View source for Spokane, Washington

{{redirect|Spokane}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Spokane, Washington
|official_name            = City of Spokane
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = The Lilac City
|motto                    = Near Nature. Near Perfect.
|official mammal          = 
|image_skyline            = SpokaneFromPalisades 20070614.jpg
|image_caption            = Downtown Spokane as seen from Palisades Park looking east
|imagesize                = 310px
|image_flag               = 
|image_blank_emblem       = City of Spokane Seal.svg
|blank_emblem_type        = Logo
|image_map                = Spokane_in_Spokane_County.png
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Spokane in<br>[[Spokane County, Washington|Spokane County]] and [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|pushpin_map=Washington
|pushpin_map_caption=Location in Washington
|coordinates_region       = US-WA
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Washington|County]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_name1        = [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Spokane County, Washington|Spokane]]
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1871
|government_type          = [[Mayor-council government|Mayor-Council]]
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = [[David Condon]] ([[Non-partisan]])
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        = November 29, 1881
<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name ="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher={{URL|1=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Census_Bureau|2=United States Census Bureau}}|accessdate=December 19, 2012}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           =
|area_total_km2           = 155.45
|area_land_km2            = 153.46
|area_water_km2           = 1.99
|area_total_sq_mi         = 60.02
|area_land_sq_mi          = 59.25
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.77
|area_water_percent       = 1.28
|area_urban_km2           =
|area_urban_sq_mi         =
|area_metro_km2           =
|area_metro_sq_mi         =
<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2010 United States Census|2010]]
|population_est           = 210721
|pop_est_as_of            = 2013<ref name="2013 Pop Estimate">{{cite web|title=Population Estimates|url=http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2013/SUB-EST2013-3.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=May 30, 2014}}</ref>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name ="FactFinder">{{cite web|title=American FactFinder|url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml|publisher={{URL|1=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Census_Bureau|2=United States Census Bureau}}|accessdate=December 7, 2014}}</ref> metro<ref name =metropop>{{cite web|url=|title=|format=[[comma-separated values|CSV]]|work=2011 Population Estimates|publisher=United States Census Bureau, Population Division|date=September 10, 2012|accessdate=December 7, 2014}}</ref>
|population_total          = 208916
|population_urban          = 387847 (US: [[List of United States urban areas|96th]])
|population_density_km2    = 1361.4
|population_density_sq_mi  = 3526.0
|population_rank          = US: [[List of United States cities by population|102nd]]
|population_metro         = 535,724 (US: [[List of Metropolitan Statistical Areas|100th]])
|population_blank1_title  = [[Combined Statistical Area|CSA]]
|population_blank1        = 679,989 (US: [[List of Combined Statistical Areas|71st]])
|population_demonym       = Spokanite
|timezone                 = [[Pacific Standard Time|PST]]
|utc_offset               = -8
|timezone_DST             = [[Pacific Daylight Time|PDT]]
|utc_offset_DST           = -7
|area_code                = [[Area code 509|509]]
|latd = 47 |latm = 39 |lats = 32 |latNS = N
|longd = 117 |longm = 25 |longs = 30 |longEW = W|coordinates_display=Y
|elevation_m              = 562
|elevation_ft             = 1843
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
|postal_code              = {{Collapsible list
  |title = Zip codes<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp|publisher=[[United States Postal Service]]|title=Zip Code Lookup|accessdate=December 7, 2014}}</ref>
  |frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
  |list_style  = text-align:center;display:none
| 99201, 99202, 99203, 99204, 99205, 99206, 99207, 99208, 99209 (PO BOX), 99210 (PO BOX), 99211 (PO BOX), 99212, 99213 (PO BOX), 99214 (PO BOX), 99215 (PO BOX), 99216, 99217, 99218, 99219 (PO BOX), 99220 (PO BOX), 99223, 99224, 99228 (PO BOX),
99251, 99252, 99256, 99258, 99260, 99299  }}
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 53-67000
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1512683<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|accessdate=January 1, 2014|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007}}</ref>
|website                  = [http://www.spokanecity.org www.spokanecity.org]
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Spokane''' ({{IPAc-en|pron|audio=En-us-Spokane.ogg|s|p|oʊ|ˈ|k|æ|n|}} {{respell|spoh|KAN|'}}) is a city in the state of [[Washington (state)|Washington]], in the [[northwestern United States]]. It is the [[county seat|seat]] of [[Spokane County, Washington|Spokane County]]. It is located on the [[Spokane River]] west of the [[Rocky Mountain]] foothills in [[eastern Washington]], {{convert|92|mi}} south of the [[Canada–United States border|Canadian border]], approximately {{convert|20|mi}} from the Washington–[[Idaho]] border, and {{convert|232|mi}} east of [[Seattle]] along [[Interstate 90 in Washington|Interstate 90]]. The city and wider [[Inland Northwest (United States)|Inland Northwest]] region is served by [[Spokane International Airport]], {{convert|5|mi|km}} west of downtown Spokane. According to the [[2010 United States Census|2010 Census]], Spokane had a population of 208,916, making it the second largest city in Washington and the [[List of United States cities by population|102nd largest city in the United States]].

The first humans to live in the area, the [[Spokane people]] (their name meaning "children of the sun" in [[Montana Salish language|Salishan]]), arrived between 13,000 and 8,000 years ago, living off plentiful game.  Known as the birthplace of [[Father's Day]], Spokane is officially nicknamed the "Lilac City". [[David Thompson (explorer)|David Thompson]] explored the area with the westward expansion and establishment of the [[North West Company]]'s [[Spokane House]] in 1810. This trading post was the first long-term European settlement in Washington. Completion of the [[Northern Pacific Railway]] in 1881 brought settlers to the Spokane area, and that same year it was officially incorporated as a city with the name "Spokan Falls". In the late 19th century, gold and silver were discovered in the Inland Northwest. The local economy depended on mining, timber, and agriculture until the 1980s. Spokane hosted the first environmentally themed [[World's Fair]] at [[Expo '74]].

Many of the older [[Romanesque Revival]]-style buildings in the downtown area were designed by architect [[Kirtland Cutter|Kirtland Kelsey Cutter]] after the [[The Great Fire (Spokane)|Great Fire of 1889]]. The city also features [[Riverfront Park (Spokane, Washington)|Riverfront]] and [[Manito Park and Botanical Gardens|Manito]] parks, the Smithsonian-affiliated [[Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture]], the [[Davenport Hotel (Spokane)|Davenport Hotel]], and the [[Fox Theater (Spokane, Washington)|Fox]] and [[Bing Crosby Theater|Bing Crosby]] theaters. The [[Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes (Spokane, Washington)|Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes]] serves as the [[Cathedra|seat]] of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane]], and the city is also the center of the Mormon [[Spokane Washington Temple|Spokane Washington Temple District]]. [[Gonzaga University]] was established in 1887 by the [[Society of Jesus]], and the private [[Presbyterian Church|Presbyterian]] [[Whitworth University]] opened three years later in north Spokane. In sports, the [[Gonzaga Bulldogs]] collegiate basketball team competes at the [[Division I (NCAA)|Division&nbsp;I]] level. Professional and semi-professional sports teams include the [[Spokane Indians]] in Minor League Baseball, [[Spokane Shock]] in arena football, and [[Spokane Chiefs]] in junior ice hockey. As of 2010, Spokane's only major daily newspaper, ''[[The Spokesman-Review]]'', had a daily circulation of over 75,000.

==History==
{{Main|History of Spokane, Washington|Timeline of Spokane, Washington}}
[[File:Spokane Falls 1888.jpg|thumb|right|alt= Lithograph depicting the Spokane falls in 1888| Spokane Falls in 1888]]

The first humans to live in the Spokane area arrived between 13,000 and 8,000 years ago and were [[hunter-gatherer]] societies that lived off plentiful game.<ref name="Ruby p.5">Ruby et al. (2006), p. 5</ref> The [[Spokane people|Spokane]] tribe, after which the city is named (the name meaning "children of the sun" or "sun people" in [[Montana Salish language|Salishan]]),<ref name="Phillips">Phillips (1971), pp. 134–135</ref><ref name="Spukcane">Ruby et al. (2006), pp. 7–8</ref>{{Ref|Spukcane|[a]}} are believed to be either their direct descendants, or descendants of peoples from the [[Great Plains]].<ref name="Ruby 5-6">Ruby et al. (2006), pp. 5–6</ref> When asked by early white explorers, the Spokanes said their ancestors came from "up North".<ref name="Ruby p.5"/>

Early in the 19th century, the [[Northwest Fur Company]] sent two white fur trappers west of the Rocky Mountains to search for [[fur]].<ref>Ruby et al. (2006), p. 34</ref>  These were the first white men met by the Spokanes, who believed them to be sacred, and set the trappers up in the [[Colville River (Washington)|Colville River]] valley for the winter.<ref name="Ruby 35">Ruby et al. (2006), p. 35</ref>

===Trading post===
The explorer-geographer [[David Thompson (explorer)|David Thompson]], working as head of the [[North West Company]]'s [[Columbia Department]], became the first European to explore the Inland Empire (now called the [[Inland Northwest (United States)|Inland Northwest]]).<ref name="Stratton19">Stratton (2005), p. 19</ref> Crossing what is now the U.S.–Canadian border from [[British Columbia]], Thompson wanted to expand the North West Company further south in search of furs. After establishing the [[Kullyspell House]] and [[Saleesh House]] trading posts in what are now Idaho and Montana, Thompson then attempted to expand further west. He sent out two trappers, [[Jacques Raphael Finlay]] and Finan McDonald, to construct a [[fur trade|fur trading post]] on the Spokane River in Washington and trade with the local Indians.<ref name="SpokaneH">{{cite web | last = Oldham| first = Kit| title = The North West Company establishes Spokane House in 1810| work = Essay 5099| publisher = HistoryLink| date = January 23, 2003| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=5099| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> This post was established in 1810, at the confluence of the [[Little Spokane River|Little Spokane]] and [[Spokane River|Spokane]] rivers, becoming the first enduring European settlement of significance in Washington state.<ref name="Stratton19"/> Known as the [[Spokane House]], or simply "Spokane", it was in operation from 1810 to 1826.<ref name="Phillips" /> Operations were run by the British North West Company and later the [[Hudson's Bay Company]], and the post was the headquarters of the fur trade between the Rocky and Cascade mountains for 16 years. After the latter business absorbed the North West Company in 1821, the major operations at the Spokane House were eventually shifted north to [[Fort Colville]], reducing the post's significance.<ref>Meinig (1993), p. 69</ref>

[[File:Samuel Parker (missionary).png|thumb|left|upright| alt=Missionary Samuel Parker visited Spokane Falls in 1836|Reverend [[Samuel Parker (missionary)|Samuel Parker]], who visited the area in 1836]]

In 1836, Reverend [[Samuel Parker (missionary)|Samuel Parker]] visited the area and reported that around 800 Native Americans were living in Spokane Falls.<ref>Ruby (1988), p. 75</ref> A [[Whitman Mission National Historic Site|medical mission]] was established by [[Marcus Whitman|Marcus]] and [[Narcissa Whitman]] to cater for [[Cayuse]] Indians and hikers of the Oregon Trail at [[Walla Walla, Washington|Walla Walla]] in the south.<ref name=Essay10777>{{cite web| last = Tate| first = Cassandra| title = Missionaries Marcus and Narcissa Whitman begin their journey to the Northwest, one day after their wedding, on February 19, 1836.| work = Essay 10777| publisher = HistoryLink| date = May 8, 2014| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=10777| accessdate = November 22, 2014}}</ref> 
After [[Whitman massacre|the Whitmans were killed]] by Indians in 1847, Reverend [[Cushing Eells]] established [[Whitman College]] in their memory, also setting up the first church in Spokane.<ref name=Essay10777 />

