It's (almost) Idaho's day, too

We’ve got a big day coming up, Idahoans. Be sure to get your sparklers and hot dogs and merry-making miscellany ready. We’ve got more than 130 years of history to celebrate!

No, that’s not bad math. I didn’t fail to subtract 1776 from 2022 correctly. Because the year I’m talking about is 1890. And the date is July 3.

Let me help you out, newbies to the area: We’re talking about Idaho’s statehood day.

If you’re a proud Idahoan, you’ve got plenty to celebrate this weekend, from the first Congressional vote to declare the country’s independence (July 2), to the Fourth, to Idaho’s state status celebration. You’ve no doubt heard a good chunk of Independence history before, but the Idaho-centric stats probably didn’t make it into your history textbook.

So here’s a few fun facts about your Idahome that’s sure to amuse everyone at the Fourth cookout for at least 30 seconds:

• Today is NOT Idaho Day. That was March 4. Idaho became ‘Idaho’ — or specifically Idaho Territory — in early spring (or as we call it, late winter) in 1863. Today marks the date Idaho became united with the other states of America.

• Idaho is lucky state No. 43. We share a birth year with Wyoming, which dropped the territory designation July 10. Washington and Montana got statehood less than a year earlier, November 1889.

• The panhandle state should have been official one day later, but that would have conflicted with the Fourth celebrations. So instead July 3 is our statehood date.

• Idaho’s elevation varies a lot, from almost sea level (783 feet in Lewiston) to well over two miles high (12,662 feet at the top of Mount Borah).

• In 1863, the new Idaho Territory was even larger than modern-day Texas. If you flattened out the mountains of Idaho the state, the area it took up would still be close to modern-day Texas.

• In fact, the Lone Star State should probably step aside. Idaho’s state dance (yes, we actually have one) is the square dance, which Texas claims, too, along with 20 other states. Apparently the fight to make square dancing America’s national folk dance has had a few successes through state adoption. So why aren’t we square dancing in schools to embrace Idaho’s heritage in fourth grade?

• The Gem State got its nickname not because of the sheer number of gems, but because of the sheer variety. Almost every type of gem can be found in the approximate 83,600-square-mile area.

• Idaho has more river than any of the lower 48 states, with some 3,500 miles of riparian real estate.

• Just like Idahoans are constantly explaining to people from other regions that they don’t live in Iowa, Iowans have the same trouble. If you ever meet an Iowan, you’ll be fast friends complaining about this together.

• Our state’s mountain bluebird isn’t just a blue beauty. Our avian mascots are known in part for their exceptional tidiness, carrying their trash away from the nest. (Let’s keep our Idahome neat, and clean, too. It’s a matter of state pride, people.)

• Lewis and Clark entered what’s now Idaho Aug. 12, 1805, crossing the Lemhi pass on foot. They left the area via dugout canoe in October. (If you attended elementary in an Idaho school within the past 20 years or so, you probably still know the words to the fourth grade musical: “Lewis and Clark! That’s Clark and Lewis! Heading west to see what we could fiiiiinnnnnddd ….”)

Don’t forget to light up one of your sparklers a day early tomorrow. Happy statehood, Idaho.

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Elena Johnson can be reached at ejohnson@cdapress.com.