Idaho, the Gem State
Land area: 82,751 sq. mi. (11)
Population (2000): 1,293,953 (39)
Population density: 15.64 per sq. mi. (44)
U.S. Representatives (2003-12): 2
Entered Union: 3-Jul-1890 (43)
My first taste of the Gem State, back in 1995, was Hell’s Half Acre, a lava formation that Interstate 15 cuts through. The highway department had the sense to put a rest area there, complete with walkway. It was a glimpse of the lava formations that are astoundingly beautiful at Craters of the Moon National Monument, which I reached in 1997. I went out of my way in 2002 to see parts of the state I had previously missed, including much of the Snake and Salmon River canyons. The Snake River canyon is more than 600 feet deep near Twin Falls.
No. of Counties I’ve Visited: 44 of 44
| County |
Pop. (2000) |
Latest Visit | |
County Seat |
Visited? |
| Ada |
300,904 |
14-Aug-2002 | |
Boise |
yes |
| Adams |
3,476 |
12-Aug-2002 | |
Council |
|
| Bannock |
75,565 |
17-Aug-2009 | |
Pocatello |
yes |
| Bear Lake |
6,411 |
17-Aug-2002 | |
Paris |
yes |
| Benewah |
9,171 |
11-Aug-2002 | |
St. Maries |
yes |
| Bingham |
41,735 |
17-Aug-2009 | |
Blackfoot |
yes |
| Blaine |
18,991 |
5-Sep-1997 | |
Hailey |
|
| Boise |
6,670 |
12-Aug-2002 | |
Idaho City |
|
| Bonner |
36,835 |
11-Aug-2002 | |
Sandpoint |
yes |
| Bonneville |
82,522 |
17-Aug-2009 | |
Idaho Falls |
yes |
| Boundary |
9,871 |
11-Aug-2002 | |
Bonners Ferry |
yes |
| Butte |
2,899 |
15-Aug-2002 | |
Arco |
yes |
| Camas |
991 |
5-Sep-1997 | |
Fairfield |
yes |
| Canyon |
131,441 |
14-Aug-2002 | |
Caldwell |
yes |
| Caribou |
7,304 |
26-Aug-2006 | |
Soda Springs |
|
| Cassia |
21,416 |
16-Aug-2009 | |
Burley |
yes |
| Clark |
1,022 |
26-Aug-2006 | |
Dubois |
yes |
| Clearwater |
8,930 |
11-Aug-2002 | |
Orofino |
yes |
| Custer |
4,342 |
15-Aug-2002 | |
Challis |
yes |
| Elmore |
29,130 |
14-Aug-2002 | |
Mountain Home |
yes |
| Franklin |
11,329 |
26-Aug-2006 | |
Preston |
yes |
| Fremont |
11,819 |
5-Aug-2002 | |
St. Anthony |
|
| Gem |
15,181 |
12-Aug-2002 | |
Emmett |
yes |
| Gooding |
14,155 |
14-Aug-2002 | |
Gooding |
|
| Idaho |
15,511 |
11-Aug-2002 | |
Grangeville |
yes |
| Jefferson |
19,155 |
26-Aug-2006 | |
Rigby |
|
| Jerome |
18,342 |
16-Aug-2009 | |
Jerome |
|
| Kootenai |
108,685 |
24-Aug-2006 | |
Coeur d’Alene |
yes |
| Latah |
34,935 |
11-Aug-2002 | |
Moscow |
|
| Lemhi |
7,806 |
25-Aug-2006 | |
Salmon |
yes |
| Lewis |
3,747 |
11-Aug-2002 | |
Nez Perce |
|
| Lincoln |
4,044 |
14-Aug-2002 | |
Shoshone |
|
| Madison |
27,467 |
5-Aug-2002 | |
Rexburg |
yes |
| Minidoka |
20,174 |
16-Aug-2009 | |
Rupert |
|
| Nez Perce |
37,410 |
11-Aug-2002 | |
Lewiston |
yes |
| Oneida |
4,125 |
17-Aug-2009 | |
Malad City |
yes |
| Owyhee |
10,644 |
14-Aug-2002 | |
Murphy |
|
| Payette |
20,578 |
14-Aug-2002 | |
Payette |
yes |
| Power |
7,538 |
16-Aug-2009 | |
American Falls |
yes |
| Shoshone |
13,771 |
24-Aug-2006 | |
Wallace |
yes |
| Teton |
5,999 |
5-Aug-2002 | |
Driggs |
|
| Twin Falls |
64,284 |
16-Aug-2009 | |
Twin Falls |
yes |
| Valley |
7,651 |
12-Aug-2002 | |
Cascade |
yes |
| Washington |
9,977 |
13-Aug-2002 | |
Weiser |
yes |
Hawaii | Illinois
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