Timeline of Idaho history

Last updated

This timeline is a chronology of significant events in the history of the U.S. State of Idaho and the historical area now occupied by the state.

Contents

  2000s    1900s    1800s    Statehood    Territory    1700s    1600s    1500s    Before 1492  

2020s

YearDateEvent
2020November 3In the 2020 General Election, Idaho voters elect four U.S. Presidential Electors for President Donald Trump, re-elect Jim Risch as junior U.S. Senator, and re-elect Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson as U.S. Representatives. Republicans retain control of the Idaho Legislature.
April 1The 2020 United States Census enumerates the population of the State of Idaho, estimated to be about 1,824,000.

2010s

YearDateEvent
2019January 7 Brad Little assumes office as the 33rd Governor of the State of Idaho.
2010April 1The 2010 United States Census enumerates the population of the State of Idaho, later determined to be 1,567,582, an increase of 21.1% since the 2000 United States Census. Idaho remains the 39th most populous of the 50 U.S. state.

2000s

YearDateEvent
2009March 30 U.S. President Barack Obama signs An Act to designate certain land as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System, to authorize certain programs and activities in the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes, creating the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail and the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail.
January 3 Jim Risch assumes office as the junior United States senator for the State of Idaho.
2008May 8 U.S. President George W. Bush signs An Act To modify the boundary of the Minidoka Internment National Monument, to establish the Minidoka National Historic Site, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain land and improvements of the Gooding Division of the Minidoka Project, Idaho, and for other purposes, redesignating Minidoka Internment National Monument as Minidoka National Historic Site. [1] [2]
2007January 1 Butch Otter assumes office as the 32nd Governor of the State of Idaho.
2006May 26 Lieutenant Governor Jim Risch assumes office as the 31st Governor of the State of Idaho upon the resignation of Governor Kempthorne.
2002August 21 U.S. President George W. Bush signs An Act To redesignate certain lands within the Craters of the Moon National Monument, and for other purposes, creating Craters of the Moon National Preserve.
2001January 17 U.S. President Bill Clinton issues a public land order creating Minidoka Internment National Monument. [1] [2]
2000April 1The 2000 United States Census enumerates the population of the State of Idaho, later determined to be 1,293,953, an increase of 28.5% since the 1990 United States Census. Idaho becomes the 39th most populous of the 50 U.S. states.

1990s

YearDateEvent
1999January 4 Dirk Kempthorne assumes office as the 30th Governor of the State of Idaho.
January 3 Mike Crapo assumes office as the junior United States senator for the State of Idaho.
1995January 2 Phil Batt assumes office as the 29th Governor of the State of Idaho.
1990April 1The 1990 United States Census enumerates the population of the State of Idaho, later determined to be 1,006,749, an increase of 6.7% since the 1980 United States Census. Idaho becomes the 42nd most populous of the 50 U.S. states and loses its 2nd Congressional District.

1980s

YearDateEvent
1987January 5 Cecil Andrus assumes office as the 28th Governor of the State of Idaho.
1988November 10 U.S. President Ronald Reagan signs An Act To provide for the designation and conservation of certain lands in the States of Arizona and Idaho, and for other purposes, creating City of Rocks National Reserve and Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument. [2]
1980April 1The 1980 United States Census enumerates the population of the State of Idaho, later determined to be 943,935, an increase of 32.5% since the 1970 United States Census. Idaho becomes the 41st most populous of the 50 U.S. states.

1970s

YearDateEvent
1978November 10 U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs the National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978 authorizing the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail and the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.
October 9The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designates Yellowstone National Park as one of the first 12 World Heritage Sites.
1977January 23 Cecil Andrus assumes office as the 42nd United States Secretary of the Interior.
Lieutenant Governor John V. Evans assumes office as the 27th Governor of the State of Idaho upon the resignation of Governor Andrus
1976July 4The State of Idaho celebrates the Bicentennial of the United States of America.
1971January 4 Cecil Andrus assumes office as the 26th Governor of the State of Idaho.
1970April 1The 1970 United States Census enumerates the population of the State of Idaho, later determined to be 712,567, an increase of 6.8% since the 1960 United States Census. Idaho remains the 42nd most populous of the 50 U.S. states.