In 1853, two years after the establishment of the State of Washington, the first governor, [[Isaac Stevens]], made an initial effort to make a treaty with [[Chief Garry]] and the Spokanes at Antoine Plantes’ Ferry, not far from [[Millwood, Washington|Millwood]].<ref>{{cite web| last = Tate| first = Cassandra| title = Cayuse Indians| work = Essay 10365| publisher = HistoryLink| date = April 3, 2013| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=10365| accessdate = November 22, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| last = Kershner| first = Jim| title = Chief Spokane Garry (ca. 1811-1892)| work = Essay 8713| publisher = HistoryLink| date = August 1, 2008| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=8713| accessdate = November 22, 2014}}</ref>

After the last campaign of the [[Yakima War|Yakima Indian War]], the [[Coeur d'Alene War]] of 1858 was brought to a close by the actions of Col. [[George Wright (general)|George Wright]], who won decisive victories against a confederation of tribes in engagements at the battles of [[Battle of Four Lakes|Four Lakes]] and [[Battle of Spokane Plains|Spokane Plains]].<ref>Stratton (2005), pp. 81-83</ref> The cessation of hostilities opened the inter-mountain valley of the Pacific Northwest to safe settlement.<ref>Stratton (2005), p. 84</ref><ref>{{cite web| last = Wilma| first = David| title = U.S. Army Colonel George Wright hangs Yakama and Palouse prisoners at the Ned-Whauld River beginning on September 25, 1858| work = Essay 5141| publisher = HistoryLink| date = January 29, 2003| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=5141| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref>

===American settlement===
[[File:SpokaneFalls1895.jpg|thumb|right|alt=The city of Spokane Falls circa 1895|Spokane ca. 1895]]
Joint American–British occupation of [[Oregon Country]], in effect since the [[Treaty of 1818]], eventually led to the [[Oregon Boundary Dispute]] after a large influx of American settlers along the [[Oregon Trail]]. The first American settlers in what is now Spokane were J.J. Downing and S.R. Scranton, cattle ranchers who [[squatters|squatted]] and established a claim at Spokane Falls in 1871.<ref name="p.19">Kensel (1971), p. 19</ref> Together they built a small sawmill on a claim near the south bank of the falls.<ref name="p.19"/><ref>{{cite web| last = Wilma| first = David| title = J. J. Downing and S. R. Scranton file claims and build a sawmill at Spokane Falls in May 1871| work = Essay 5132| publisher = HistoryLink| date = January 27, 2003| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=5132| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> [[James N. Glover]] and Jasper Matheney, Oregonians passing through the region in 1873, recognized the value of the Spokane River and its falls for the purpose of water power.<ref name="p.19"/> They realized the investment potential and bought the claims of {{convert|160|acre|km2}} and the sawmill from Downing and Scranton for a total of $4,000.<ref>Schmeltzer (1988), p. 39</ref> Glover and Matheney knew that the [[Northern Pacific Railroad Company]] had received a government charter to build a main line across this [[Northern Transcon|northern route]].<ref name="p.19"/> Amid many delays in construction and uncertainty over the completion of the railroad and its exact course, Matheney sold his interest in the claim to Glover.<ref name="p.20">Kensel (1971), p. 20</ref>{{ref|Glover|[b]}} Glover confidently held on to his claim and became a successful Spokane business owner and mayor. He later came to be known as the "Father of Spokane".<ref>Schmeltzer (1988), p. 40</ref>

In 1880, Fort Spokane was established by U.S. Army troops under Lt. Col. [[Henry Clay Merriam]] {{convert|56|mi|km}} northwest of Spokane, at the junction of the [[Columbia River|Columbia]] and Spokane Rivers, to protect the construction of the Northern Pacific Railway and secure a place for U.S. settlement.<ref>{{cite web| last = Oldham| first = Kit| title = U.S. Army establishes Fort Spokane at the junction of the Spokane and Columbia rivers in 1882| work = Essay 5358| publisher = HistoryLink| date = March 4, 2003| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=5358| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> By June 30, 1881, the railway reached the city, bringing major European settlement to the area.<ref>Kensel (1971), p. 23</ref><ref>{{cite web | last = Wilma| first = David| title = First train arrives at Spokane Falls on June 25, 1881| work = Essay 5137| publisher = HistoryLink| date = January 28, 2003| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=5137}}</ref>  The city of Spokan Falls (the "e" was added in 1883 and "Falls" dropped in 1891) was officially incorporated as a city of about 1,000&nbsp;residents on November 29, 1881.<ref name="Incorporation">{{cite web | last = Arksey| first = Laura| title = Spokane Falls (later renamed Spokane) is incorporated as a first-class city on November 29, 1881| work = Essay 9176| publisher = HistoryLink| date = October 3, 2009| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=9176| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref>{{Ref|incorp|[c]}}<ref name=Spokane_History>{{cite web|title=About Spokane: History|url=https://beta.spokanecity.org/about/history/|website=City of Spokane|accessdate= November 28, 2014|quote=From the Spokanes, we get our name, which means “Children of the Sun.”}} '''Note:''' The site is in betatest, so this link will have to be renamed soon.</ref> The marketing campaigns of transportation companies with affordable fertile land to sell along their trade routes lured many settlers into the region they dubbed "Spokane Country".<ref>Kensel (1971), pp. 22–23</ref><ref name="Railroads">Stratton (2005), p. 33</ref>

[[File:Spokane River Bridge at Fort Spokane.jpg|thumb|left|alt=The Spokane River Bridge at Fort Spokane near Miles, WA|The Spokane River Bridge at Fort Spokane]]

The 1883 discovery of gold, silver, and lead in the Coeur d'Alene region of northern Idaho lured prospectors.<ref name="p.28"/> The Inland Empire erupted with numerous mining rushes from 1883 to 1892.<ref>Kensel (1969), pp.&nbsp;88–89</ref> Mining and [[smelting]] emerged as a major stimulus to Spokane. At the onset of the initial 1883 [[gold rush]] in the nearby [[Silver Valley, Idaho|Coeur d'Alene mining district]], Spokane became popular with prospectors, offering low prices on everything "from a horse to a frying pan".<ref>Kensel (1969), p. 85. According to the ''Spokane Falls Review'' December 1, 1883 edition.</ref> It would keep this status for subsequent [[Silver rush|rushes]] in the region due to its trade center status and accessibility to railroad infrastructure.<ref>Kensel (1969), pp. 85–89</ref>{{ref|Transport|[d]}}

Spokane's growth continued unabated until August 4, 1889, when a fire, now known as [[The Great Fire (Spokane)|The Great Fire]] (not to be confused with the [[Great Fire of 1910]], which happened nearby), began just after 6:00&nbsp;p.m. and destroyed the city's downtown commercial district.<ref name="GreatSpokaneFire">{{cite web | last = Arksey| first = Laura| title = Great Spokane Fire destroys downtown Spokane Falls on August 4, 1889| work = Essay 7696| publisher = HistoryLink| date = March 20, 2006| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&File_Id=7696| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref>  Due to technical problems with a pump station, there was no water pressure in the city when the fire started.<ref>Schmeltzer (1988), pp. 42–43</ref> In a desperate bid to starve the fire, firefighters began razing buildings with dynamite. Eventually the winds and the fire died down; 32&nbsp;blocks of Spokane's downtown core had been destroyed and one person killed.<ref name="GreatSpokaneFire" />

Despite this catastrophe, and in part because of it, Spokane experienced a building boom.<ref name="Schmeltzer 44" />{{ref|investment|[e]}} The downtown was rebuilt, and the city was reincorporated under the present name of "Spokane" in 1891.<ref name="Incorporation" /> According to historian David H. Stratton, "From the late 1890s to about 1912, a great flurry of construction created a modern urban profile of office buildings, banks, department stores, hotels and other commercial institutions" which stretched from the Spokane River to the site of the Northern Pacific railroad tracks below the South Hill.<ref name="Creighton7">Creighton (2013),  p.7</ref> Yet the rebuilding and development of the city was far from smooth: between 1889 and 1896 alone, all six bridges over the Spokane River were destroyed by floods before their completion.<ref name="Creighton7"/> In the 1890s the city was subject to intrastate migration by African-Americans from [[Roslyn, Washington|Roslyn]], looking for work after the closure of the area's mines. Two African-American churches, Calvary Baptist and Bethel African Methodist Episcopal, were founded in 1890.<ref>Williamson (2010), p.7</ref> Just three years after the fire, in 1892, [[James J. Hill]]'s [[Great Northern Railway (U.S.)|Great Northern Railway]] arrived in the chosen site for Hill's [[classification yard|rail yard]]s, the newly created township of [[Hillyard, Spokane, Washington|Hillyard]] (annexed by Spokane in 1924).<ref name="Hillyard">{{cite web | last = Kershner | first = Jim| title = Spokane Neighborhoods: Hillyard -- Thumbnail History| work = Essay 8406| publisher = HistoryLink| date = December 15, 2007| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=8406%3C/ref| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> Spokane became an important rail shipping and transportation hub for the Inland Empire, connecting mines in the Silver Valley with agricultural areas around the [[Palouse]] region.<ref name="Railroads"/><ref name="Schmeltzerp.41">Schmeltzer (1988), p. 41</ref> The city's population ballooned to 19,922 in 1890, and to 36,848 in 1900 with the arrival of additional railroads.<ref name="Schmeltzer 44">Schmeltzer (1988), p. 44</ref> By 1910 the population had hit 104,000, and Spokane eclipsed [[Walla Walla, Washington|Walla Walla]] as the commercial center of the Inland Empire.<ref>Stratton (2005), pp. 29–30, 32–33</ref> In time the city came to be known as the "capital" of the Inland Empire and the heart of a vast tributary region.<ref name="p.28">Stratton (2005), p. 28</ref><ref name="Malone">Malone (1996), p. 201</ref> After the arrival of the Northern Pacific, [[Union Pacific Railroad|Union Pacific]], Great Northern, and [[Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific]] railroads, Spokane became one of the most important rail centers in the western U.S.<ref name="Schmeltzer 44" /><ref name="Malone"/><ref>Stratton (2005), p. 32</ref><ref>{{cite journal| last = | first = | title = Spokane, Gateway City: Metropolis of the Inland Empire| journal = Railway Employees Magazine and Journal| volume = 6| issue = 1| publisher = Stanford University| location = San Francisco, California| date = October 1911 | pages = 2| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=AINOAQAAIAAJ&pg=RA5-PA2&dq=spokane+gateway+city&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UcKuUeTkMoOsiQLyvICQAw&ved=0CDYQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=spokane%20gateway%20city&f=false}}</ref>

===Early 20th century===
[[File:MonroeStreetBridgea.jpg|thumb|450px|right|alt=Construction of the Monroe Street Bridge, August 3, 1911|The [[Monroe Street Bridge]], 1911]]

