Idaho Landlocked State in the Northwestern United States

Idaho, pronounced “EYE-dee-ho,” is a landlocked state in the northwestern United States. It entered the Union on 3 July 1890 as the 43rd state. Boise, the capital and largest city, sits on the Boise River in the southwest corner and anchors a metro population of about 800 000.
The state covers 83 569 square miles, making it the 14th-largest in the nation. The Rocky Mountains dominate the central and northern landscape, while the Snake River Plain curves across the south, providing fertile farmland and the bulk of the population corridor. At 12 662 feet, Borah Peak in the Lost River Range is Idaho’s highest point.
Idaho is the nation’s top producer of potatoes, supplying roughly one-third of U.S. output, but agriculture is only part of the story. The economy also relies on semiconductor manufacturing, lumber, mining—particularly phosphate and silver—and a growing tech sector anchored by Micron Technology in Boise. Tourism driven by Sun Valley, Coeur d’Alene Lake, and vast wilderness areas adds billions annually.
More than 60 percent of the state is public land, managed by the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service. These holdings include parts of Yellowstone, the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness, and the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, offering world-class rafting, fishing, skiing, and hiking.
With 1.9 million residents, Idaho is among the fastest-growing states, attracting newcomers for its relatively low cost of living, outdoor lifestyle, and business-friendly climate.