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Chronological History of Idaho

 

STATE OF IDAHO 1920-39

1920 Idaho population: 431,866. Agricultural prices begin to deteriorate, creating a crisis which continues through the 1920's. Whitebird Hill grade, connecting north and south Idaho opens. State Capitol completed. Idaho Wheat Growers Association formed. Constitutional amendment increases State Supreme Court from three to five members.
1922 State budget system established. Radio broadcasting begins in Idaho with station KFAU located at Boise High School under the direction of Harry Redeker.
1924 Craters of the Moon National Monument established. Black Canyon Dam completed.
1925 Union Pacific Railroad begins service to Boise. State Forestry Board established. William E. Borah becomes Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
1926 The Idaho State Chamber of Commerce organized. Federal air service came to the Northwest with a Pasco, Washington to Elko, Nevada flight with a stop in Boise.
1927 American Falls Dam completed. Perrine Memorial Bridge at Twin Falls completed. Palisades Reservoir created. Idaho Technical Institute in Pocatello redesignated the University of Idaho Southern Branch.
1928 Restoration of the "Old Mission" church near Cataldo begins. Commercial radio broadcasting begins in Idaho with the purchase of KFAU from Boise High School and renamed KIDO.
1930 Idaho population: 445,032.
1931 The direct primary restored for statewide offices. State income tax adopted. U.S. Forest Service, in cooperation with the state Legislature, create the Idaho Primitive Area. Legislature adopts "Here We Have Idaho" as state song, the syringa the official flower, and the Rocky Mountain Bluebird the state bird.
1932 Nonpartisan election of judges to Supreme Court and District Courts enacted. The Idaho Code annotated published. Six million dollar Owyhee Dam dedicated. Association of Idaho Veterans of Foreign Wars organized. Boise Junior College opens.
1933 School Equalization Law adopted. North Idaho Junior College established at Coeur d'Alene.
1934 Sandpoint Bridge completed. Taylor Grazing Act passes U.S. Congress. Central and northern Idaho experience large mining developments for gold and silver. Idaho becomes first in the nation in silver production.
1935 Statewide prohibition repealed and State adopts Liquor Dispensary system. Indian children begin integration into public school system. State employment service established. Two percent sales tax enacted, but rejected by voters in referendum in 1936. Legislature provides for purchase of the site of Spalding Mission as a state park. Martial law declared in Teton County to put down a rebellion of pea pickers.
1936 Sun Valley established as a ski resort by the Union Pacific Railway in September. Martial law declared in Clearwater County during I.W.W. lumber strike. Celebration held in Lewiston to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of Spalding Mission. In March, William E. Borah became Idaho's first Presidential candidate.
1937 Open primary system does away with requirement for declaration of party affiliation.
1938 Paving of the north-south highway (U.S. 95) completed. Fish and Game Commission established by initiative. Idaho Senator James P. Pope sponsors Agricultural Adjustment Act.
1939 State Junior College district law enacted. Idaho State Police established March 13.

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