Expansion abruptly stopped in the 1910s and was followed by a period of population decline,<ref name="Stagnation">Stratton (2005), p. 35</ref> due in large part to Spokane's slowing economy. Control of regional mines and resources became increasingly dominated by national corporations rather than local people and organizations, diverting capital outside of Spokane and decreasing growth and investment opportunities in the city.<ref name="Stagnation" /> During this time of stagnation, unrest was prevalent among the area's unemployed, who became victimized by "job sharks", who charged a fee for signing up workers in the logging camps. Job sharks and employment agencies were known to cheat itinerant workers, sometimes paying bribes to periodically fire entire work crews, thus generating repetitive fees for themselves.<ref>{{cite web | last = Reider| first = Ross| title = IWW formally begins Spokane free-speech fight on November 2, 1909| work = Essay 7357| publisher = HistoryLink| date = June 22, 2005| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=7357| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> Crime spiked in the 1890s and 1900s,<ref>Stratton (2005), pp. 148-151</ref><ref>Kienholz (1999), p.209-210</ref> with eruptions of violent activity involving unions such as the [[Industrial Workers of the World]] (IWW), or "Wobblies" as they were often known, whose [[Free speech fights#Spokane|free speech fights]] had begun to garner national attention.<ref name="p.52">Stratton (2005), p. 152</ref> Now, with grievances concerning the unethical practices of the employment agencies, they initiated a free speech fight in September 1908 by purposely breaking a city ordinance on [[soapbox]]ing.<ref name="p.52"/> With IWW encouragement, union members from many western states came to Spokane to take part in what had become a publicity stunt. Many Wobblies were incarcerated, including feminist labor leader [[Elizabeth Gurley Flynn]], who published her account in the local ''[[Industrial Worker]]''.<ref name="p.52"/>

[[File:SpokaneWAMasonicTemple.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Spokane's Masonic Temple, built in 1905| The Masonic Temple built in 1905]]

After mining declined at the turn of the 20th century, agriculture and logging became the primary influences in the Spokane economy.<ref name="Kenselp.25">Kensel (1968), p. 25</ref> The population explosion and the building of homes, railroads, and mines in northern Idaho and southern British Columbia fueled the industry.<ref name="Kenselp.25" /> Although overshadowed in importance by the vast timbered areas on the coastal regions west of the Cascades, and burdened with monopolistic rail freight rates and stiff competition, Spokane became a noted leader in the manufacture of doors, [[sash window|window sashes]], blinds, and other [[planing mill]] products.<ref>Kensel (1968), pp. 28–29, 31</ref> Rail freight rates were much higher in Spokane than the rates in coastal [[seaport]] cities such as Seattle and Portland, so much so that [[Minneapolis]] merchants could ship goods first to Seattle and then back to Spokane for less than shipping directly to Spokane, even though the rail line ran through Spokane on the way to the coast.<ref name="Malone"/><ref>Durham (1912), p. 598</ref>{{ref|Hepburn|[f]}} Local morale was affected for years by the collapse of the Division Street Bridge early in the morning on December 15, 1915, which killed five people and injured over 20, but a new bridge was built (eventually replaced in 1994).<ref>Creighton (2013), p.82</ref> The 1920 census showed a net increase of just 35 individuals, which actually indicates that thousands left the city when considering the natural growth rate of a population.<ref name="Stagnation"/> Growth in the 1920s and 1930s remained slow but less drastically so, forcing city boosters to market the city as a quiet, comfortable place suitable for raising a family rather than a dynamic community full of opportunity.<ref>Stratton (2005), p. 35–36</ref> The Inland Empire was heavily dependent on natural resources and [[wikt:extractive|extractive]] goods produced from mines, forests, and farms, which experienced a fall in demand.<ref name="p.38">Stratton (2005), p. 38</ref> The situation improved slightly with the start of World War II as aluminum production commenced in Spokane due to the area's cheap electricity (produced from regional dams) and the increased demand for airplanes.<ref name="p.38"/>

===Second half of the 20th century===
[[File:Spokane Riverfront Park 20061014.jpg|thumb|left|alt=The Great Northern Railway clock tower and Expo '74 U.S. Pavilion in Riverfront Park|The Great Northern clock tower and U.S. Pavilion in [[Riverfront Park (Spokane, Washington)|Riverfront Park]]]]

After decades of stagnation and slow growth, Spokane businessmen formed Spokane Unlimited in the early 1960s, an organization that sought to revitalize downtown Spokane.<ref>Stratton (2005), pp. 211–212</ref> A recreation park showcasing the [[Spokane Falls]] was the preferred option, and after successful negotiation to relocate the railroad facilities on Havermale Island,<ref name="WorldsFair">Stratton (2005), p. 215</ref> Spokane hosted the first [[Environmentalism|environmentally]] themed [[World's Fair]] in [[Expo '74]] on May 4, becoming the smallest city at the time to host a World's Fair.<ref>Stratton (2005), p. 207</ref><ref name="CC" /> This event transformed Spokane's downtown, removing a century of railroad infrastructure and reinventing the urban core. After Expo '74, the fairgrounds became the {{convert|100|acre|km2|sing=on}} Riverfront Park.<ref>{{cite web | last = Wilma| first = David| title = Expo 74 Spokane World's Fair opens on May 4, 1974| work = Essay 5133| publisher = HistoryLink| date = January 27, 2003| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&File_Id=5133| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref>

The growth witnessed in the late 1970s and early 1980s was interrupted by another U.S. recession in 1981, in which silver, timber, and farm prices dropped.<ref name="Diverse">Schmeltzer (1988), p. 87</ref> The period of decline for the city lasted into the 1990s and was also marked by a loss of many steady family-wage jobs in the manufacturing sector.<ref name="Thumbnail"/> Although this was a tough period, Spokane's economy had started to benefit from some measure of economic diversification; growing companies such as [[Key Tronic]] and other research, marketing, and assembly plants for technology companies helped lessen Spokane's dependence on natural resources.<ref name="Diverse"/>

===21st century===
[[File:SpokaneSkywalks.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Spokane's skywalk network is among the nation's most extensive|Spokane has an extensive [[Skywalk]] network]]

As of 2014, Spokane is still trying to make the transition to a more [[service economy|service-oriented economy]] in the face of a less prominent manufacturing sector.<ref name="Thumbnail">{{cite web | last = Arksey| first = Laura| title = Spokane – Thumbnail History| work = Essay 7462| publisher = HistoryLink| date = September 4, 2005| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&File_Id=7462| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> Developing the city's strength in the medical and health sciences fields has seen some success, resulting in the expansion of the University District with a medical school branch. The city faces challenges such as a scarcity of high-paying jobs, pockets of poverty, and areas of high crime.<ref name="Thumbnail"/>

The opening of the [[River Park Square Mall]] in 1999 sparked a downtown rebirth that included the building of the Spokane Arena and expansion of the [[Spokane Convention Center]].<ref name="Thumbnail"/><ref>Spirou (2010), p. 210</ref> Other major projects include the building of the Big Easy concert house (now the [[Knitting Factory]]) and renovation of the historic [[Montvale Hotel]], the Kirtland Cutter-designed Davenport Hotel (after being vacant for over 20&nbsp;years), and the Fox Theater (now home to the Spokane Symphony).<ref name="Davenport">{{cite web| last = Arksey| first = Laura| title = Davenport Hotel (Spokane)| work = Essay 7545| publisher = HistoryLink| date = November 29, 2005| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=7545| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Fox">{{cite web | last = Kershner| first = Jim| title = Restored Fox Theater in Spokane reopens as the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox in a gala concert on November 17, 2007| work = Essay 8681| publisher = HistoryLink| date = July 2, 2008| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=8681| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> The Kendall Yards development on the west side of downtown Spokane is one of the largest construction projects in the city's history.  Directly across the Spokane River from downtown, it will blend residential and retail space with plazas and walking trails.<ref name="Thumbnail" />

==Geography==
[[File:cmglee_Spokane_Valley_night_aerial.jpg|thumb|upright|Night aerial view of Kootenai County, Idaho (foreground) and Spokane County (background) in December 2014]]
===Topography===
Spokane is located on the [[Spokane River]] in [[eastern Washington]] at an elevation of {{convert|1843|ft|m}} above sea level,<ref>{{cite web| title = NWS Spokane, WA| publisher = National Weather Service| url = http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Spokane&state=WA&site=OTX&textField1=47.6589&textField2=-117.425&e=1| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> about {{convert|20|mi|km}} from [[Idaho]], {{convert|110|mi|km}} south of the Canadian border, {{convert|232|mi|km}} east of Seattle, and {{convert|277|mi|km}} southwest of [[Calgary]].<ref>{{cite web| title = Calculate distance between two locations| publisher = Time and Date AS| url = http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/distance.html| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> The lowest elevation in the city of Spokane is the northernmost point of the Spokane River within city limits (in [[Riverside State Park]]) at {{convert|1608|ft|m}}; the highest elevation is on the northeast side, near the community of [[Hillyard, Spokane, Washington|Hillyard]] (though closer to Beacon Hill and the North Hill Reservoir) at {{convert|2591|ft|m}}.<ref>{{cite map| publisher = 2004 DeLorme| title = Delorme Topo USA 5.0 West Region (CD-ROM)| edition = 5.0| accessdate = January 24, 2009}}</ref> Spokane is part of the [[Inland Northwest (United States)|Inland Northwest]] region, consisting of eastern Washington, [[Idaho Panhandle|northern Idaho]], northwestern [[Montana]], and northeastern [[Oregon]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Inland Empire| publisher = Merriam-Webster, Incorporated| url = http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inland%20empire| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> 
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|60.02|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|59.25|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.77|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files" />

[[File:MK02733_Spokane_Upper_Falls.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|alt=The Spokane River rushes passed Canada Island in Riverfront Park|The Upper [[Spokane Falls]] of the Spokane River flowing by Canada Island]]

Spokane lies in the [[Columbia Plateau]] ecoregion on the eastern edge of the basaltic [[Channeled Scablands]] steppe, a plain that then eventually rises sharply to the east towards the rugged, timbered [[Rocky Mountains|Rocky Mountain]] foothills, the [[Selkirk Mountains]].<ref name="NWS">{{cite web| title = Station Information Data Sheet – Spokane, Washington| publisher = National Weather Service | date = April 2008| url = http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/otx/spokane.php| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> It is in a transition area between the barren landscape of the [[Columbia Basin]] and the coniferous forests to the east; to the south are the lush [[prairie]]s and rolling hills of the [[Palouse]].<ref>{{cite web| title = Draft: Level III and IV Ecoregions of the Northwestern United States| publisher = [[U.S. Environmental Protection Agency]]| date = May 15, 2002| url = ftp://ftp.epa.gov/pub/wed/ecoregions/reg10/pnw_map.pdf| format = PDF | accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> The highest peak in Spokane County is [[Mount Spokane]], at an elevation of {{convert|5883|ft|m}}, located on the eastern side of the Selkirk Mountains.<ref>{{cite web| title = Feature Detail Report for: Mount Spokane| publisher = United States Geological Survey| url = http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:34351196088528::NO::P3_FID:1512684| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> The most prominent water feature in the area is the Spokane River, a {{convert|111|mi|km|adj=on}} tributary of the [[Columbia River]], originating from [[Lake Coeur d'Alene]] in northern Idaho.<ref name="Soltero">Soltero et al. (1992), p. 460</ref> The river flows west across the Washington state line through downtown Spokane, meeting [[Latah Creek]], then turns to the northwest, where it is joined by the [[Little Spokane River]] on its way to the Columbia River, north of [[Davenport, Washington|Davenport]].<ref name="Soltero" /> The Channeled Scablands and many of the area's numerous large lakes, such as Lake Coeur d'Alene and [[Lake Pend Oreille]], were formed by the [[Missoula Floods]] after the ice-dammed [[Glacial Lake Missoula]] ruptured at the end of the last ice age.<ref>{{Cite report| last= Breckenridge| first= Roy M.|date=May 1993| title= Glacial Lake Missoula and the Spokane Floods| url= http://www.idahogeology.org/PDF/GeoNotes_(G)/geonote_26.pdf| format= PDF| publisher= Idaho Geological Survey| series= GeoNotes| volume=26}}</ref> The [[Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge]] south of Cheney is the closest natural reserve, and the closest national park is [[Glacier National Park (U.S.)|Glacier National Park]], approximately a four-hour drive away from Spokane.

