Idaho is the only state that bears its name, probably due to a misinterpretation. In the early 1860s, a new territory was to be created in the Rocky Mountains. The somewhat eccentric mining lobbyist George M. Willing is said to have suggested the name “Idaho”, which he says means “light on the mountains” (“Ee-dah-how”) in the Shoshone language. He later claimed that he made up the name. Idaho earned the nickname “The Gem State” because it is one of the only two places in the world where the Garnet Star occurs (the other place being the Himalaya Mountains in India). The area experienced heavy immigration when gold was discovered and after the completion of the transcontinental railway in 1869. At that time, Chinese immigrants found work, particularly in the mines. Idaho became the 43rd state to join the United States on July 3, 1890. The importance of mining had increased significantly during this period and silver and lead were mainly exported. Although today agriculture and tourism play an increasingly important role, the state is still one of the most important producers of silver and lead. Check topschoolsoflaw.com for brief history of the state of Idaho.