Idaho, one of the Rocky Mt. states in the NW United States. It is bordered by Montana and Wyoming (E), Utah and Nevada (S), Oregon and Washington (W), and the Canadian province of British Columbia (N).
Area, 83,557 sq mi (216,413 sq km).
Pop. (2000) 1,293,953, a 28.5% increase since the 1990 census.
Capital and largest city, Boise.
Motto, Esto Perpetua [It Is Perpetual].
State bird, mountain bluebird.
State flower, syringa. 
State tree, white pine.
Much of Idaho has an unspoiled beauty, with rugged slopes and towering peaks, a vast expanse of timberland, scenic lakes, wild rivers, cascades, and spectacular gorges. From the northern Panhandle, where Idaho is about 45 mi (72 km) wide, the state broadens south of the Bitterroot Range to 310 mi (499 km) in width.
Manufacturing has recently supplanted agriculture as the most important sector of Idaho's economy. Cattle and dairy goods are among the leading agricultural products. Idaho's chief crops are potatoes (for which the state, easily the nation's largest producer, is famous), hay, wheat, peas, beans, and sugar beets. Electronic and computer equipment, processed foods, lumber, and chemicals are the major manufactured items.
The unspoiled quality of much of Idaho's land has nourished one of the youngest of Idaho's businesses: the tourist trade. Sandpoint , one of the nation's best-known year-round vacation spots, is an example of the development of resorts in Idaho. Not only can you camp, fish and go boating on one of the largest lakes in the Northwest, but you can enjoy excellent skiing in the winter at Schweitzer Ski Resort. US World Report has deemed the Sandpoint area and the #1 best vacation area in the US. The Northern Panhandle is also deemed as the 5th best place to currently retire.
The state is especially inviting to campers, anglers, and hunters (Idaho has one of the largest elk herds in the nation). The state's climate ranges from hot summers in the arid southern basins to cold, snowy winters in the high wilderness areas of central and northern Idaho. There are plenty of wide open spaces, beautiful forests and picturesque lakes throughout the Panhandle. Breathtaking and beautiful describe this western frontier. Whether you want to go for a horseback ride, or a boat ride, they are all at your doorstep. Sit in your back yard and watch the deer graze nearby. Then hop in the car and go see a concert or dine at a fine restaurant on the water. Dreams come true in this beautiful area.