Top Interesting/Weird Idaho Facts

I don’t know about you, but I do love throwing out random facts to my friends when we are out together or to my coworkers when I feel like sharing some Idaho knowledge. Even when you have to plan a team Kahoot to test your coworkers’ speed and brain power, these interesting and weird Idaho facts are a little surprising, to say the least; here is the list of my favorites I’ve learned over the years. 

1. Idaho has 72 different semi-precious and precious gemstones found in the area.
2. Wonder where places get their trout? It’s us; most of the nation gets their trout from Idaho.
3. Idaho used to be called the “Colorado Territory.”
4. At one point, it was a law in Pocatello that people may not be seen in public without a smile on their face. What? 
5. The State Seal of Idaho is the only seal designed by a woman in the US. Thank you, Emma Edwards Green! 
6. Ever desire to stay inside a giant beagle? Nope, me either, but you can in Cottonwood, Idaho, at the Dog Bark Park Inn.
7. Wonder why you love places like Yoi Tomo and Shogun Sushi? Idaho has Lewiston, the farthest inland port on this side of the country. 
8. Snakes have been banned from biting humans on a Sunday – except when it’s snowing. Yeah, we don’t understand what situation prompted this weird rule. 
9. Idaho has 3,100 miles of rivers. Would you look at all that water!? 
10. Hells Canyon is deeper than the Grand Canyon! It is 7,900 feet deep, while the Grand Canyon is only 6,000 feet deep. 
11. Idaho has two time zones. Towns above the Salmon River are in the Pacific Time zone, while the rest is in Mountain Standard Time.
12. You can go to jail for six months if you sell an “Idaho Deluxe” potato with sun damage, rot, or blemishes.
13. Joe Albertson opened his first store on the corner of State Street and Sixteenth in downtown Boise.
14. Idaho has a state horse. The Appaloosa is the first breed tamed by the Nez Perce tribe.
15. In the 1950s, Idaho National Laboratory was the first to harness nuclear power to charge up a whole city! 

Did you know some of these or discover something new? I sure did, Idaho is the original horse girl, and we have some amazing feats. Did we miss anything? Let us know by sending an email to [email protected] because we love making sure things are accurate and up to date!