Idaho
Idaho exhibits migration-driven growth: California refugees and Micron's chip cluster transform potato state while housing prices and water rights create growing tension.
Idaho has transformed from potato farming backwater to one of America's fastest-growing states. Boise attracts California refugees seeking lower costs and outdoor access, while Micron Technology anchors a semiconductor cluster that preceded and outlasted the tech boom. The state's population growth rate consistently ranks among the nation's highest as remote workers and retirees discover affordable housing amid mountain scenery.
Agriculture remains important—Idaho indeed leads the nation in potato production—but technology and healthcare have become larger employers. HP's printer division spun out of Boise operations, while various tech companies have established satellite offices to access workforce that prefers Idaho's lifestyle over Silicon Valley's intensity.
The growth creates tension. Longtime residents resent Californian transplants bidding up housing prices and changing local culture. Water rights battles intensify as agricultural irrigation competes with urban growth in a semi-arid climate. Idaho's conservative politics attract some migrants explicitly, while repelling others who might otherwise consider the state. The question is whether Idaho can manage growth without sacrificing the qualities that attracted it.