===Climate===
[[File:Abraham Lincoln - Statue in Downtown Spokane WA - USA.jpg|thumb|right|alt=The Abraham Lincoln statue on a sunny, clear day|The Lincoln statue on a clear day]]

Spokane has a [[humid continental climate]] (''Dsb'' under the [[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] classification),<ref>{{cite journal | author=Peel, M. C. and Finlayson, B. L. and McMahon, T. A. | year=2007 | title=Updated world map of the Köppen–Geiger climate classification | journal=Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. | volume=11 | pages=1633–1644 |doi=10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007 | url=http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/1633/2007/hess-11-1633-2007.html | issn = 1027-5606}} ''(direct: [http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/1633/2007/hess-11-1633-2007.pdf Final Revised Paper])''</ref> a rare climate due to its elevation and significant winter precipitation; Spokane, however, is adjacent to and sometimes even classified as a [[Mediterranean climate#Warm-summer Mediterranean climate|cool-summer Mediterranean climate]] (''Csb'') because the average temperature for the coldest month is just over {{convert|27|°F}}.<ref>{{cite journal| author=Kottek, M.|author2=J. Grieser |author3=C. Beck |author4=B. Rudolf |author5=F. Rubel | title=World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated| journal=Meteorol. Z.| volume=15| issue=3| pages=259–263| url=http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/pics/kottek_et_al_2006.gif| format = GIF| doi=10.1127/0941-2948/2006/0130| year=2006| accessdate=December 7, 2014}}</ref><ref name="TWC" />

The area typically has a hot, arid climate during the summer months,<ref name="NWS" /> bracketed by short spring and fall seasons. On average, July and August are equally warm, and the coolest month is December; July averages {{convert|69.5|°F|1}} while December averages {{convert|27.5|°F|1}}.<ref name="TWC">{{cite web| url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USWA0422?| title=Average Weather for Spokane, WA| publisher=[[The Weather Channel]]| accessdate=December 7, 2014}}</ref><!--TWC note: averages obtained by summing the average high and lows then dividing by 2--> Daily temperature ranges are large during the summer, often exceeding {{convert|30|F-change}}, and small during the winter, with a range just above {{convert|10|F-change|1}}.<!--NOT HIGH TEMPERATURE--> The record high and low are {{convert|108|°F}} and {{convert|-30|°F}}, but temperatures of more than {{convert|100|°F}} or less than {{convert|-10|°F}} are rare.<ref name="NWS" /> Temperatures above {{convert|90|°F}} occur an average of 19 days annually, and those below {{convert|0|°F}} average 3.5 days a year.<ref name="NOAA" />

Spokane's location, between the [[Cascades Range]] to the west and the [[Rocky Mountains]] to the east and north, protects it from weather patterns experienced in other parts of the [[Pacific Northwest]]. The Cascade Mountains form a barrier to the eastward flow of moist and relatively mild air from the [[Pacific Ocean]] in winter and cool air in summer.<ref name="ClimWA">{{cite web| title = Climate of Washington| work = Climates of the States, Climatography of the United States No. 60| publisher = National Weather Service| url = http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim60/states/Clim_WA_01.pdf| format = PDF| accessdate=December 7, 2014}}</ref> As a result of the [[rain shadow]] effect of the Cascades, the Spokane area has {{convert|16.5|in|mm}} average annual precipitation, less than half of Seattle's {{convert|37|in|mm}}.<ref name="ClimWA" /> The most precipitation occurs in December, and summer is the driest time of the year.<ref name="TWC" /> The Rockies shield Spokane from some of the winter season's coldest air masses traveling southward across Canada.<ref name="ClimWA" />

{{Weather box |imperial first = Y
|location = Spokane, Washington ([[Spokane International Airport|Spokane Int'l]]), 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1881–present
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F =  62
|Feb record high F =  63
|Mar record high F =  74
|Apr record high F =  90
|May record high F =  97
|Jun record high F = 101
|Jul record high F = 108
|Aug record high F = 108
|Sep record high F =  98
|Oct record high F =  87
|Nov record high F =  70
|Dec record high F =  60
|year record high F= 108
|Jan high F = 34.4
|Feb high F = 39.6
|Mar high F = 48.9
|Apr high F = 57.2
|May high F = 66.4
|Jun high F = 73.8
|Jul high F = 83.0
|Aug high F = 82.9
|Sep high F = 72.9
|Oct high F = 58.0
|Nov high F = 41.6
|Dec high F = 32.2
|year high F= 57.6
|Jan low F = 24.7
|Feb low F = 26.4
|Mar low F = 31.6
|Apr low F = 36.8
|May low F = 43.8
|Jun low F = 50.4
|Jul low F = 56.3
|Aug low F = 55.8
|Sep low F = 47.4
|Oct low F = 37.2
|Nov low F = 29.8
|Dec low F = 22.5
|year low F= 38.6
|Jan record low F = −30
|Feb record low F = −24
|Mar record low F = −10
|Apr record low F =  14
|May record low F =  24
|Jun record low F =  33
|Jul record low F =  37
|Aug record low F =  35
|Sep record low F =  22
|Oct record low F =   7
|Nov record low F = −13
|Dec record low F = −25
|year record low F= −30
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.79
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.33
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.61
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.28
|May precipitation inch = 1.62
|Jun precipitation inch = 1.25
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.64
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.59
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.67
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.18
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.30
|Dec precipitation inch = 2.30
|year precipitation inch=16.56

|Jan snow inch = 11.4
|Feb snow inch =  6.8
|Mar snow inch =  3.5
|Apr snow inch =  1.0
|May snow inch =  0.1
|Jun snow inch =  0.0
|Jul snow inch =  0.0
|Aug snow inch =  0.0
|Sep snow inch =  0.0
|Oct snow inch =  0.1
|Nov snow inch =  7.4
|Dec snow inch = 14.6
|year snow inch= 44.9
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan precipitation days = 13.4
|Feb precipitation days = 10.4
|Mar precipitation days = 11.6
|Apr precipitation days = 10.1
|May precipitation days = 10.2
|Jun precipitation days = 7.9
|Jul precipitation days = 5.0
|Aug precipitation days = 3.8
|Sep precipitation days = 5.1
|Oct precipitation days = 7.8
|Nov precipitation days = 13.7
|Dec precipitation days = 13.2
|year precipitation days=112.2
|Jan snow days = 9.0
|Feb snow days = 5.0
|Mar snow days = 3.9
|Apr snow days = 1.1
|May snow days = 0.4
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.3
|Nov snow days = 4.9
|Dec snow days = 9.8
|year snow days=34.4
|Jan humidity = 82.5
|Feb humidity = 79.1
|Mar humidity = 70.3
|Apr humidity = 61.0
|May humidity = 58.2
|Jun humidity = 53.9
|Jul humidity = 44.0
|Aug humidity = 45.0
|Sep humidity = 53.9
|Oct humidity = 66.6
|Nov humidity = 82.7
|Dec humidity = 85.5
|year humidity =65.2
|Jan sun =  78.3
|Feb sun = 118.0
|Mar sun = 199.3
|Apr sun = 242.3
|May sun = 296.7
|Jun sun = 322.8
|Jul sun = 382.4
|Aug sun = 340.4
|Sep sun = 271.2
|Oct sun = 191.0
|Nov sun =  73.8
|Dec sun =  59.1
|year sun=2575.3
|Jan percentsun = 28
|Feb percentsun = 41
|Mar percentsun = 54
|Apr percentsun = 59
|May percentsun = 63
|Jun percentsun = 68
|Jul percentsun = 79
|Aug percentsun = 77
|Sep percentsun = 72
|Oct percentsun = 57
|Nov percentsun = 26
|Dec percentsun = 22
|year percentsun =54
|source 1 = NOAA (relative humidity and sun 1961–1990)<ref name = NOAA >{{cite web
| url = http://www.nws.noaa.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=otx
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| accessdate = May 28, 2014}}</ref><ref name="NOAA txt">
{{cite web 
| title = WA Spokane INTL AP
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| url = ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/1981-2010/products/station/USW00024157.normals.txt 
| accessdate = May 28, 2014}}</ref><ref name= NOAA2>
{{cite web
| title = WMO climate normals for Spokane/INTL, WA 1961–1990
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP4/72785.TXT
| accessdate = May 28, 2014}}</ref>
|date = November 2012}}

==Administration and politics==
{{See also| List of mayors of Spokane, Washington}}
[[File:SpokaneCityHall.jpg|thumb|right|upright|alt=The Art Deco City Hall building|Spokane City Hall]]

The City of Spokane operates under a [[Mayor–council government|mayor–council]] form of government,<ref name="CityGovernment">{{cite web | title = City Government| publisher = City of Spokane| url = http://www.spokanecity.org/government| accessdate=December 7, 2014}}</ref> with executive and legislative branches.<ref name="CityGovernment"/> In 2011, [[David Condon]] was elected mayor as a [[non-partisan]] candidate, taking office on the last business day of the year.<ref>{{cite news| last = Brunt | first = Jonathan| title = It's now Spokane Mayor-Elect Condon | publisher = ''The Spokesman-Review''| date = November 10, 2011| url = http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/nov/10/its-now-spokane-mayor-elect-condon|accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> The previous mayor was [[Mary Verner]], who succeeded the recalled [[James E. West (politician)|James "Jim" West]]. Spokane voters have not reelected a mayor since 1973, when incumbent [[David H. Rodgers]] was granted a second term. The city elected [[James Everett Chase]] as its first African-American mayor in 1981, and after his retirement, elected the city's first woman mayor, Vicki McNeil.<ref>Schmeltzer (1988), p. 71</ref> Spokane is the [[county seat]] of [[Spokane County, Washington|Spokane County]], a position which it wrested from [[Cheney, Washington|Cheney]] in 1886.<ref name="NAco">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|title=About Counties: Washington|publisher=National Organization of Counties|accessdate=December 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last = Kershner| first = Jim| title = Armed Cheney citizens forcibly remove the county seat from Spokane Falls to Cheney on March 21, 1881| work = Essay 8249| publisher = HistoryLink| date = August 11, 2007| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=8249| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Spokane County Courthouse.JPG|thumb|left|alt=The Spokane County Courthouse in the West Central neighborhood|Spokane County Courthouse]]

Democrat [[Jay Inslee]] was elected governor of Washington in 2012.<ref>{{cite web | title = Jay Inslee| publisher = Office of the Governor| url = http://www.governor.wa.gov|accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> Federally, Spokane is part of [[Washington's 5th congressional district]], and has been represented by Republican [[Cathy McMorris Rodgers]] since 2004.<ref name="Leg">{{cite web | title = Find Your Legislator| publisher = Washington State Legislature| url = http://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> Washington State is represented nationally in the [[United States Senate|Senate]] by Democrat [[Patty Murray]] and Democrat [[Maria Cantwell]].<ref name="Leg" /> In the [[United States presidential election, 2012|2012 general election]], Spokane County favored [[Mitt Romney]] for President over [[Barack Obama]] by 51.5 to 45.7 percent; on the state ballot, the county supported the [[Washington Initiative 502|legalization of recreational marijuana ballot measure]] by 52.2 to 47.9 percent and opposed the [[Washington Referendum 74|legalization of same-sex marriage]] by 44.1 to 55.9 percent.<ref name="2012Election">{{cite web | title = Spokane County Elections: November 6, 2012 General Election| publisher = Washington Secretary of State Elections Division| date = November 27, 2012| url = http://vote.wa.gov/results/20121106/spokane|accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> Spokane native [[Tom Foley]] was a Democratic [[Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]] and served as a representative of Washington's 5th district for 30 years, enjoying large support from Spokane, until his narrow defeat in the "[[Republican Revolution]]" of 1994,<ref>Stratton (2005), pp. 7–8</ref><ref name="Foley">{{cite web| last = Oldham| first = Kit| title = George Nethercutt, running on term limit pledge, defeats House Speaker Tom Foley on November 8, 1994| work = Essay 5517| publisher = HistoryLink| date = August 19, 2003| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&File_Id=5517| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> the only time U.S. voters have turned out a sitting Speaker of the House since 1860.<ref>Stratton (2005), p. 8</ref> Today, Spokane has a slight Democratic tilt, although the county and surrounding metropolitan area as a whole is staunchly conservative, and as a result, Spokane is governed by a strong amount of Republicans.

