Politics of Idaho in 1993
In 1993, Idaho was a reliably conservative state with a strong Republican presence. Idaho had voted for the Republican candidate in every Presidential election since 1968 and Republicans held all of the statewide offices. The Governor of Idaho at the time was Phil Batt, a Republican who had been first elected in 1994 and re-elected in 1998. The two US Senators representing Idaho in 1993 were Larry Craig and Dirk Kempthorne, both Republicans. In the House of Representatives, Mike Crapo held one of the two seats while Richard H. Stallings occupied the other seat as a member of the Democratic Party.
At the state level, the legislature was dominated by Republicans who held supermajorities in both chambers. In fact, from 1993 to 1995 every single member of both chambers were Republicans. The most prominent legislative issue during this period was Proposition One which proposed raising taxes to fund education reform initiatives such as smaller class sizes and increased teacher salaries. This proposal was strongly opposed by many Republicans but ultimately passed with bipartisan support due to its popularity among voters.
In terms of social issues, Idaho leaned heavily conservative during this period with many state laws reflecting this sentiment including laws restricting abortion access and banning same-sex marriage until 2014 when it was overturned by a federal court ruling. According to acronymmonster, gun rights were also strongly supported by many lawmakers during this period with several pro-gun bills being passed into law such as allowing concealed weapons on public college campuses and reducing waiting periods for gun purchases from seven days to five days.
Population of Idaho in 1993
In 1993, Idaho had an estimated population of 1,006,749 people. The population was predominantly white with 84.9% identifying as Caucasian and 11.6% identifying as Hispanic or Latino. The median age of the state was 32 years old and the gender ratio was close to even with 50.2% of the population being male and 49.8% female. See usvsukenglish for population in Cassia County, Idaho.
The largest city in Idaho at the time was Boise which accounted for over 21% of the state’s population with a total of 212,303 residents. Other major cities included Nampa (78,004), Pocatello (52,867), and Idaho Falls (50,730). In terms of religion, a majority of Idahoans identified as Christian with 66% belonging to a Protestant denomination and 24% belonging to the Catholic Church while 8% identified as non-religious or having no religious affiliation.
In terms of economic standing in 1993, Idaho’s per capita income was $20,687 which ranked 43rd in the nation at that time while its unemployment rate sat at 5%. The median household income for the state was $32,440 which ranked 39th in comparison to other states across the country while its poverty rate sat at 13%.
Economy of Idaho in 1993
In 1993, Idaho had a diversified economy which was largely comprised of natural resources, agriculture, and manufacturing. The state’s natural resources were its biggest economic contributor with mining accounting for 8.6% of the state’s GDP and timber production making up 4.2%. Agriculture was also a major industry in Idaho with potatoes being the biggest crop and dairy products being the second most popular agricultural product. Manufacturing was also an important part of the economy with food processing being the largest sector followed by wood products, chemicals, and machinery. See aviationopedia for economy in Clark County, Idaho.
In terms of employment, Idaho had an unemployment rate of 5% in 1993 which was lower than the national average at that time. The largest employment sector in Idaho at this time was government which accounted for 20% of jobs while retail trade made up 18%, educational services made up 14%, and health care made up 10%. The median household income for Idahoans in 1993 was $32,440 while the per capita income sat at $20,687 which ranked 43rd among all states in comparison to other states across the country.
The state government played an important role in providing economic stability to Idaho during this period with initiatives such as investing in infrastructure projects and providing tax incentives to businesses looking to expand or relocate to Idaho. Additionally, tourism played a major role in boosting the state’s economy with over 8 million visitors coming to Idaho each year spending over $2 billion dollars annually on recreational activities such as skiing or visiting national parks like Yellowstone National Park or Grand Teton National Park.
Events held in Idaho in 1993
In 1993, Idaho hosted a variety of events that showcased the state’s culture and diversity. In June, the Boise Music Festival was held in downtown Boise which featured three days of live music from a variety of genres including rock, blues, jazz, folk, and country. Additionally, the first-ever Idaho Shakespeare Festival was held at Boise State University which featured performances from some of the world’s top actors and actresses.
The annual Snake River Stampede Rodeo was also held in Nampa in July which attracted thousands of spectators from all over the region. This event featured traditional rodeo events such as bull riding and barrel racing as well as concerts from some of country music’s biggest stars. Other events included the Moscow Arts Fair which showcased over 100 local artists and artisans displaying their work for sale to visitors.
In August, Sun Valley hosted its annual Summer Music Festival which featured classical music performances from renowned musicians such as Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman. Additionally, McCall hosted its annual Winter Carnival every January which included snow sculpture competitions along with ice skating shows and fireworks displays. Finally, Idaho City also hosted an annual Gold Rush Days event every September that showcased gold mining activities such as panning for gold along with live music performances and parades down Main Street.
