Located in north-central Idaho's panhandle, Moscow is cradled between Moscow Mountain and the rolling hills of the Palouse. The community enjoys "big city" access to cultural and entertainment events provided by a college town, while living in a beautiful and refreshing climate.

After settlers arrived in 1871, the town became known as "Paradise Valley". In 1877, Samuel Neff filed for a postal permit under the name of Moscow because the area reminded him of his home town of Moscow, Pennsylvania. In 1875, the city's first store was opened on what is now Main Street. Moscow grew with the arrival of the railroad in 1885. The town became incorporated in 1887 and was later chosen as the site for a land-grant institution, the University of Idaho. Idaho achieved statehood in 1890.

Today, Moscow is a thriving university community. Annually, it hosts the Lionel Hampton Jazz Fest which continues to grow in popularity. In addition, it is one of the top 100 Small Art Towns in America and the Palouse hills provide an unusually rich soil that produces approximately 600 million pounds of dry peas and lentils annually qualifying Moscow as the Pea & Lentil Capital of the Nation. It is the home of Gold Medallist Dan O'Brien and it is the location of the Appaloosa Horse Museum.

The largest of the 27 Moscows in the US, Moscow, Idaho offers visitors and residents alike a diverse, scenic and active community to enjoy. With its four distinct seasons, Moscow, Idaho allows for a variety of outdoor recreation options including mountain biking, hiking, telemark and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, hunting, fishing, golfing, garnet hunting and white water rafting. Wildlife abounds in the nearby Moscow Mountain. Moscow attracts a diverse group of residents and visitors alike.

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