Idaho is a state located in the northwestern region of the United States. It is known for its natural beauty and abundance of outdoor recreational activities. The state’s economy is primarily driven by agriculture, tourism, and technology.
Agriculture has long been a major part of Idaho’s economy. The state is home to a wide variety of crops, including potatoes, wheat, barley, oats, hay, sugar beets, and beans. Dairy products are also an important industry in the state. In 2019, agriculture accounted for more than $7 billion in economic activity in Idaho. Livestock production is also a major contributor to the agricultural sector of the state’s economy with cattle and sheep being among its most important commodities. Additionally, Idaho is home to a number of large food processing companies such as J.R Simplot Company and ConAgra Foods which help to add value to the agricultural sector of Idaho’s economy by processing raw materials into food products that can be sold around the world.
Tourism is another major driver of Idaho’s economy with visitors coming from all over the world to experience its natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities such as skiing, boating, camping and fishing. In 2019 alone there were an estimated 28 million visitors who spent an estimated $6 billion in the state contributing significantly to local businesses as well as employment opportunities throughout Idaho’s tourism industry.
Technology has become increasingly important for Idaho’s economy over recent years with numerous tech companies setting up shop in Boise – one of the fastest growing cities in America – including Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), HP Inc., Micron Technology Inc., Microsoft Corporation (MSFT), Oracle Corporation (ORCL), Symantec Corporation (SYMC) and many more. These companies are helping drive innovation in areas such as energy efficiency/renewable energy technologies; software development; cybersecurity; healthcare IT; artificial intelligence (AI); robotics; 3D printing; blockchain technologies; big data analytics; cloud computing; autonomous vehicles; virtual/augmented reality technologies among other areas all helping contribute significantly to Idaho’s economic growth while creating high-paying jobs throughout various sectors within technology industry itself as well as related industries throughout Idaho’s economy such as marketing & advertising or professional services firms who provide support services for these tech companies operating within IDAHO’s marketspace
Overall, Idaho has a diverse economic landscape that consists of agriculture production & processing activities such as dairy & crop farming & food processing operations along with significant contributions from tourism & technology industries which have become increasingly important for driving economic growth within IDAHO’s marketspace over recent years while creating high-paying jobs across various sectors.
Top 3 Counties in Idaho
According to countryaah.com, main counties in Idaho include:
1. Ada County: Ada County is the most populous county in Idaho, containing the state capital of Boise and its suburbs. The county has a population of over 450,000 people, making it the second most populous county in the Pacific Northwest region behind King County in Washington. It is home to Boise State University and several other major employers such as Micron Technology and Hewlett-Packard. It is known for its agricultural production including potatoes, onions, beans, and wheat. Additionally, it has many recreational opportunities including skiing at Bogus Basin Mountain Resort and fishing on the Boise River.
2. Canyon County: Canyon County is located just south of Ada County and is home to over 218,000 people as of 2020. This county includes the cities of Nampa and Caldwell as well as several smaller communities such as Middleton and Parma. It is known for its agricultural production which includes potatoes, onions, corn, hay and sugar beets. Additionally, there are several recreational opportunities including golfing at Banbury Golf Course or exploring Lake Lowell Park’s hiking trails.
3. Kootenai County: Kootenai County is located on the northern border of Idaho with a population just over 150,000 people as of 2020. It contains the cities of Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls as well as many smaller towns such as Rathdrum and Dalton Gardens. The county is known for its lakeside recreation with Lake Coeur d’Alene being one of the largest lakes in Idaho offering multiple marinas for boating activities or fishing opportunities along with sandy beaches to enjoy during summer months. Additionally it also offers many hiking trails throughout forests that provide stunning views from mountain peaks or along lakeshores in beautiful North Idaho wilderness areas like Farragut State Park or Round Lake State.
