Immigrants Are Moving To Idaho

Immigrants are moving to Idaho at a faster pace than any other state.

From restaurant cooks to chemical research engineers, 1,539 foreign nationals in Idaho got their treasured green card in 1994, according to a survey by the Gannett News Service.

That is a 25 percent increase from 1993, when 1,232 got their cards, the ticket to living permanently in the United States.

The state with the second-highest increase for the period - Washington - posted a gain of only 6.2 percent.

The influx far outpaced population growth in Idaho, which was only about 3 percent for the same period, from 1.1 million to 1.13 million.

Immigration destinations are spreading beyond the traditional states of California, Texas, New York and Florida.