1960s

YearDateEvent
1968December 2 U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signs An Act to establish a national trails system, and for other purposes, creating the National Trails System.
1967January 2 Don Samuelson assumes office as the 25th Governor of the State of Idaho.
1965May 15 U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signs An Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to designate the Nez Perce National historical Park in the State of Idaho, and for other purposes, creating Nez Perce National Historical Park. [2]
1960April 1The 1960 United States Census enumerates the population of the State of Idaho, later determined to be 667,191, an increase of 13.3% since the 1950 United States Census. Idaho becomes the 42nd most populous of the 50 U.S. states.

1950s

YearDateEvent
1955January 3 Robert E. Smylie assumes office as the 24th Governor of the State of Idaho.
1954May 19 U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower issues Public Land Order 965 splitting Cabinet National Forest among Kaniksu National Forest, Kootenai National Forest, and Lolo National Forest. [3]
1953October 23 U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower issues Public Land Order 923 splitting Minidoka National Forest between Sawtooth National Forest and Salmon National Forest. [3]
1951January 1 Leonard B. Jordan assumes office as the 23rd Governor of the State of Idaho.
1950April 1The 1950 United States Census enumerates the population of the State of Idaho, later determined to be 588,637, an increase of 12.1% since the 1940 United States Census. Idaho becomes the 43rd most populous of the 48 U.S. states.

1940s

YearDateEvent
1947January 6 C.A. Robins assumes office as the 22nd Governor of the State of Idaho.
1945November 17 Lieutenant Governor Arnold Williams assumes office as the 21st Governor of the State of Idaho upon the resignation of Governor Gossett.
September 2 World War II ends as the Empire of Japan formally surrenders.
May 8The war in Europe ends as the Greater German Empire formally surrenders.
January 1 Charles C. Gossett assumes office as the 20th Governor of the State of Idaho.
1943January 4 C.A. Bottolfsen assumes office as the 19th Governor of the State of Idaho.
1941December 11The United States declares war on the German Reich and the Italian Empire.
December 8The United States declares war on the Empire of Japan and enters World War II.
January 6 Chase A. Clark assumes office as the 18th Governor of the State of Idaho.
1940April 1The 1940 United States Census enumerates the population of the State of Idaho, later determined to be 524,873, an increase of 17.9% since the 1930 United States Census. Idaho remains the 42nd most populous of the 48 U.S. states.

1930s

YearDateEvent
1939January 2 C.A. Bottolfsen assumes office as the 17th Governor of the State of Idaho.
1938October 8 U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt issues Executive Order 7986 splitting Lemhi National Forest between Challis National Forest and Salmon National Forest. [3]
1937July 22 U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs An Act to create the Farmers' Home Corporation, to promote more secure occupancy of farms and farm homes, to correct the economic instability resulting from some present forms of farm tenancy, and for other purposes, also known as the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act.
January 4 Barzilla W. Clark assumes office as the 16th Governor of the State of Idaho.
1934October 29 U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt issues Executive Order 6889 splitting Selway National Forest among Bitterroot National Forest, Clearwater National Forest, Nezperce National Forest, and Kaniksu National Forest. [3]
1933September 30 U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt issues Executive Order 6303 merging Pend Oreille National Forest into Kaniksu National Forest. [3]
1931January 5 C. Ben Ross assumes office as the 15th Governor of the State of Idaho.
1930April 1The 1930 United States Census enumerates the population of the State of Idaho, later determined to be 445,032, an increase of 3.0% since the 1920 United States Census. Idaho remains the 42nd most populous of the 48 U.S. states.

