Why Is Idaho Called the Gem State?

Idaho is called the gem state due to the meaning behind the name “Idaho.” In 1860, a mining lobbyist known as George M. Willing proposed this name to Congress as a name for a new territory. In the mid- to late-1800s, Indian names were popular, and Mr. Willing had told Congress that Idaho was a Shoshone Indian word that translated to “Gem of The Mountain.” It was eventually discovered that Mr. Willing had made the name up since it was not actually an Indian word.

The new territory that Mr. William had tried to name Idaho was instead named Colorado or Idaho by Congress after they discovered that Idaho was not a real Indian word. Still, the name Idaho stuck and another territory was eventually bestowed with the name in 1863 by Congress. It is from this translation of the supposed Indian word that the term “gem state” was coined.

Gem state is a most fitting name for Idaho because the state produces more than 240 different types of minerals. These minerals include semi-precious gems like aquamarine, cerrusite, vivianite, pyromorphite and ilavite. The Idaho mountains contain deposits of gold veins, zinc, lead, copper and cobalt. Other gems include opal, tourmaline, topaz and jasper.

The official state gem of Idaho is the star garnet, a gem that is only found in Idaho and India in appreciable quantities. Another feature that makes the term “gem state” most apt is the fact that Idaho is the topmost silver mining state in the United States. More than one fifth of the silver mined in the United States is produced in Idaho. Apart from the “gem state,” another nickname for Idaho is “The land of Famous Potatoes,” a name given in response to the state’s famous Idaho potatoes.

Idaho also has other symbols like an official fish, which is the cutthroat trout, and an official flower, which is the syringa. Idaho’s official fossil is the Haggerman horse fossil, the official insect is the monarch butterfly, and the official tree is the white pine. As expected, the official vegetable is the potato.

Another interesting symbol of the gem state is its flag. Idaho’s state flag is composed of a blue background with the state seal in the middle. A scroll underneath the seal contains the words State of Idaho,” while three edges of the flag are bordered by a gold band. The state motto of Idaho is the Latin phrase Esto perpertua, which means “Let it be Perpertual.” This motto can be found on the state seal, flag and quarter.