===Crime===
{{Infobox UCR
|city_name= Spokane
|year= 2012
|homicide= 6.1
|rape= 38.2
|robbery= 253.1
|aggravated_assault= 347.8
|violent_crime= 628.1
|burglary= 1,803.8
|larceny_theft= 5938.8
|motor_vehicle_theft= 987.4
|arson= 20.4
|property_crime= 8730.1
|source_url= http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2012/crime-in-the-u.s.-2012/tables/8tabledatadecpdf/table-8-state-cuts/table_8_offenses_known_to_law_enforcement_by_washington_by_city_2012.xls
|source_name= 2012 FBI UCR Data
|notes= 2012 population: 212,163
}}

The crime rate per 1,000 people in the Spokane metropolitan area (Spokane County) was 64.8 in 2012, higher than the Washington state average of 38.3; the violent crime rate of 3.8 and property crime rate of 61 also exceed the statewide averages of 2.5 and 35.8, respectively.<ref>{{cite web | title = Statistical Analysis Center| work = Uniform Crime Report| publisher = Washington State Office of Financial Management| date = November 30, 2013| url = http://wa-state-ofm.us/UniformCrimeReport/|accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> Spokane's crime rate is also higher for both violent and property crime than in 98% of communities in the U.S.<ref name="NeighborhoodScout">{{cite web | title = Crime rates for Spokane, WA| publisher = NeighborhoodScout| url = http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/wa/spokane/crime|accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref>

Data shows that most crimes reported in the city tend to be focused around the downtown city center and its environs.<ref name="NeighborhoodScout" /> Half of all property crimes are localized in about 6.5 percent of the city.<ref name="Crime">{{cite news | last = Cuniff| first = Meghann| title = Property crimes to get new focus| publisher = ''The Spokesman-Review''| date = March 31, 2012| url = http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/mar/31/property-crimes-to-get-new-focus|accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> An individual in Spokane has a one in fourteen chance of becoming a victim of burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, or arson.<ref name="NeighborhoodScout" /> Spokane had the fourth highest rate of auto theft in the U.S. in 2010 and 2011 according to the [[National Insurance Crime Bureau]].<ref name="Crime" /> Drive-by shootings and drug use, particularly [[crack cocaine]] use, became worse in the early 1990s, and four drive-by shootings were recorded in December 1993 alone.<ref name="Kienholz"/> In the 1990s, a special gang unit within the Spokane Police Department was established, with an officer "collecting intelligence on gang activity and disseminating it to street officers".<ref name="Kienholz">Kienholz (1999), p.188</ref> The 1990s also saw Spokane's most prolific serial killer, [[Robert Lee Yates]], who killed thirteen prostitutes in Spokane's East Sprague red light district and confessed to two others in [[Tacoma, Washington]].<ref>Fox et al. (2014), pp. 144–145</ref> The transition of the Spokane Police Department to a community-policing [[Police precinct|precinct]] model has been successful in curbing crime rates since its introduction downtown, and has been expanded citywide.<ref>{{cite news| last = Jonathan| first = Brunt| title = Spokane Police Department to open two new precincts| publisher = ''The Spokesman-Review''| date = October 22, 2013| url = http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/oct/22/spokane-police-department-to-open-two-new| accessdate = October 11, 2014}}</ref>

Spokane and the Spokane Police Department (SPD) have received national publicity and scrutiny in the 2000s and 2010s due to many [[List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States|officer-involved shootings]] and the use of excessive force. The most high-profile of these incidents was the 2006 [[death of Otto Zehm]], a mentally challenged man in a state of delirium who was initially suspected of theft at a convenience store.<ref>{{cite news| last = Clouse| first = Thomas| title = Zehm death a homicide| publisher = ''The Spokesman-Review''| date = May 31, 2006| url = http://web.archive.org/web/20080626033342/http://www.spokesman.com/tools/story_pf.asp?ID=133348| accessdate = November 21, 2014}}</ref> Zehm was not a threat and committed no crime, but was struck with batons by several officers, tasered, and hog-tied.<ref>{{cite news| last = Geranios| first = Nicholas| title = Otto Zehm Beating: Officer Karl F. Thompson Jr. Sentenced In Death Of Man With Mental Disabilities| publisher = ''The Huffington Post''| date = November 16, 2012| url = http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/aug/22/police-chief-touts-progress-on-use-of-force| accessdate = November 21, 2014}}</ref> The increased pressure on the SPD prompted an independent review by a commission of the organization’s use-of-force policies, an internal culture audit, and the purchase of [[body camera]]s.<ref>{{cite news| last = Deshais| first = Nicholas| title = Police chief touts progress on Use of Force recommendations| publisher = '' The Spokesman-Review''| date = August 22, 2013| url = http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/aug/22/police-chief-touts-progress-on-use-of-force| accessdate = November 21, 2014}}</ref>

===Utilities===
[[File:Monroe Street Dam on Spokane River.jpg|thumb|right|alt=The Monroe Street Dam falls on the Spokane River|Monroe Street Dam]]

The City of Spokane provides municipal [[water supply network|water]], [[sewage treatment|wastewater management]], and [[solid waste management]].<ref>{{cite web| title = The Spokane Regional Solid Waste System| publisher = Spokane Regional Solid Waste System| url = http://www.solidwaste.org/| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> Spokane operates Washington's only [[waste-to-energy]] plant as well as two solid waste [[Transfer station (waste management)|transfer station]]s as part of the Spokane Regional Solid Waste System, a collaboration between the City of Spokane and Spokane County.<ref name="Roesler">{{cite news | first=Richard | last=Roesler | title=Plant's electricity could gain value with 'renewable' status | url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/feb/25/from-garbage-to-green/ | format=Reprint |publisher=Spokesman-Review| date=February 25, 2009 | accessdate=December 7, 2014}}</ref> Electricity generated by the waste-to-energy plant is used to operate the facility, with excess energy being sold to [[Puget Sound Energy]].<ref name="Roesler" /> Spokane draws its water from the Spokane Valley – Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer; this {{convert|370|sqmi|km2|0|adj = on}} "sole source aquifer" is the only water supply for Spokane County in Washington, and for [[Kootenai County, Idaho|Kootenai]] and [[Bonner County, Idaho|Bonner]] counties in Idaho.<ref>{{cite web| title = Compilation of Information for Spokane Valley–Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, Washington and Idaho| work = Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5227| publisher = United States Geological Survey| date = January 10, 2013| url = http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2005/5227/section3.html| accessdate = September 13, 2014}}</ref>

Natural gas and electricity are provided by the local utility, [[Avista Utilities]], while [[CenturyLink]] and [[Comcast]] provide television, internet, and telephone service. Spokane hosts three [[hydroelectricity|hydroelectric]] generation facilities on the Spokane River: the Upriver Dam, the Upper Falls Dam, and the Monroe Street Dam. The Upriver Dam is owned and operated by the City of Spokane, and generates the electricity needed to operate the municipal water supply's pressure pumps.<ref name="UpriverDam">{{cite web | title=Water – City of Spokane | url=https://beta.spokanecity.org/publicworks/water/upriverdam/ | publisher=City of Spokane | accessdate=March 19, 2014 }}</ref> The power generated in excess of that is sold to Avista Utilities.<ref name="UpriverDam" /> The Upper Falls and Monroe Street dams are owned and operated by Avista Utilities, and have respective generation capacities of 10 and 15 [[Megawatts|MW]].<ref name="SpokaneDams">{{cite web | title=Spokane River Dams | url=http://www.avistautilities.com/environment/spokaneriver/dams/Pages/default.aspx | publisher=Avista Utilities | accessdate=March 19, 2014 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 350
|1890= 19922
|1900= 36848
|1910= 104402
|1920= 104437
|1930= 115514
|1940= 122001
|1950= 161721
|1960= 181608
|1970= 170516
|1980= 171300
|1990= 177196
|2000= 195629
|2010= 208916
|estimate= 210721
|estyear= 2013
|footnote=source:<ref>Moffatt (1996), p. 334.</ref><center>U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web| title=U.S. Decennial Census| publisher=United States Census Bureau| url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html| accessdate=June 7, 2013}}</ref><br>2013 Estimate<ref>{{cite web| title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013| publisher=United States Census Bureau| url=http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2013/SUB-EST2013-3.html| accessdate=May 30, 2014}}</ref></center>
}}

<!-- The information below can be obtained from the American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates -->
According to the [[American Community Survey]], the median income for a household in Spokane in 2012 was $42,274, and the median income for a family was $50,268. Males had a median income of $42,693, versus $34,795 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,034. About 13.3% of families and 18.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.8% of those under the age of 18 and 10.8% of those aged 65 and older.<ref name="FactFinder" />

<!-- The information below can be obtained from the Census -->
At the 2010 census, there were 208,916 people, 87,271 households, and 49,204 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|3526.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 94,291 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1591.4|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 86.7% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.3% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 2.0% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], and 0.6% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], along with 1.3% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]] and 4.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanics]] and [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latinos]] of any race were 5.0% of the population.<ref name="FactFinder" />

<!-- The information below can be obtained from the Census -->
There were 87,271 households, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.5% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.6% were non-families. In 2010, 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.97.<ref name="FactFinder" />

<!-- The information below can be obtained from the Census -->
The median age in the city was 35 years. In Spokane, 22.4% of residents were under the age of 18, 12.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24, 27.6% were from 25 to 44, 25.1% were from 45 to 64, and 12.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.8% male and 51.2% female.<ref name="FactFinder" />

[[File:Cathedral of St. John in Spokane.jpg|thumb|left|alt=The Episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist dominates the South Hill skyline| [[Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist (Spokane, Washington)|Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist]]]]

According to the [[Association of Religion Data Archives]]' 2010 Metro Area Membership Report, the denominational affiliations of the Spokane MSA are 64,277&nbsp;[[Evangelicalism|Evangelical Protestant]], 682&nbsp;[[Black church|Black Protestant]], 24,826&nbsp;[[Mainline Protestant]], 754&nbsp;[[Orthodox Christianity|Orthodox]], 66,202&nbsp;[[Catholicism|Catholic]], 31,674&nbsp;Other, and 339,338&nbsp;Unclaimed.<ref>{{cite web| title = Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA| work = Metro-Area Membership Report| publisher = The Association of Religion Data Archives| year = 2010| url = http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/r/m/44060/rcms2010_44060_metro_name_2010.asp| accessdate = January 2, 2014}}</ref> As of 2014, there are also at least three Jewish congregations.<ref>[http://spokanetbs.org/ Temple Beth Shalom] ("almost 200 member families"), 
[http://www.spokaneemanu-el.org/ Congregation Emanu-El], 
[http://jewishspokane.com/ Chabad of Spokane County]. Accessed 2014-12-02.</ref> The Emanu-El congregation erected the first synagogue in Spokane and the state of Washington on September 14, 1892.<ref>{{cite web | last = Kershner| first = Jim| title = Jewish Community of Spokane| work = Essay 8640| publisher = HistoryLink| date = July 4, 2008| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=8640| accessdate = December 2, 2014}}</ref> The city's first mosque opened in 2009 as the Spokane Islamic Center.<ref>{{cite news| last = Stamp| first = Mary| title = Muslim mosque invites dialogue| publisher = ''The Spokesman-Review''| date = February 14, 2009| url = http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/feb/14/muslim-mosque-invites-dialogue| accessdate = December 2, 2014}}</ref>