1920s

YearDateEvent
1927January 3 H.C. Baldridge assumes office as the 14th Governor of the State of Idaho.
1924June 2 U.S. President Calvin Coolidge signs An Act To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to issue certificates of citizenship to Indians, also known as the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, finally granting full United States Citizenship to all Native Americans born in the United States. [4]
May 2 U.S. President Calvin Coolidge issues an executive order creating Craters of the Moon National Monument. [1] [2]
1923January 1 Charles C. Moore assumes office as the 13th Governor of the State of Idaho.
1920April 1The 1920 United States Census enumerates the population of the State of Idaho, later determined to be 431,866, an increase of 32.6% since the 1910 United States Census. Idaho becomes the 42nd most populous of the 48 U.S. states.

1910s

YearDateEvent
1919February 11The State of Idaho creates Caribou County from a portion of Bannock County. [5]
February 8The State of Idaho creates Jerome County from portions of Gooding County and Lincoln County. [5]
February 1The State of Idaho creates Clark County from a portion of Fremont County. [5]
January 6 D.W. Davis assumes office as the 12th Governor of the State of Idaho.
1918November 11An armistice halts the Great War.
1917April 6The United States declares war on the German Empire and enters the Great War.
February 26The State of Idaho creates Valley County from portions of Boise County and Idaho County. [5]
The State of Idaho creates Payette County from a portion of Canyon County. [5]
February 6The State of Idaho creates Camas County from a portion of Blaine County. [5]
The State of Idaho creates Butte County from portions of Bingham County, Blaine County, and Jefferson County. [5]
1916August 25 U.S. President Woodrow Wilson signs An Act To establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes. [6]
1915April 21 U.S. President Woodrow Wilson issues Executive Order 2179 merging Pocatello National Forest into Cache National Forest. [3]
March 15The State of Idaho creates Gem County from portions of Boise County and Canyon County. [5]
January 23The State of Idaho creates Teton County from portions of Bingham County, Fremont County, and Madison County. [5]
The State of Idaho creates Boundary County from a portion of Bonner County. [5]
The State of Idaho creates Benewah County from a portion of Kootenai County. [5]
January 4 Moses Alexander assumes office as the 11th Governor of the State of Idaho.
1913February 18The State of Idaho creates Madison County from a portion of Fremont County. [5]
The State of Idaho creates Jefferson County from a portion of Fremont County. [5]
January 30The State of Idaho creates Power County from portions of Bingham County, Blaine County, and Oneida County. [5]
January 28The State of Idaho creates Minidoka County from a portion of Lincoln County. [5]
The State of Idaho creates Gooding County from a portion of Lincoln County. [5]
January 20The State of Idaho creates Franklin County from a portion of Oneida County. [5]
January 6 John M. Haines assumes office as the tenth Governor of the State of Idaho.
1911June 29 U.S. President William Howard Taft issues Proclamation 1143 creating St. Joe National Forest. [3]
U.S. President William Howard Taft issues Proclamation 1141 merging Clearwater National Forest into Selway National Forest. [3]
U.S. President William Howard Taft issues Proclamation 1140 creating Selway National Forest. [3]
March 3The State of Idaho creates Lewis County from a portion of Nez Perce County. [5]
The State of Idaho creates Adams County from a portion of Washington County. [5]
February 27The State of Idaho creates Clearwater County from a portion of Nez Perce County. [5]
February 7The State of Idaho creates Bonneville County from a portion of Bingham County. [5]
January 2 James H. Hawley assumes office as the ninth Governor of the State of Idaho.
1910June 28 U.S. President William Howard Taft issues Proclamation 1053 creating Palisade National Forest. [3]
May 6 U.S. President William Howard Taft issues Proclamation 1025 changing the name of Pend d'Oreille National Forest to Pend Oreille National Forest. [3]
April 1The 1910 United States Census enumerates the population of the State of Idaho, later determined to be 325,594, an increase of 101% since the 1900 United States Census. Idaho becomes the 43rd most populous of the 46 U.S. states and gains a second Congressional seat.

