Population Growth
Admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, and with a state motto of Este Perpetua, meaning let it be perpetual, Idaho is called the Gem State. At the time of admission Idaho had a population of 88,548 (idahoatwork.com), with a population density of 1.071/mi2. In 2020 Idaho's population density rose to 22.253/mi2, reflecting a population of 1,839,106, and Idaho's per capita income 2017-2021 (in 2021 dollars) was $31,509 (www.census.gov).
Income and Rurality
Idaho has remained one of the more rural states over its lifetime. At the time of incorporation to the Union it was 42nd out of 43 states in terms of population size, and in 2020 it was 37th of all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. The square mileage of the state has not grown, so we can see that the density of the state is approximately 20 times what it was at incorporation; however, by this standard rural areas are identified as "open countryside with population densities less than 500 people per square mile and places with fewer than 2,500 people", so much of Idaho has remained very rural.