Spokane, like Washington and the Pacific Northwest region as a whole, is part of the [[Unchurched Belt]], a region characterized by low church membership rates and religious participation.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://rra.hartsem.edu/finkescheitlearticle.htm |title=Accounting for the Uncounted: Computing Correctives for the 2000 RCMS Data |first1=Roger |last1=Finke |first2=Christopher |last2=Scheitle |journal=Review of Religious Research |volume=47 |number=1 |year=2005 |accessdate=December 7, 2014}}</ref> The city serves as the [[Cathedra|seat]] of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane]], which was established in 1913,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dioceseofspokane.org/about_us.php|title=A Short History of the Diocese|publisher=Diocese of Spokane|accessdate=November 19, 2014}}</ref> and the Mormon [[Spokane Washington Temple|Spokane Washington Temple District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/spokane/|title=Spokane Washington Temple|publisher=Ldschurchtemples.com|accessdate=November 19, 2014}}</ref>

Spokane has been criticized and sometimes derided for its lack of diversity and multicultural offerings,<ref>{{cite news| last = Scott| first = Chey| title = A Day for Diversity| publisher = ''INLANDER''| date = August 14, 2012| url = http://www.inlander.com/spokane/a-day-for-diversity/Content?oid=2138982 |accessdate = October 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title = Unity in the Community reflects commitment to diversity in the Inland Northwest| publisher = The Fig Tree| url = http://www.thefigtree.org/sept12/090512unitycommunity.html#| accessdate = October 5, 2014}}</ref> but the city has become more diverse in recent decades. People from countries in the former [[Soviet Union]] (especially Russians and Ukrainians) form a comparatively large demographic in Spokane and Spokane County, the result of a large influx of immigrants and their families after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.<ref name="TheTimes">{{cite news | last = Ashton| first = Linda| title = Spokane Is New Refugee Magnet For Ex-Soviets -- Washington State Among The Country's Most Popular Destinations For Newcomers| publisher = ''The Seattle Times''| date = January 30, 1994| url = http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19940130&slug=1892502|accessdate = May 30, 2014}}</ref><ref name="KyivPost">{{cite news| title = City in eastern Washington state has become home to many Russians and Ukrainians| publisher = ''Kyiv Post''| date = May 23, 2002| url = http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/city-in-eastern-washington-state-has-become-home-t-11151.html| accessdate = October 4, 2014}}</ref> According to the 2000 Census, the number of people of Russian or Ukrainian ancestry in Spokane County was reported to be 7,700 (4,900 residing in the city of Spokane), amounting to two percent of the county.<ref name="KyivPost"/> Among the fastest-growing demographics in Spokane is the [[Pacific Islander]] ethnic group, which is estimated to be the third largest minority group in the county, after the Russian and Ukrainian community and Latinos.<ref name="TheSpokesman">{{cite news| last = Sowa| first = Tom| title = Marshallese making a new life in Spokane| publisher = ''The Spokesman-Review''| date = March 4, 2012| url = http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/mar/04/marshallese-making-a-new-life-in-spokane| accessdate = October 4, 2014}}</ref> Spokane was once home to a sizable Asian community, mostly Japanese, centered in a district called [[Chinatown, Spokane|Chinatown]] from the early days of the city until 1974.<ref name="Chinatown">{{cite web | last = Kershner| first = Jim| title = Spokane Neighborhoods: Old Chinatown -- Trent Alley -- Thumbnail History| work = Essay 8120| publisher = HistoryLink| date = March 30, 2007| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&File_Id=8120| accessdate = October 4, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last = Kershner| first = Jim| title = Spokane's Japanese Community| work = Essay 8048| publisher = HistoryLink| date = January 8, 2007| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=8048| accessdate = September 13, 2014}}</ref> As in many western [[railway town]]s, the Asian community started off as an encampment for migrant laborers working on the railroads. The Chinatown Asian community thrived until the 1940s, after which its population decreased and became integrated and dispersed, losing its Asian character; urban blight and the preparations leading up to Expo '74 led to Chinatown's eventual demolition.<ref name="Chinatown"/>

===Metropolitan area===
[[File:Spokane at night 20071003.jpg|thumb|475px|right|alt=The Spokane skyline at night from the southwest in Palisades Park|Spokane skyline at night from the southwest]]
The Spokane metropolitan area consists of Spokane, [[Stevens County, Washington|Stevens]], and [[Pend Oreille County, Washington|Pend Oreille]] counties. As of the 2013 census estimates, the Spokane metropolitan area had a population of 535,724.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=CF| title=Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA Metro Area | publisher=United States Census Bureau| accessdate=December 18, 2014}}</ref> Directly east of Spokane County is the Coeur d'Alene Metropolitan Statistical Area, which consists of [[Kootenai County, Idaho]], anchored by the city of [[Coeur d'Alene, Idaho|Coeur d'Alene]]. The urban areas of the two MSAs largely follow the path of Interstate 90 between Spokane and Coeur d'Alene. The Spokane area has suffered from suburbanization and [[urban sprawl]] in past decades, despite Washington's use of [[urban growth boundary|urban growth boundaries]]; the city ranks low among major Northwest cities in population density and [[smart growth]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Seven Northwest Cities: The Smart-Growth Ranking|url=http://www.sightline.org/maps/charts/Sprawl-ByCity-CS07|publisher=Sightline Institute|accessdate=December 7, 2014}}</ref> The Spokane and Coeur d'Alene [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]]s (MSA) are now included in a single [[Combined Statistical Area]] (CSA) by the [[Office of Management and Budget]].<ref name="CSA">{{cite news| last = Stucke| first = John| title = Spokane, Coeur d'Alene now one statistical region| publisher = ''The Spokesman-Review''| date = June 8, 2011| url = http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/jun/08/spokane-coeur-dalene-now-one-statistical-region| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> The Spokane–Coeur d'Alene CSA had around 679,989&nbsp;residents in 2013.<ref name="CSA" />

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Spokane, Washington}}
[[File:Peyton Building.JPG|thumb|left|alt=The Peyton Building in Spokane's Central Business District|The [[Spokane Stock Exchange]] once occupied the Peyton Building]]

Spokane became an important rail and shipping center because of its location between mining and farming areas.<ref name="Railroads"/><ref name="Schmeltzerp.41" /> In the early 1880s, gold and silver were discovered in the Inland Empire; as a regional shipping center, the city furnished supplies to the miners who passed through on their way to the mineral-rich [[Silver Valley, Idaho|Coeur d'Alene]], [[Colville, Washington|Colville]] and [[Kootenays|Kootenay]] districts.<ref name="p.28"/> The mining districts are still considered among the most productive in North America.<ref>{{cite web| last = Higgs| first = Robert| title = Coasian Contracts in the Coeur d'Alene Mining District| work = Working Paper #52| publisher = The Independent Institute| date = June 2, 2004| url = http://www.independent.org/publications/working_papers/article.asp?id=1337| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref>

Natural resources have historically been the foundation of Spokane's economy, with the mining, logging, and agriculture industries providing much of the region's economic activity. After mining declined at the turn of the 20th century, agriculture and logging replaced mining as the primary influences in the economy.<ref name="Kenselp.25" /> [[Lumberjack]]s and millmen working in the hundreds of mills along the railroads, rivers, and lakes of northern Washington and Idaho were provisioning themselves in Spokane.<ref>Kensel (1968) p. 31</ref> Agriculture has always been an important sector in the local economy; the surrounding area, especially to the south, is the [[Palouse]],<ref>Kensel (1971) p. 21</ref><ref>Kensel (1969), p. 91</ref> a productive agricultural region that supports many [[Washington wine|vineyards]] and [[Microbrewery|microbreweries]] as well.<ref>Schmeltzer (1988), p. 93</ref> By the early 20th century Spokane was primarily a commercial center rather than an industrial center.<ref>Kensel (1969), pp. 96–97</ref>

[[File:OldNationalBank.jpg|thumb|right|alt=The Old National Bank Building in Spokane's Central Business District|The [[Old National Bank Building]]]]

In Spokane, wood and food processing, printing and publishing, primary metal refining and fabrication, electrical and computer equipment, and transportation equipment are leaders in the manufacturing sector.<ref name="SCP" /> Gold mining company [[Gold Reserve]], and [[Fortune 1000]] company [[Potlatch Corporation]]&nbsp;&ndash; a forest products company that operates as a [[real estate investment trust]]&nbsp;&ndash; are headquartered in the city proper.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gold Reserve, Inc.: Introduction|url=http://www.goldreserveinc.com/default.asp |publisher=Gold Reserve Inc.|accessdate=October 10, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Potlatch |url=http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/snapshots/1071.html|publisher=CNNMoney |accessdate=December 7, 2014}}</ref> Mining, forestry, and agribusiness continue to be important to the local and regional economy, but Spokane's economy has diversified to include other industries, including the high-tech and biotech sectors.<ref name="Diverse" /> Spokane is becoming a more service-oriented economy in the face of a less prominent manufacturing sector, particularly as a medical and [[biotechnology]] center;<ref name="Thumbnail"/> Fortune 1000 technology company [[Itron]], for instance, is headquartered in the area.<ref>{{cite web| title=Itron, Inc.|url=http://fortune.com/fortune500/itron-inc-984| publisher=Fortune| accessdate=October 9, 2014}}</ref> Avista Corporation, the holding company of [[Avista Utilities]], is the only company in Spokane that has been listed in the [[Fortune 500]], ranked 299 on the list in 2002.<ref>{{cite web| title= Avista: FORTUNE 500 appearances| url= http://archive.fortune.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500_archive/snapshots/2002/149.html| publisher= Fortune| accessdate= November 8, 2014}}</ref> Other companies with head offices in the Spokane area include technology company [[Key Tronic]], hotelier [[Red Lion Hotels Corporation]], and [[microcar]] maker [[Commuter Cars]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Key Tronic Corp|url=http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=KTCC|publisher=CNNMoney |accessdate=December 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Red Lion Hotels Corp|url=http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=RLH|publisher=CNNMoney |accessdate=December 7, 2014}}</ref>