1900s

YearDateEvent
1909January 4 James H. Brady assumes office as the eighth Governor of the State of Idaho.
1908July 2 U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order 908 merging Cassia National Forest into the new Minidoka National Forest. [3]
July 1 U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order 883 changing the name of Bitter Root National Forest to Bitterroot National Forest. [3]
U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order 871 merging Henrys Lake National Forest into the new Targhee National Forest. [3]
June 26 U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order 857 creating Boise National Forest. [3]
U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order 855 creating Idaho National Forest. [3]
U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order 854 creating Nezperce National Forest. [3]
U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order 845 creating Kaniksu National Forest. [3]
U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order 844 merging Priest River National Forest into the new Pend d'Oreille National Forest. [3]
U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order 843 merging Palouse National Forest into Coeur d'Alène National Forest and changing the name to Coeur d'Alene National Forest. [3]
U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order 842 creating Clearwater National Forest. [3]
U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order 841 changing the name of Salmon River National Forest to Salmon National Forest. [3]
June 25 U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order 840 creating Challis National Forest. [3]
May 26 U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order 802 merging Bear River National Forest into the new Cache National Forest. [3]
U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order 801 merging Port Neuf National Forest into Pocatello National Forest. [3]
1907March 2 U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues a proclamation creating the Cabinet Forest Reserve. [3]
U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues a proclamation creating the Palouse Forest Reserve. [3]
U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues a proclamation creating the Port Neuf Forest Reserve. [3]
February 21The State of Idaho creates Twin Falls County from a portion of Cassia County. [5]
The State of Idaho creates Bonner County from a portion of Kootenai County. [5]
January 15 U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues a proclamation creating the Caribou Forest Reserve. [3]
1906November 6 U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues a proclamation creating the Coeur d'Alène Forest Reserve. [3]
November 5 U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues a proclamation creating the Salmon River Forest Reserve. [3]
U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues a proclamation creating the Lemhi Forest Reserve. [3]
U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues a proclamation creating the Raft River Forest Reserve. [3]
June 8 U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt signs An Act For the preservation of American antiquities, also known as the Antiquities Act of 1906, giving the President of the United States the authority to create national monuments on federal lands to protect significant natural, cultural, or scientific features. [7]
1905June 12 U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues a proclamation creating the Cassia Forest Reserve. [3]
June 3 U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues a proclamation creating the Payette Forest Reserve. [3]
May 29 U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues a proclamation creating the Sawtooth Forest Reserve. [3]
May 25 U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues a proclamation creating the Weiser Forest Reserve. [3]
May 23 U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues a proclamation creating the Henrys Lake Forest Reserve. [3]
January 2 Frank R. Gooding assumes office as the seventh Governor of the State of Idaho.
1903September 6 U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Proclamation 7 creating the Pocatello Forest Reserve. [3]
January 5 John T. Morrison assumes office as the sixth Governor of the State of Idaho.
1901January 7 Frank W. Hunt assumes office as the fifth Governor of the State of Idaho.
1900April 1The 1900 United States Census enumerates the population of the State of Idaho, later determined to be 161,772, an increase of 83% since the 1890 United States Census. Idaho becomes the 43rd most populous of the 45 U.S. states.

1890s

YearDateEvent
1898December 10The United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain sign the Treaty of Paris of 1898 to end the Spanish–American War.
August 12The United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain sign a Protocol of Peace.
April 23The Kingdom of Spain declares war on the United States of America. The United States declares war on Spain two days later.
1897February 22 U.S. President Grover Cleveland issues Proclamation 26 creating the Priest River Forest Reserve. [3]
U.S. President Grover Cleveland issues Proclamation 23 creating the Bitter Root Forest Reserve. [3]
January 4 Frank Steunenberg assumes office as the fourth Governor of the State of Idaho.
1895March 18The State of Idaho creates Lincoln County from a portion of Blaine County. [5]
March 5The State of Idaho creates Blaine County by combining Alturas County and Logan County. [5]
1893March 6The State of Idaho creates Bannock County from a portion of Bingham County. [5]
March 4The State of Idaho creates Fremont County from a portion of Bingham County. [5]
January 2 William J. McConnell assumes office as the third Governor of the State of Idaho.
1891March 7The State of Idaho creates Canyon County from a portion of Ada County. [5]
March 3 U.S. President Benjamin Harrison signs An act to repeal timber-culture laws, and for other purposes, also known as the Forest Reserve Act of 1891, giving the President of the United States the authority to create protected national forests on federal lands. [8]
1890December 18 Lieutenant Governor N.B. Willey assumes office as the second Governor of the State of Idaho upon the resignation of Governor Shoup.
October 1 Territorial Governor George L. Shoup assumes office as the first Governor of the State of Idaho.
July 3 U.S. President Benjamin Harrison signs An act to provide for the admission of the State of Idaho into the Union. [9] The Territory of Idaho becomes the State of Idaho, the 43rd U.S. state.
April 1The 1890 United States Census enumerates the population of the State of Idaho, later determined to be 88,548, an increase of NN% since the 1880 United States Census. Idaho will become the 42nd most populous of the 43 U.S. states.

