 138,853 |
After the Civil War, many Midwestern and Southern Democrats moved to the Idaho Territory. As a result, the early territorial legislatures were solidly Democrat-controlled. In contrast, most of the territorial governors were appointed by Republican presidents and were Republicans themselves. This led to sometimes-bitter clashes between the two parties, including a range war with the Democrats backing the sheepherders and the Republicans the cattlemen. That ended with the "Diamondfield" Jack Davis murder trial. In the 1880s, Republicans became more prominent in local politics.