As of 2013, the top five employers in Spokane are the [[State of Washington]], [[Spokane Public Schools]], [[Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital]], the [[92d Air Refueling Wing]], and [[Spokane County]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Top Employers |url=http://www.greaterspokane.org/business-overview/90-top-employers.html|publisher=Greater Spokane Incorporated |accessdate=December 7, 2014}}</ref> The largest military facility and employer, the 92d Air Refueling Wing, is stationed at [[Fairchild Air Force Base]] near [[Airway Heights]]. The leading industries in Spokane for the employed population 16&nbsp;years and older were educational services, health care, and social assistance (26.5&nbsp;percent), retail trade (12.7&nbsp;percent), and arts, entertainment, recreation, and accommodation food services (10.4&nbsp;percent).<ref name="FactFinder" /><!-- The preceding information can be obtained from the American Community Survey for Selected Economic Characteristics --> As the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest, as well as parts of southern [[British Columbia Interior#Southern Interior|British Columbia]] and [[southern Alberta|Alberta]], Spokane serves as a commercial, manufacturing, transportation, medical, shopping, and entertainment hub.<ref name="SCP">{{cite web| last = Payne| first = Loretta|author2=Froyalde, Revelyn| title = Spokane County Profile| publisher = Employment Security Department, Labor Market and Economic Analysis Branch| date = January 2001| url = http://www.wa.gov/esd/lmea/pubs/profiles/spokane.pdf| format = PDF| accessdate = December 7, 2014|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070206043625/http://www.wa.gov/esd/lmea/pubs/profiles/spokane.pdf |archivedate = February 6, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| last = Meyers| first = Jessica| title = Should Spokane learn to 'speak Canadian?'| publisher = ''The Spokesman-Review''| date = July 30, 2007| url = http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20070730/BIZ/707300314/| accessdate = December 13, 2014}}</ref> In 2010, the Spokane–Spokane Valley [[Metropolitan statistical area|MSA]] had a gross metropolitan product of $19.48 billion.<ref>{{cite web| title= GDP & Personal Income| url= http://www.bea.gov/iTable/iTable.cfm?reqid=70&step=10&isuri=1&7001=2200&7002=2&7003=200&7004=NAICS&7005=1&7006=XX&7007=2010#reqid=70&step=10&isuri=1&7003=200&7035=-1&7004=naics&7005=-1&7006=44060&7036=-1&7001=2200&7002=2&7090=70&7007=2013,2010&7093=levels| publisher= [[United States Department of Commerce]]: Bureau of Economic Analysis| accessdate= October 30, 2014}}</ref>

As of 2014, economic development in the Spokane area primarily focuses on promoting the following industries: manufacturing (especially aerospace manufacturing), health sciences, professional services, information science and technology, finance and insurance as well as clean technology, and digital media.<ref name="SpokaneHub">{{cite web| title = Spokane: Hub of the Inland Northwest| publisher = Greater Spokane Incorporated| year = 2008| url = http://www.greaterspokane.org/admin/lib/docs/pdf/spokane.pdf| format = PDF| accessdate = December 7, 2014|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20090325073918/http://www.greaterspokane.org/admin/lib/docs/pdf/spokane.pdf|archivedate = February 6, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title = Targeted Industries| publisher = Spokane Area Workforce Development Council| url = http://www.wdcspokane.com/targeted-industries| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> To aid economic development, the eastern branch of Innovate Washington, a state-supported [[business incubator]] was placed in the city.<ref>{{cite web| title = Innovate Washington| publisher = Innovate Washington| url = http://www.innovatewashington.org/| accessdate = September 13, 2014}}</ref>

==Cityscape==
{{wide image|SpokaneDTPanorama.jpg|800px|Panorama of downtown Spokane looking north from the Deaconess Medical Center parking garage.}}

===Neighborhoods===
{{Main|Neighborhoods in Spokane, Washington|Downtown Spokane}}
[[File:Legion Building Spokane.JPG|thumb|left|alt=The American Legion Building in Spokane's Riverside neighborhood|The Legion Building in Riverside]]

Spokane's neighborhoods range from the [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]]-style South Hill and Browne's Addition, to the Davenport District of Downtown, to the more contemporary neighborhoods of North Spokane. Spokane's neighborhoods are gaining attention for their history, as illustrated by the city being home to 18 recognized [[National Register of Historic Places|National Register Historical Districts]].<ref name="CC">{{cite news | first=Knute| last=Berger| title=Preserving state's heritage: Why Spokane is central| url=http://crosscut.com/2012/11/06/mossback/111332/preserving-states-heritage-spokanes-importance| publisher=Crosscut Public Media| date=November 6, 2012| accessdate=December 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Thousands of Preservationists Will Gather in Spokane, Washington to Discuss the Power of Preservation to Create Jobs, Enrich Communities and Drive Social Change|url=http://www.preservationnation.org/who-we-are/press-center/press-releases/2012/thousands-of-preservationists.html#.U1yN4KIqfFw|publisher=National Trust for Historic Preservation|date=September 13, 2012|accessdate=December 7, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Register">{{cite web |title=WASHINGTON – Spokane County|url=http://nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/wa/Spokane/state.html|publisher=National Register of Historic Places|accessdate=December 7, 2014}}</ref>

Some of Spokane's most prominent neighborhoods are [[Neighborhoods in Spokane, Washington#Riverside|Riverside]], [[Neighborhoods in Spokane, Washington#Browne.27s Addition|Browne's Addition]], and [[Neighborhoods in Spokane, Washington#Hillyard|Hillyard]]. The Riverside neighborhood consists primarily of downtown Spokane and is the central business district of Spokane. The neighborhoods south of downtown Spokane are generally known as the South Hill. Downtown Spokane contains many of the city's public facilities, including City Hall, Riverfront Park (site of Expo '74), and the Spokane Convention Center and INB Performing Arts Center, as well as the Spokane Arena and Spokane County Courthouse across the river in the historic [[Neighborhoods in Spokane, Washington#West Central|West Central]] neighborhood. The [[Monroe Street Bridge]], a city icon, connects the two areas. To the east of downtown is [[Neighborhoods in Spokane, Washington#East Central|East Central]] and the adjacent University District and International District. To the west of downtown is one of Spokane's oldest and densest neighborhoods, Browne's Addition.

[[File:Patsy Clark Mansion1.JPG|thumb|right|alt=The Patsy Clark Mansion in Browne's Addition|[[Patsy Clark Mansion]] in Browne's Addition]]

A National Historic District west of Downtown, Browne's Addition was Spokane's first prestigious address, notable for its array of old mansions built by Spokane's early elite in the [[Queen Anne style architecture in the United States|Queen Anne]] and early [[American Craftsman]] styles.<ref name="Register" /><ref name="BA">Stratton (2005), pp. 168–169</ref> The area houses the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture. In northeast Spokane, the Hillyard neighborhood began in 1892 as the chosen site for James J. Hill's Great Northern Railway yard, placed outside Spokane city limits to avoid "burdensome taxes."<ref name="Hillyard" /> The downtown Hillyard Business District, located on Market Street, became Spokane's first neighborhood to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places.<ref name="Hillyard" /> Many of the former town's houses were built to house railroad workers, mainly immigrant laborers working in the local yard, who gave Hillyard an independent, blue-collar character.<ref name="Hillyard" /> Hillyard has become a home for much of Spokane's growing [[Russians|Russian]], [[Ukrainians|Ukrainian]], and [[Southeast Asia]]n communities.<ref name="Hillyard" /><ref name="TheTimes"/><ref name="TheSpokesman"/>

===Architecture===
{{See also|National Register of Historic Places listings in Spokane County, Washington}}

====Commercial and public buildings====
[[File:Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes - Spokane.jpg|thumb|alt=The Romanesque revival style Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes in downtown Spokane|The Romanesque revival style Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes]]

The neighborhoods of Spokane contain a patchwork of architectural styles which give them a distinct identity and illustrate the changes throughout the city's history. Most of Spokane’s notable buildings and landmarks are in the Riverside neighborhood and the downtown commercial district, where many of the buildings were rebuilt following the Great Fire of 1889 in the [[Romanesque Revival]] style.<ref name="GreatSpokaneFire"/> Examples include the Great Northern clock tower, Review Building, [[Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes (Spokane, Washington)|Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes]], [[First Congregational Church of Spokane|First Congregational Church]], Washington Water Power Post Street substation, Peyton Building, and The Carlyle.<ref name="Emporis"/> The principal architect of many buildings of this period was [[Kirtland Cutter|Kirtland Kelsey Cutter]].<ref name="Thumbnail"/> Self-taught, he came to Spokane in 1886 and began by designing "Chalet Hohenstein" for himself and other residences for his family while also working as a bank teller.<ref>{{cite web | last = Arksey| first = Laura| title = Cutter, Kirtland Kelsey (1860-1939), Architect| work = Essay 115| publisher = HistoryLink| date = March 23, 2009| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=115| accessdate = November 2, 2014}}</ref> 
Other structures designed by Cutter include the Spokane Club, Washington Water Power Substation, [[Monroe Street Bridge]] (featured in the city seal), Central Steam Plant, and the [[Davenport Hotel (Spokane)|Davenport Hotel]]. Built in renaissance and Spanish revival style, the Davenport Hotel cost two million dollars to complete, and included new technologies at the time of its opening in September 1914, such as chilled water, elevators, and air cooling.<ref name="Davenport"/>

[[File:The Davenport Hotel (Spokane, Washington).jpg|thumb|left|alt=Kirtland Cutter's renaissance revival style Davenport Hotel, widely regarded to be his magnus opus|The renaissance revival style Davenport Hotel designed by Kirtland Cutter]]

Other well-represented architectural styles downtown include [[art deco architecture|art deco]] (Spokane City Hall, [[August Paulsen|Paulsen Center]], Fox Theater, City Ramp Garage), [[renaissance revival]] (Steam Plant Square, [[United States Post Office, Courthouse, and Custom House (Spokane, Washington)|Thomas S. Foley Courthouse]], [[San Marco (Spokane, Washington)|San Marco]]), [[Neoclassical architecture|neoclassical]] (Masonic Center, Hutton Building, [[Bing Crosby]] Theater), and [[Chicago school architecture|Chicago school]] ([[Old National Bank Building|U.S. Bank Building]], Liberty Building).<ref name="Emporis">{{cite web| title= Spokane| url= http://www.emporis.com/city/spokane-wa-usa| 
publisher= Emporis| accessdate= November 3, 2014}}</ref> The tallest building in the city, at {{convert|288|ft|m}}, is the [[modernism (architecture)|modernist]] Bank of America Financial Center.<ref name="Emporis"/> Also of note is the Spokane County Courthouse in West Central (the building on the seal of Spokane County), the [[Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist (Spokane, Washington)|Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist]] in Rockwood, the [[Benewah Milk Bottle]]s in Riverside and Garland, Mount Saint Michael in Hillyard, and the [[Cambern Dutch Shop Windmill]] in South Perry.

====Residential====
[[File:Glover House.JPG|thumb|alt=The Kirtland Cutter designed James N. Glover House|The James N. Glover residence]]
As an early affluent Spokane neighborhood, the Browne's Addition neighborhood and residences contain the largest variety of residential architecture in the city.<ref name="BA"/> These residences are lavish and personalized, featuring many architecture styles that were popular and trendy in the Pacific Northwest from the late 19th century to 1930, such as the Victorian and Queen Anne styles.<ref>{{cite web| title= Historic Districts of Spokane: Browne's Addition Historic District|url= http://properties.historicspokane.org/district/?DistrictID=18| publisher= City - County of Spokane Historic Preservation Office|accessdate= November 3, 2014}}</ref> In high demand following his firms’ design of the [[Idaho Building]] at the [[World's Columbian Exposition|Chicago World's Fair]] in 1893, Cutter found work constructing many mansions for mining and railroad tycoons such as [[Patsy Clark Mansion|Patrick "Patsy" Clark]] and Daniel and [[Austin Corbin]].<ref>Stratton (2005), pp. 167–173</ref>

The older neighborhoods of the early 20th century, such as West Central, East Central, Logan, Hillyard, and much of the lower South Hill, feature a large concentration of American Craftsman style [[bungalow]]s. In Hillyard, the most architecturally intact neighborhood in Spokane, 85 percent of these buildings are historic.<ref>{{cite news| title = Historic Hillyard| publisher = ''The Spokesman-Review''| date = September 20, 2001| url = http://www.spokesmanreview.com/news-story.asp?date=092001&ID=s1026394| accessdate = November 2, 2014}}</ref> As the city expanded mainly to the north in the middle of the 20th century, the bungalows in the "minimal traditional" style commonplace from the 1930s to the 1950s tend to predominate in the Northwest, North Hill, and Bemiss neighborhoods. This architectural style occupies the neighborhoods where the integrity of Spokane’s street grid pattern is largely intact (especially the areas north of downtown and south of Francis Ave.), and the houses have backyard [[alley]]s for carports, deliveries, and refuse collection. Contemporary suburbs and architecture are prevalent at the north and south edges of Spokane as well as in the new Kendall Yards neighborhood north of downtown.<ref>{{cite news| last = McLean| first = Mike| title = Greenstone to jump-start urban project| publisher = ''Spokane Journal of Business''| date = January 14, 2010| url = http://www.spokanejournal.com/local-news/greenstone-to-jump-start-urban-project| accessdate = November 24, 2014}}</ref>