1880s

YearDateEvent
1889April 30 U.S. President Benjamin Harrison appoints George L. Shoup as the (last) Governor of the Territory of Idaho.
February 7The Territory of Idaho creates Logan County from a portion of Alturas County. [5]
The Territory of Idaho creates Elmore County from a portion of Alturas County. [5]
1888January 13The Territory of Idaho creates Latah County from a portion of Nez Perce County. [5]
1885October 10 U.S. President Grover Cleveland appoints Edward A. Stevenson as the Governor of the Territory of Idaho.
January 13The Territory of Idaho creates Bingham County from a portion of Oneida County. [5]
1884March 26 U.S. President Chester A. Arthur appoints William M. Bunn as the Governor of the Territory of Idaho.
1883March 5 U.S. President Chester A. Arthur appoints John N. Irwin as the Governor of the Territory of Idaho.
1881January 8The Territory of Idaho creates Custer County from portions of Alturas County and Lemhi County. [5]
1880July 12 U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes appoints John Baldwin Neil as the Governor of the Territory of Idaho.
April 1The 1880 United States Census enumerates the population of the Territory of Idaho, later determined to be 32,610, an increase of NN% since the 1880 United States Census. Idaho becomes the seventh most populous of the eight U.S. territories.

1870s

YearDateEvent
1869February 20The Territory of Idaho creates Washington County from a portion of Ada County. [5]
The Territory of Idaho creates Cassia County from a portion of Owyhee County. [5]
1876July 24 U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant appoints Mason Brayman as the Governor of the Territory of Idaho.
July 4The Territory of Idaho celebrates the Centennial of the United States of America while still reeling from the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
June 26The 7th Cavalry Regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer are defeated at the Battle of the Little Bighorn by a force of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors.
April  U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant appoints David P. Thompson as the Governor of the Territory of Idaho.
1875January 5The Territory of Idaho creates Bear Lake County from a portion of Oneida County. [5]
1872March 1 U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant signs An Act to set apart a certain tract of land lying near the headwaters of the Yellowstone River as a public park, creating Yellowstone National Park, the world's first national park. [2]
1871December  U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant appoints Thomas W. Bennett as the Governor of the Territory of Idaho.
April 19 U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant appoints David W. Ballard as the Governor of the Territory of Idaho.
1870April 1The 1870 United States Census enumerates the population of the Territory of Idaho, later determined to be 14,999. Idaho is the seventh most populous of the nine U.S. territories.

