# Timeline of Idaho history

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.

## 2020s

| Year | Date | Event |
| 2020 | November 3 | In 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. |
| 2020 | April 1 | The 2020 United States census enumerates the population of the State of Idaho, estimated to be about 1,824,000. |

## 2010s

| Year | Date | Event |
| 2019 | January 7 | Brad Little assumes office as the 33rd Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 2010 | April 1 | The 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

| Year | Date | Event |
| 2009 | March 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. |
| 2009 | January 3 | Jim Risch assumes office as the junior United States senator for the State of Idaho. |
| 2008 | May 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. |
| 2007 | January 1 | Butch Otter assumes office as the 32nd Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 2006 | May 26 | Lieutenant Governor Jim Risch assumes office as the 31st Governor of the State of Idaho upon the resignation of Governor Kempthorne. |
| 2002 | August 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. |
| 2001 | January 17 | U.S. President Bill Clinton issues a public land order creating Minidoka Internment National Monument. |
| 2000 | April 1 | The 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

| Year | Date | Event |
| 1999 | January 4 | Dirk Kempthorne assumes office as the 30th Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 1999 | January 3 | Mike Crapo assumes office as the junior United States senator for the State of Idaho. |
| 1995 | January 2 | Phil Batt assumes office as the 29th Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 1990 | April 1 | The 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

| Year | Date | Event |
| 1987 | January 5 | Cecil Andrus assumes office as the 28th Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 1988 | November 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. |
| 1980 | April 1 | The 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

| Year | Date | Event |
| 1978 | November 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. |
| 1978 | October 9 | The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designates Yellowstone National Park as one of the first 12 World Heritage Sites. |
| 1977 | January 23 | Cecil Andrus assumes office as the 42nd United States Secretary of the Interior. |
| 1977 | January 23 | Lieutenant Governor John V. Evans assumes office as the 27th Governor of the State of Idaho upon the resignation of Governor Andrus |
| 1976 | July 4 | The State of Idaho celebrates the Bicentennial of the United States of America. |
| 1971 | January 4 | Cecil Andrus assumes office as the 26th Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 1970 | April 1 | The 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

| Year | Date | Event |
| 1968 | December 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. |
| 1967 | January 2 | Don Samuelson assumes office as the 25th Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 1965 | May 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. |
| 1960 | April 1 | The 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

| Year | Date | Event |
| 1955 | January 3 | Robert E. Smylie assumes office as the 24th Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 1954 | May 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. |
| 1953 | October 23 | U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower issues Public Land Order 923 splitting Minidoka National Forest between Sawtooth National Forest and Salmon National Forest. |
| 1951 | January 1 | Leonard B. Jordan assumes office as the 23rd Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 1950 | April 1 | The 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

| Year | Date | Event |
| 1947 | January 6 | C.A. Robins assumes office as the 22nd Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 1945 | November 17 | Lieutenant Governor Arnold Williams assumes office as the 21st Governor of the State of Idaho upon the resignation of Governor Gossett. |
| 1945 | September 2 | World War II ends as the Empire of Japan formally surrenders. |
| 1945 | May 8 | The war in Europe ends as the Greater German Empire formally surrenders. |
| 1945 | January 1 | Charles C. Gossett assumes office as the 20th Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 1943 | January 4 | C.A. Bottolfsen assumes office as the 19th Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 1941 | December 11 | The United States declares war on the German Reich and the Italian Empire. |
| 1941 | December 8 | The United States declares war on the Empire of Japan and enters World War II. |
| 1941 | January 6 | Chase A. Clark assumes office as the 18th Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 1940 | April 1 | The 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

| Year | Date | Event |
| 1939 | January 2 | C.A. Bottolfsen assumes office as the 17th Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 1938 | October 8 | U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt issues Executive Order 7986 splitting Lemhi National Forest between Challis National Forest and Salmon National Forest. |
| 1937 | July 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. |
| 1937 | January 4 | Barzilla W. Clark assumes office as the 16th Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 1934 | October 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. |
| 1933 | September 30 | U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt issues Executive Order 6303 merging Pend Oreille National Forest into Kaniksu National Forest. |
| 1931 | January 5 | C. Ben Ross assumes office as the 15th Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 1930 | April 1 | The 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

