Idaho: State Flag, Bird and Facts
The mountain bluebird is Idaho's state bird, and the syringa, or mock orange, is the state flower.
- Capital
- Boise
- Nickname
- Gem State
- State bird
- Mountain bluebird
- State flower
- Syringa, mock orange
- State tree
- Western white pine
- Admitted
- July 3, 1890
- Population
- 1,839,106 (2020 census)
- Motto
- Esto perpetua
- Region
- West
- Area
- 216,699 km² (83,668 sq mi)
- Highest point
- Borah Peak (12,668 ft)
About Idaho
Idaho touches six states, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Washington and Oregon, plus a short piece of the Canadian border in the far north. Boise is the capital and the largest city. The isolated northern Panhandle shares the Pacific Time Zone with eastern Washington, while the rest of the state runs on Mountain Time. Statehood came in 1890, making Idaho the 43rd state.
The flag places the state seal on a blue field, and a red and gold band underneath spells out State of Idaho in gold. On the seal, a miner and a woman stand beside a shield showing the state's mines, forests, farms and wildlife. Emma Edwards Green drew the first state seal, and no other woman has designed a seal for any U.S. state. Flag rules even call for gold fringe.
Did you know?
- Borah Peak is the highest point in Idaho, reaching 12,668 feet.
- The official Idaho flag uses an unusual 26:33 shape that no other flag shares.
- License plates in Idaho have carried the phrase Famous Potatoes.
Questions about Idaho
What is Idaho's nickname?
Idaho is called the Gem State. Other nicknames include Gem of the Mountains and the Potato State.
When did Idaho become a state?
Idaho was admitted as the 43rd state on July 3, 1890.
Sources
- Wikidata Q1221, checked October 8, 2026
- Wikipedia: Idaho, checked October 8, 2026
- Wikipedia: Flag and seal of Idaho, checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.