1860s

YearDateEvent
1869January 9The Territory of Idaho creates Lemhi County from a portion of Idaho County. [5]
1866June 14 U.S. President Andrew Johnson appoints David W. Ballard as the third Governor of the Territory of Idaho.
1865May 9 U.S. President Andrew Johnson proclaims the end of the American Civil War.
April 1 U.S. Vice President Andrew Johnson assumes office as the 17th President of the United States upon the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
1864December 22The Territory of Idaho creates Kootenai County from a portion of Nez Perce County. [5]
The Territory of Idaho creates Ada County from a portion of Boise County. [5]
August 1 U.S. President Abraham Lincoln appoints Caleb Lyon as the second Governor of the Territory of Idaho.
February 4The Territory of Idaho creates five more original counties: Alturas County, Boise County, Idaho County, Nez Perce County, and Shoshone County. [5]
January 22The Territory of Idaho creates Oneida County. [5]
1863December 31The Territory of Idaho creates Owyhee County. [5]
July 10 U.S. President Abraham Lincoln appoints William H. Wallace as the first Governor of the Territory of Idaho.
March 3 U.S. President Abraham Lincoln signs An Act to provide a temporary Government for the Territory of Idaho. [10] The Territory of Idaho includes all of the future states of Idaho and Montana plus the northern portion of the future state of Wyoming.
1861April 12The American Civil War begins with the Battle of Fort Sumter.
March 4 Abraham Lincoln assumes office as the 16th President of the United States.
February 8The seven secessionist slave states create the Confederate States of America.
1860November 6 Abraham Lincoln is elected President of the United States. Seven slave states will secede from the United States of America before February 8, 1861.

1850s

YearDateEvent
1853March 2 U.S. President Millard Fillmore signs An Act to establish the Territorial Government of Washington. The Territory of Washington includes all of the future State of Idaho.
1851April 5 Governor Brigham Young dissolves the self-proclaimed State of Deseret.

1840s

YearDateEvent
1849March 12The Mormon settlers of the Great Salt Lake Valley create the Provisional Government of the State of Deseret and elect Brigham Young as the first (and only) Governor. The proposed state includes the entire Great Basin and the entire drainage basin of the Colorado River within the United States. Although the proposed State of Deseret includes the southern portion of the future State of Idaho, it has no actual presence in the region.
1848August 14 U.S. President James K. Polk signs An Act to Establish the Territorial Government of Oregon. The Territory of Oregon includes the portion of the future State of Idaho lying west of the Continental Divide of the Americas. The rest of the future state remains unorganized United States territory.
February 2The United States of America and United Mexican States sign the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo to end the Mexican–American War.
1846July 17The Oregon Treaty between the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland takes effect. The 49th parallel north is set as the international border from the Strait of Georgia to the Lake of the Woods. All land in the future State of Idaho becomes unorganized United States territory.
May 13The United States declares war on the Mexican Republic.

1830s

YearDateEvent

1820s

YearDateEvent

1810s

YearDateEvent
1819January 30The Treaty of 1818 between the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland takes effect. The treaty calls for the joint occupation of the Oregon Country west of the Continental Divide of the Americas, and the 49th parallel north as the international border east of the Continental Divide to the Lake of the Woods. The Continental Divide separates the future State of Idaho between the Oregon Country and the Territory of Missouri.
1814  William Clark publishes A Map of Lewis and Clark's Track Across the Western Portion of North America.

1800s

YearDateEvent
1806September 23The Lewis and Clark Expedition arrives in St. Louis in the Territory of Louisiana (the future State of Missouri).
August 11The Lewis and Clark Expedition reunites at the confluence of the Yellowstone River with the Missouri River.
July 7 William Clark and the other members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition cross the Continental Divide of the Americas at the saddle now known as Big Hole Pass.
Meriwether Lewis and nine other members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition cross the Continental Divide of the Americas at the saddle now known as Lewis and Clark Pass.
July 3On their return east, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark decide to split their expedition to search for a shorter route to the Missouri River.
March 22The Lewis and Clark Expedition depart Fort Clatsop and begin their voyage back to the United States.
1805December 7The Lewis and Clark Expedition arrive at the site of their winter encampment on the south side of the Columbia River and begin the construction of Fort Clatsop.
August 12 Meriwether Lewis and three other members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition cross the Continental Divide of the Americas at the saddle now known as Lemhi Pass and enter territory claimed by Native Americans, the Kingdom of Spain, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Russian Empire. The rest of the expedition will follow.
1804May 21The Lewis and Clark Expedition departs St. Charles in the District of Louisiana (the future State of Missouri) and begins its voyage up the Missouri River.