| Year | Date | Event |
| 1927 | January 3 | H.C. Baldridge assumes office as the 14th Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 1924 | June 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. |
| 1924 | May 2 | U.S. President Calvin Coolidge issues an executive order creating Craters of the Moon National Monument. |
| 1923 | January 1 | Charles C. Moore assumes office as the 13th Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 1920 | April 1 | The 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

| Year | Date | Event |
| 1919 | February 11 | The State of Idaho creates Caribou County from a portion of Bannock County. |
| 1919 | February 8 | The State of Idaho creates Jerome County from portions of Gooding County and Lincoln County. |
| 1919 | February 1 | The State of Idaho creates Clark County from a portion of Fremont County. |
| 1919 | January 6 | D.W. Davis assumes office as the 12th Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 1918 | November 11 | An armistice halts the Great War. |
| 1917 | April 6 | The United States declares war on the German Empire and enters the Great War. |
| 1917 | February 26 | The State of Idaho creates Valley County from portions of Boise County and Idaho County. |
| 1917 | February 26 | The State of Idaho creates Payette County from a portion of Canyon County. |
| 1917 | February 6 | The State of Idaho creates Camas County from a portion of Blaine County. |
| 1917 | February 6 | The State of Idaho creates Butte County from portions of Bingham County, Blaine County, and Jefferson County. |
| 1916 | August 25 | U.S. President Woodrow Wilson signs An Act To establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes. |
| 1915 | April 21 | U.S. President Woodrow Wilson issues Executive Order 2179 merging Pocatello National Forest into Cache National Forest. |
| 1915 | March 15 | The State of Idaho creates Gem County from portions of Boise County and Canyon County. |
| 1915 | January 23 | The State of Idaho creates Teton County from portions of Bingham County, Fremont County, and Madison County. |
| 1915 | January 23 | The State of Idaho creates Boundary County from a portion of Bonner County. |
| 1915 | January 23 | The State of Idaho creates Benewah County from a portion of Kootenai County. |
| 1915 | January 4 | Moses Alexander assumes office as the 11th Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 1913 | February 18 | The State of Idaho creates Madison County from a portion of Fremont County. |
| 1913 | February 18 | The State of Idaho creates Jefferson County from a portion of Fremont County. |
| 1913 | January 30 | The State of Idaho creates Power County from portions of Bingham County, Blaine County, and Oneida County. |
| 1913 | January 28 | The State of Idaho creates Minidoka County from a portion of Lincoln County. |
| 1913 | January 28 | The State of Idaho creates Gooding County from a portion of Lincoln County. |
| 1913 | January 20 | The State of Idaho creates Franklin County from a portion of Oneida County. |
| 1913 | January 6 | John M. Haines assumes office as the tenth Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 1911 | June 29 | U.S. President William Howard Taft issues Proclamation 1143 creating St. Joe National Forest. |
| 1911 | June 29 | U.S. President William Howard Taft issues Proclamation 1141 merging Clearwater National Forest into Selway National Forest. |
| 1911 | June 29 | U.S. President William Howard Taft issues Proclamation 1140 creating Selway National Forest. |
| 1911 | March 3 | The State of Idaho creates Lewis County from a portion of Nez Perce County. |
| 1911 | March 3 | The State of Idaho creates Adams County from a portion of Washington County. |
| 1911 | February 27 | The State of Idaho creates Clearwater County from a portion of Nez Perce County. |
| 1911 | February 7 | The State of Idaho creates Bonneville County from a portion of Bingham County. |
| 1911 | January 2 | James H. Hawley assumes office as the ninth Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 1910 | June 28 | U.S. President William Howard Taft issues Proclamation 1053 creating Palisade National Forest. |
| 1910 | 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. |
| 1910 | April 1 | The 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

