Boise, and Southern Idaho Culture
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2/5/2011
Having lived in Boise most of my life, I've made one observation that is widely unknown (to those outside this region), and rarely talked openly about by those who do live here. It is the influence of religion in this state, and specifically, the LDS/Mormon religion.
My eyes weren't opened to this until Dan Popkey, a reporter for the Idaho Statesman (our news daily), reported in the early nineties that despite the U.S. Census indicated that while 13% of the state in Mormon, almost exactly 40% of the state legislature is Mormon, and that 40% tends to vote as a block on almost all issues. That means that members of the LDS faith have over three times greater representation in the state legislature than non-Mormons. The effects of this are profound in terms of the laws that are written in this state, as well as the political and social culture of the state.
Idaho is often referred to as "the reddest of the red states". That is often not so much due to the influence of the Republican Party, but the LDS religion. If you're LDS, you can move from Utah to Idaho and not see a cultural difference between the states. If you move to Idaho from neighboring Oregon, on the other hand, the difference is profound. If you're not interested in living in something of a theocracy, you should probably think twice (or three times) before moving to Idaho. If, on the other hand, you're Mormon, you'll probably love it here.
Shawn | Boise, ID