1790s

YearDateEvent

1780s

YearDateEvent
1783September 3The Treaty of Paris is signed in Paris by representatives of King George III of Great Britain and representatives of the United States of America. The treaty affirms the independence of the United States and sets the Mississippi River as its western boundary.

1770s

YearDateEvent
1776July 4Representatives of the thirteen United States of America sign the Declaration of Independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.

1690s

YearDateEvent

1590s

YearDateEvent

1510s

YearDateEvent
1513September 29 Spanish conquistador Vasco Núñez de Balboa crosses the Isthmus of Panama and arrives on the shore of a sea that he names Mar del Sur (the South Sea, later named the Pacific Ocean). He claims the sea and all adjacent lands for the Queen of Castile. This includes all of the future State of Idaho.

1490s

YearDateEvent
1493May 5 Pope Alexander VI (born Roderic de Borja in Valencia) issues the papal bull Inter caetera which splits the non-Christian world into two halves. The eastern half goes to the King of Portugal for his exploration, conquest, conversion, and exploitation. The western half (including all of North America) goes to the Queen of Castile and the King of Aragon for their exploration, conquest, conversion, and exploitation. The indigenous peoples of the Americas have no idea that any of these people exist.
1492October 12 Genoese seaman Cristòffa Cómbo (Christopher Columbus) leading an expedition for Queen Isabella I of Castile lands on the Lucayan island of Guanahani that he renames San Salvador. This begins the Spanish conquest of the Americas.

Before 1492

EraEvent
c.12,000 BCEDuring a centuries long period of warming, ice-age Paleoamericans from Beringia begin using the ice-free corridor east of the Rocky Mountains to migrate throughout the Americas.


  2000s    1900s    1800s    Statehood    Territory    1700s    1600s    1500s    Before 1492  

See also

P history.svg History
portal
North America (orthographic projection).svg North America
portal
Flag of the United States.svg United States
portal

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idaho</span> U.S. state

Idaho is a landlocked state in the Mountain West subregion of the United States. It shares a small portion of the Canada–United States border to the north, with the province of British Columbia. It borders Montana and Wyoming to the east, Nevada and Utah to the south, and Washington and Oregon to the west. The state's capital and largest city is Boise. With an area of 83,569 square miles (216,440 km2), Idaho is the 14th largest state by land area. With a population of approximately 1.8 million, it ranks as the 13th least populous and the 7th least densely populated of the 50 U.S. states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idaho Territory</span> Territory of the U.S. between 1863–1890

The Territory of Idaho was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 3, 1863, until July 3, 1890, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as Idaho.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montana Territory</span> Organized incorporated territory of the United States from 1864 to 1889

The Territory of Montana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 26, 1864, until November 8, 1889, when it was admitted as the 41st state in the Union as the state of Montana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkansas Territory</span> Territory of the United States of America from 1819 to 1836

The Arkansas Territory was a territory of the United States from July 4, 1819, to June 15, 1836, when the final extent of Arkansas Territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Arkansas. Arkansas Post was the first territorial capital (1819–1821) and Little Rock was the second (1821–1836).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">51st state</span> Proposals to admit a new state into the United States

The 51st state in American political discourse refers to the concept of granting statehood to one of the United States' territories, splitting one or more of the existing states up to form a new state, or granting statehood to the District of Columbia, thereby increasing the number of states in the Union from 50 to 51.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">District of Columbia statehood movement</span> Movement to make the United States capital a state

The District of Columbia statehood movement is a political movement that advocates making the District of Columbia a U.S. state, to provide the residents of the District of Columbia with voting representation in the Congress and complete control over local affairs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred Dubois</span> American politician (1851–1930)

Fred Thomas Dubois was a controversial American politician from Idaho who served two terms in the United States Senate. He was best known for his opposition to the gold standard and his efforts to disenfranchise Mormon voters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idaho statistical areas</span> Idaho statistical areas