| Year | Date | Event |
| 1909 | January 4 | James H. Brady assumes office as the eighth Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 1908 | July 2 | U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order 908 merging Cassia National Forest into the new Minidoka National Forest. |
| 1908 | July 1 | U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order 883 changing the name of Bitter Root National Forest to Bitterroot National Forest. |
| 1908 | July 1 | U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order 871 merging Henrys Lake National Forest into the new Targhee National Forest. |
| 1908 | June 26 | U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order 857 creating Boise National Forest. |
| 1908 | June 26 | U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order 855 creating Idaho National Forest. |
| 1908 | June 26 | U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order 854 creating Nezperce National Forest. |
| 1908 | June 26 | U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order 845 creating Kaniksu National Forest. |
| 1908 | June 26 | U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order 844 merging Priest River National Forest into the new Pend d'Oreille National Forest. |
| 1908 | June 26 | 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. |
| 1908 | June 26 | U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order 842 creating Clearwater National Forest. |
| 1908 | June 26 | U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order 841 changing the name of Salmon River National Forest to Salmon National Forest. |
| 1908 | June 25 | U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order 840 creating Challis National Forest. |
| 1908 | May 26 | U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order 802 merging Bear River National Forest into the new Cache National Forest. |
| 1908 | May 26 | U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order 801 merging Port Neuf National Forest into Pocatello National Forest. |
| 1907 | March 2 | U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues a proclamation creating the Cabinet Forest Reserve. |
| 1907 | March 2 | U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues a proclamation creating the Palouse Forest Reserve. |
| 1907 | March 2 | U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues a proclamation creating the Port Neuf Forest Reserve. |
| 1907 | February 21 | The State of Idaho creates Twin Falls County from a portion of Cassia County. |
| 1907 | February 21 | The State of Idaho creates Bonner County from a portion of Kootenai County. |
| 1907 | January 15 | U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues a proclamation creating the Caribou Forest Reserve. |
| 1906 | November 6 | U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues a proclamation creating the Coeur d'Alène Forest Reserve. |
| 1906 | November 5 | U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues a proclamation creating the Salmon River Forest Reserve. |
| 1906 | November 5 | U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues a proclamation creating the Lemhi Forest Reserve. |
| 1906 | November 5 | U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues a proclamation creating the Raft River Forest Reserve. |
| 1906 | 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. |
| 1905 | June 12 | U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues a proclamation creating the Cassia Forest Reserve. |
| 1905 | June 3 | U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues a proclamation creating the Payette Forest Reserve. |
| 1905 | May 29 | U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues a proclamation creating the Sawtooth Forest Reserve. |
| 1905 | May 25 | U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues a proclamation creating the Weiser Forest Reserve. |
| 1905 | May 23 | U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues a proclamation creating the Henrys Lake Forest Reserve. |
| 1905 | January 2 | Frank R. Gooding assumes office as the seventh Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 1903 | September 6 | U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues Proclamation 7 creating the Pocatello Forest Reserve. |
| 1903 | January 5 | John T. Morrison assumes office as the sixth Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 1901 | January 7 | Frank W. Hunt assumes office as the fifth Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 1900 | April 1 | The 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

| Year | Date | Event |
| 1898 | December 10 | The United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain sign the Treaty of Paris of 1898 to end the Spanish–American War. |
| 1898 | August 12 | The United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain sign a Protocol of Peace. |
| 1898 | April 23 | The Kingdom of Spain declares war on the United States of America. The United States declares war on Spain two days later. |
| 1897 | February 22 | U.S. President Grover Cleveland issues Proclamation 26 creating the Priest River Forest Reserve. |
| 1897 | February 22 | U.S. President Grover Cleveland issues Proclamation 23 creating the Bitter Root Forest Reserve. |
| 1897 | January 4 | Frank Steunenberg assumes office as the fourth Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 1895 | March 18 | The State of Idaho creates Lincoln County from a portion of Blaine County. |
| 1895 | March 5 | The State of Idaho creates Blaine County by combining Alturas County and Logan County. |
| 1893 | March 6 | The State of Idaho creates Bannock County from a portion of Bingham County. |
| 1893 | March 4 | The State of Idaho creates Fremont County from a portion of Bingham County. |
| 1893 | January 2 | William J. McConnell assumes office as the third Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 1891 | March 7 | The State of Idaho creates Canyon County from a portion of Ada County. |
| 1891 | 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. |
| 1890 | December 18 | Lieutenant Governor N.B. Willey assumes office as the second Governor of the State of Idaho upon the resignation of Governor Shoup. |
| 1890 | October 1 | Territorial Governor George L. Shoup assumes office as the first Governor of the State of Idaho. |
| 1890 | July 3 | U.S. President Benjamin Harrison signs An act to provide for the admission of the State of Idaho into the Union. The Territory of Idaho becomes the State of Idaho, the 43rd U.S. state. |
| 1890 | April 1 | The 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

