Idaho Geography

It is not about the potato - at least not always. Idaho, one of 11 Western U.S. states, is split into the northern region, which has mountainous terrain, curving rivers, and beautiful, pristine lakes, and the southern region, which has warmer summers, fewer mountains and more plains.

When thinking of Idaho people envision potato fields but the state has so much more to offer than its spuds. In fact, Idaho's history has proven that the state is worth its weight in gold. In the gold rush of the mid 1800s Idaho was responsible for 19 percent of the total discovery of gold during the rush, which was more than $50 million in value. Known as The Gem State, Idaho has more than 72 kinds of precious stones some of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Other valuable areas of the state include Idaho's vineyards, which pepper the Idaho panhandle. The numerous vineyards compete with California's Napa Valley. Idaho also has 16 ski resorts that provide skiing and snowboarding. With more than 3,100 miles of river, more than any other state in the nation, Idaho also offers several water sports including kayaking, white-water rafting, and parasailing, to name a few. Visitors and residents take in Idaho's vistas by horseback or while hunting or fishing.

Idaho Real Estate Information

Idaho is the 13th largest state in the nation, spans two time zones --the Mountain Time Zone and the Pacific Time Zone-- and officials boast that if the state were stretched out flat rather than so mountainous, it would be larger than the state of Texas. But the physical size of the state is not indicative of the size of its population, which was estimated to be just about 1.4 million in 2006.

Boise, the state capital, has the largest population in the state with slightly fewer than 200,000 people. Second to Boise is Nampa, which has 64,000.

Idaho, compared to the 11 western states, has the second lowest cost of living and has the lowest crime rate and for serious crimes Idaho ranks 21 percent below the national average.

In fact, southwestern Idaho (the Boise area) was dubbed to be the most secure place to live compared to 113 other metropolitan areas in the U.S. with a population of more than 500,000. The study, commissioned by a Los Angeles insurance company, used crime, natural and environmental disasters, and stability of jobs as factors.

All of this and more was part of the booming Idaho real estate market. Idaho's real estate market was one of the four markets that enjoyed an increase in appreciation rates in early 2007. Idaho's real estate appreciation rate grew by a healthy 12.27 percent in the first quarter of 2007. Idaho was one of only seven states that saw double-digit appreciation rate increases. In June 2007 the median home price in Idaho was $288,500.

Idaho Education and Demographics

Education is a serious matter for Idaho. The state puts 64 percent of its general fund into Idaho education. More than 84 percent of the state's adults have a high school diploma or higher and nearly 22 percent of Idaho's adult residents have a bachelors degree or higher. In total, Idaho has four state colleges, three state universities, six private colleges and four private universities.

Idaho's median household income as of 2004 was $40,509. More than 95 percent of the state's population is white and just over 9 percent of the state's population is of Latino or Hispanic origin.

Idaho Economy

While Idaho is the largest producer of potatoes it also takes the award for largest producer of trout, lentils and Austrian winter peas. Manufacturing remains Idaho's largest industry. Agriculture is the state's second largest, and tourism third. Timber and mining are also an important part of Idaho's economic landscape.