The U.S. State of Idaho currently has 22 statistical areas that have been delineated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). On July 21, 2023, the OMB delineated five combined statistical areas, seven metropolitan statistical areas, and ten micropolitan statistical areas in Idaho.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idaho Territory's at-large congressional district</span> Former congressional district

Idaho Territory's at-large congressional district is an obsolete congressional district that encompassed the area of the Idaho Territory, which was originally created from parts of the Washington Territory and Dakota Territory in 1863. In 1864, parts of the territory were ceded back to the Dakota Territory and another part was reorganized into the Montana Territory. The boundaries of the territory were changed again in 1868 when the Wyoming Territory was created.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.S. state</span> Constituent polity of the United States

In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sovereignty with the federal government. Due to this shared sovereignty, Americans are citizens both of the federal republic and of the state in which they reside. State citizenship and residency are flexible, and no government approval is required to move between states, except for persons restricted by certain types of court orders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puerto Rico statehood movement</span> Movement to grant Puerto Rico U.S. statehood

The Puerto Rico statehood movement aims to make Puerto Rico a state of the United States. Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territorial possession of the United States acquired in 1898 following the Spanish–American War, making it "the oldest colony in the modern world". As of 2023, the population of Puerto Rico is 3.2 million, around half the average state population and higher than that of 19 U.S. states. Statehood is one of several competing options for the future political status of Puerto Rico, including: maintaining its current status, becoming fully independent, or becoming a freely associated state. Puerto Rico has held six referendums on the topic. These are non-binding, as the power to grant statehood lies with the US Congress. The most recent referendum was in November 2020, with a majority (52.52%) of those who voted opting for statehood.

This timeline is a chronology of significant events in the history of the U.S. State of Colorado and the historical area now occupied by the state.

Admission to the Union is provided by the Admissions Clause of the United States Constitution in Article IV, Section 3, Clause 1, which authorizes the United States Congress to admit new states into the Union beyond the thirteen states that already existed when the Constitution came into effect. The Constitution went into effect on June 21, 1788, in the nine states that had ratified it, and the U.S. federal government began operations under it on March 4, 1789, when it was in effect in 11 out of the 13 states. Since then, 37 states have been admitted into the Union. Each new state has been admitted on an equal footing with those already in existence.

This timeline is a chronology of significant events in the history of the U.S. State of New Mexico and the historical area that is now occupied by the state.

This timeline is a chronology of significant events in the history of the U.S. State of Wyoming and the historical area now occupied by the state.

This timeline is a chronology of significant events in the history of the U.S. State of Montana and the historical area now occupied by the state.

This timeline is a chronology of significant events in the history of the U.S. State of Arizona and the historical area now occupied by the state.

This timeline is a chronology of significant events in the history of the U.S. State of Utah and the historical area now occupied by the state.

References

References are included in the linked articles.

  1. 1 2 3 "Antiquities Act". National Park Service. November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Park Anniversaries". National Park Service. October 30, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 "Establishment and Modification of National Forest Boundaries and National Grasslands" (PDF). United States Forest Service. 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  4. Sixty-eighth United States Congress (June 2, 1924). "An Act To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to issue certificates of citizenship to Indians" (PDF). Library of Congress . Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 "Idaho: Individual County Chronologies". Newberry Library. 2007. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  6. Sixty-fourth United States Congress (August 25, 1916). "An Act To establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes" (PDF). Library of Congress . Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  7. Fifty-ninth United States Congress (June 8, 1906). "An Act For the preservation of American antiquities" (PDF). Library of Congress . Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  8. Fifty-first United States Congress (March 3, 1891). "An act to repeal timber-culture laws, and for other purposes" (PDF). Library of Congress . Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  9. Fifty-first United States Congress (July 3, 1890). "An act to provide for the admission of the State of Idaho into the Union" (PDF). Library of Congress . Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  10. Thirty-seventh United States Congress (March 3, 1863). "An Act to provide a temporary Government for the Territory of Idaho" (PDF). Library of Congress . Retrieved November 16, 2020.

44°21′03″N114°36′47″W / 44.3509°N 114.6130°W / 44.3509; -114.6130 (Geometric center of the State of Idaho)