| Year | Date | Event |
| 1889 | April 30 | U.S. President Benjamin Harrison appoints George L. Shoup as the (last) Governor of the Territory of Idaho. |
| 1889 | February 7 | The Territory of Idaho creates Logan County from a portion of Alturas County. |
| 1889 | February 7 | The Territory of Idaho creates Elmore County from a portion of Alturas County. |
| 1888 | January 13 | The Territory of Idaho creates Latah County from a portion of Nez Perce County. |
| 1885 | October 10 | U.S. President Grover Cleveland appoints Edward A. Stevenson as the Governor of the Territory of Idaho. |
| 1885 | January 13 | The Territory of Idaho creates Bingham County from a portion of Oneida County. |
| 1884 | March 26 | U.S. President Chester A. Arthur appoints William M. Bunn as the Governor of the Territory of Idaho. |
| 1883 | March 5 | U.S. President Chester A. Arthur appoints John N. Irwin as the Governor of the Territory of Idaho. |
| 1881 | January 8 | The Territory of Idaho creates Custer County from portions of Alturas County and Lemhi County. |
| 1880 | July 12 | U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes appoints John Baldwin Neil as the Governor of the Territory of Idaho. |
| 1880 | April 1 | The 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

| Year | Date | Event |
| 1869 | February 20 | The Territory of Idaho creates Washington County from a portion of Ada County. |
| 1869 | February 20 | The Territory of Idaho creates Cassia County from a portion of Owyhee County. |
| 1876 | July 24 | U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant appoints Mason Brayman as the Governor of the Territory of Idaho. |
| 1876 | July 4 | The Territory of Idaho celebrates the Centennial of the United States of America while still reeling from the Battle of the Little Bighorn. |
| 1876 | June 26 | The 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. |
| 1876 | April | U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant appoints David P. Thompson as the Governor of the Territory of Idaho. |
| 1875 | January 5 | The Territory of Idaho creates Bear Lake County from a portion of Oneida County. |
| 1872 | March 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. |
| 1871 | December | U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant appoints Thomas W. Bennett as the Governor of the Territory of Idaho. |
| 1871 | April 19 | U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant appoints David W. Ballard as the Governor of the Territory of Idaho. |
| 1870 | April 1 | The 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

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

| Year | Date | Event |
| 1853 | March 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. |
| 1851 | April 5 | Governor Brigham Young dissolves the self-proclaimed State of Deseret. |

## 1840s

| Year | Date | Event |
| 1849 | March 12 | The 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. |
| 1848 | August 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. |
| 1848 | February 2 | The United States of America and United Mexican States sign the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo to end the Mexican–American War. |
| 1846 | July 17 | The 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. |
| 1846 | May 13 | The United States declares war on the Mexican Republic. |

## 1830s

| Year | Date | Event |

## 1820s

| Year | Date | Event |

## 1810s

| Year | Date | Event |
| 1819 | January 30 | The 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

| Year | Date | Event |
| 1806 | September 23 | The Lewis and Clark Expedition arrives in St. Louis in the Territory of Louisiana (the future State of Missouri). |
| 1806 | August 11 | The Lewis and Clark Expedition reunites at the confluence of the Yellowstone River with the Missouri River. |
| 1806 | 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. |
| 1806 | July 7 | 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. |
| 1806 | July 3 | On their return east, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark decide to split their expedition to search for a shorter route to the Missouri River. |
| 1806 | March 22 | The Lewis and Clark Expedition depart Fort Clatsop and begin their voyage back to the United States. |
| 1805 | December 7 | The 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. |
| 1805 | 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. |
| 1804 | May 21 | The 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

| Year | Date | Event |

## 1780s

| Year | Date | Event |
| 1783 | September 3 | The 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

| Year | Date | Event |
| 1776 | July 4 | Representatives of the thirteen United States of America sign the Declaration of Independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. |

## 1690s

| Year | Date | Event |

## 1590s

| Year | Date | Event |

## 1510s

| Year | Date | Event |
| 1513 | September 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

| Year | Date | Event |
| 1493 | May 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. |
| 1492 | October 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

| Era | Event |
| c. 12,000 BCE | During 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. |