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Early Idaho was home to several Indian tribes: Nez Perce, Coeur d'Alene, Pond d'Oreille, Shoshone, Kutenai, Paiute, and Bannock. In 1805 Lewis and Clark became the first white men to explore the Idaho region. In 1809 the first fur trading post was established by David Thompson, built on Pend Oreille Lake. 2 additional forts were built in 1834, Fort Hall and Fort Boise. The first permanent settlement is Franklin, founded in 1860 by Mormons.
Gold was discovered in 1862 and in 1863 Congress established the Idaho Territory. In 1890 Idaho was granted statehood, the 43rd state.
Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce were pursued 1700 miles by U.S. troops through 3 states, finally caughts just short of the Canadian border in 1877.
The late 1890s and early 1900s saw conflict between miners and mine owners, especially in the Coeur d'Alene area. Irrigation was developed in the early 1900s, leading to large tracts of farming.
Like other states, Idaho suffered from the 1920s and 1930s from depression and harsh economic conditions. Conditions improved during World War II as Idaho produced military arms and supplies, plus food products for troops abroad.
The Atomic Energy Commission built the National Reactor Testing Center (now the Idaho National Engineering Labratory) near Idaho Falls in 1949. Electricity was generated for the first time in history at the Center in 1951.
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