===Parks and recreation===
[[File:ManitoParkDuncanGarden.jpg|thumb|right|alt=The European Duncan Garden in Manito Park and Botanical Gardens|Duncan Garden at Manito Park]]

In 1907, Spokane's board of park commissioners retained the services of the [[Olmsted Brothers]] to draw up a plan for Spokane's parks.<ref>{{cite web| last = Kershner| first = Jim| title = Olmsted Parks in Spokane| work = Essay 8218| publisher = HistoryLink| date = July 18, 2007| url = http://historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=8218| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> Much of Spokane's park land was acquired by the city prior to World War&nbsp;I, establishing it early on as a leader among Western cities in the development of a city-wide park system.<ref>Schmeltzer (1988), pp. 64–65</ref><ref>{{cite web | last = Arksey| first = Laura| title = Spokane Board of Park Commissioners begins its duties on June 1, 1907| work = Essay 9387| publisher = HistoryLink| date = April 5, 2010| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=9387| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> Spokane has a system of over 87 parks totaling {{convert|4100|acre|km2}} and includes six neighborhood aquatic centers.<ref>{{cite web| title = Parks| publisher = City of Spokane Parks & Recreation| url = http://spokaneparks.org/index.php/Parks/page/77| accessdate = December 7, 2014| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131127140322/http://spokaneparks.org/index.php/Parks/page/77/|archivedate = December 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title = Aquatics Facilities| publisher = City of Spokane Parks & Recreation| url = http://spokaneparks.org/index.php/Parks/page/328| accessdate = December 7, 2014| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131127140517/http://spokaneparks.org/index.php/Parks/page/328| archivedate =December 7, 2014}}</ref> Some of the most notable parks in Spokane's system are [[Riverfront Park (Spokane, Washington)|Riverfront Park]], [[Manito Park and Botanical Gardens]], [[Riverside State Park]], [[Mount Spokane State Park]], [[Mount Saint Michael|Saint Michael's Mission State Park]], [[John A. Finch Arboretum]], and the [[Dishman Hills|Dishman Hills Conservation Area]].

Riverfront Park, created after Expo '74 and occupying the same site, is {{convert|100|acre|km2}} in downtown Spokane and the site of some of Spokane's largest events.<ref name="Riverfront">{{cite web| last = Kershner| first = Jim| title = Expo '74: Spokane World's Fair| work = Essay 10791| publisher = HistoryLink| date = May 28, 2014| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?displaypage=output.cfm&file_id=10791| accessdate = October 9, 2014}}</ref> The park has views of the [[Spokane Falls]] and holds a number of civic attractions, including a skyride, a rebuilt [[gondola lift]] that carries visitors across the falls from high above the river gorge.<ref name="Riverfront" /> The park also includes the historic hand-carved [[Riverfront Park Carousel|Riverfront Park Looff carousel]] created in 1909 by [[Charles I. D. Looff]].<ref name="Riverfront" /> Manito Park and Botanical Gardens on Spokane's South Hill features the Duncan Gardens, a classical [[European Renaissance]]-style garden and the Nishinomiya Japanese Garden designed by [[Nagao Sakurai]]. Riverside State Park, close to downtown, is a site for outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, and horseriding.<ref>Landers (2003), pp.90–95</ref>

The Spokane area has many trails and [[rail trails]], the most notable of which is the [[Spokane River Centennial Trail]], which features over {{convert|37.5|mi|km}} of paved trails running along the Spokane River from Spokane to the Idaho border.<ref>Mueller (2004), pp. 270–274</ref> This trail continues on towards [[Coeur d'Alene, Idaho|Coeur d'Alene]] for {{Convert|24|mi|km|0}} as the [[North Idaho Centennial Trail]] and is often used for alternative transportation and recreational use. In the summer, it has long been popular to visit North Idaho's "Lake Country", such as [[Lake Coeur d'Alene]], [[Lake Pend Oreille]], [[Priest Lake]], or one of the other nearby bodies of water and beaches.<ref name="Thumbnail"/><ref>{{cite news | author=Patterson, Caroline| date=June 2006| title=Idaho's Lake Country| publisher=Sunset| volume=Vol. 216, No. 6| url=http://www.sunset.com/travel/northwest/idahos-lake-country-00400000015398/| accessdate=December 7, 2014}}</ref> In the winter, the public has access to five ski resorts within a couple hours of the city. The closest of these is the [[Mount Spokane|Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park]],<ref>{{cite web| title = Mount Spokane| publisher = Washington State Parks| url = http://www.parks.wa.gov/549/Mount-Spokane| accessdate = October 9, 2014}}</ref> which has trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and dog sledding.<ref>{{cite web | last = Arksey| first = Laura| title = Mount Spokane State Park| work = Essay 7819| publisher = HistoryLink| date = August 2, 2006| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=7819| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref>

==Culture==

===Arts and theater===
[[File:Fox Theater Spokane.JPG|thumb|left|alt=The Fox Theater in Spokane's Davenport Arts District|The Fox Theater]]
Spokane's main art districts are located in the Davenport Arts District, the [[Neighborhoods in Spokane, Washington#Garland|Garland Business District]], and East Sprague.<ref>{{cite news| last = Crane| first = Julianne| title = Take a walk for the arts| publisher = ''The Spokesman-Review''| date = April 1, 2004| url = http://www.spokesmanreview.com/pf.asp?date=040104&ID=s1504786| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> The First Friday Artwalk, which occurs the first Friday of every month, is dedicated to local vendors and performers displaying art around downtown.<ref>{{cite web| title = First Friday| publisher = Downtown Spokane Partnership| url = http://www.downtownspokane.org/first-friday.php| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> The two most important Artwalk dates (the first Friday of February and October) attract large crowds to the art districts.
The Davenport Arts District has the largest concentration of art galleries and is home to many of Spokane's main performing arts venues, including the [[Knitting Factory]], [[Fox Theater (Spokane, Washington)|Fox Theater]], and [[Bing Crosby Theater]]. The Knitting Factory is a concert house that serves as a setting for many mainstream touring musicians and acts. The [[Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox]], restored to its original 1931 Art Deco state after years of being derelict,<ref name="Fox"/> is home to the [[Spokane Symphony|Spokane Symphony Orchestra]]. The Metropolitan Performing Arts Center was restored in 1988 and renamed the Bing Crosby Theater in 2006 to honor the former Spokanite.<ref>{{cite news| last = Sowa| first = Tom| title = Met Theater will be renamed to honor Bing Crosby| publisher = ''The Spokesman-Review''| date = September 29, 2006| url = http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2006/sep/29/met-theater-will-be-renamed-to-honor-bing-crosby| accessdate = October 13, 2014}}</ref> Theater is provided by Spokane's only resident professional company, The Modern Theater,<ref>{{cite web| title = About Us| publisher = The Modern Theater| url = http://www.themoderntheater.org/| accessdate = January 24, 2014}}</ref> though there are also the [[Spokane Civic Theatre]] and several other amateur community theaters and smaller groups. The [[INB Performing Arts Center]] is often host to large traveling exhibitions, shows, and tours. Spokane was awarded the [[All-America City Award]] by the [[National Civic League]] in 1974 and 2004.<ref>{{cite web| title = Past Winners of the All-America City Award | publisher = [[National Civic League]]| accessdate = December 7, 2014| url = http://www.allamericacityaward.com/things-to-know-about-all-america-city-award/past-winners-of-the-all-america-city-award/past-winners-of-the-all-america-city-award-1970s/}}</ref>

Spokane offers an array of musical performances catering to a variety of interests. Spokane's local music scene, however, is considered somewhat lacking by the Spokane All-Ages Music Initiative and other critics, who have identified a need for a legitimate all-ages venue for music performances.<ref>{{cite web| title= Spokane All-Ages Music Initiative (SAAMI)|url= http://profileengine.com/groups/profile/426979459/spokane-allages-music-initiative-saami|publisher= |accessdate= November 21, 2014}}</ref> The Spokane Symphony presents a full season of classical music, and the Spokane Jazz Orchestra, a full season of jazz music.<ref>{{cite web| title = About SSO| publisher = Spokane Symphony| url = http://www.spokanesymphony.org/16,aboutsso| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> The Spokane Jazz Orchestra, formed in 1962, is a 70-piece orchestra and non-profit organization.<ref>{{cite web| title = SJO History | publisher = Spokane Jazz Orchestra| url = http://www.spokanejazz.org/about-sjo/sjo-history| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref>

===Museums===
[[File:Spokane Museum of Art and Culture.JPG|thumb|right|alt=The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture in Brownes' Addition|Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture]]

There are several museums in the city, most notably the [[Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture]], located a few blocks from the center of downtown in Browne's Addition, amid the mansions of Spokane's late 19th-century "Age of Elegance". A [[Smithsonian]] affiliate museum, it houses a large collection of Native American artifacts as well as regional and national traveling art exhibits.<ref name="MAC">{{cite web| title = About the MAC| publisher = Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture| url = http://northwestmuseum.org/about| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title = Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture| publisher = Smithsonian Affiliations| url = http://affiliations.si.edu/AffiliateDetail.Asp?AffiliateID=104| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref>

The Mobius Science Center and the related Mobius Kid's Museum in downtown Spokane seek to generate interest in [[STEM fields|science, technology, engineering, and math]] among the youth in a hands-on experience.<ref>{{cite web| title = Mobius| publisher = Mobius Spokane| url = http://www.mobiusspokane.org| accessdate = February 8, 2013}}</ref> The Jundt Art Museum at Gonzaga University features {{convert|2800|ft2}} of exhibition space and contains sizable collections of prints from the Bolker, Baruch, Jacobs, and [[Corita Kent]] collections.<ref name="Jundt"/><ref>Ware (2004), p. 339</ref> The museum houses glass art by [[Dale Chihuly]], bronze sculptures by [[Auguste Rodin]], tapestries, paintings, ceramics, photographs, and a wide range of gifts, including from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation and Collections.<ref name="Jundt">{{cite web|url=http://www.gonzaga.edu/Campus-Resources/Museums-and-Libraries/Jundt-Art-Museum/|title=Jundt Art Museum|publisher=Gonazaga University|accessdate=December 7, 2014}}</ref> On the campus of Gonzaga University, the Student Center houses the Bing Crosby Memorabilia Room, the world's largest Crosby collection with around 200 pieces.<ref>Bao et al. (2014), p.461</ref>

===Events and activities===

Spokane is known as the birthplace of the national movement started by [[Sonora Smart Dodd]] that led to the proposal and eventual establishment of [[Father's Day (United States)|Father's Day]] as a [[List of observances in the United States by presidential proclamation|national holiday]] in the U.S.<ref>Schmidt (1995), pp. 275–276</ref> The first observation of Father's Day in Spokane was on June 19, 1910.<ref>{{cite web | last = Kershner| first = Jim| title = Father's Day is conceived by Spokane's Sonora Smart Dodd and celebrated for the first time in Spokane on June 19, 1910.| work = Essay 9458| publisher = HistoryLink| date = June 17, 2010| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=9458| accessdate = November 15, 2014}}</ref> Sonora conceived the idea in Spokane's Central Methodist Episcopal Church while listening to a Mother's Day sermon.<ref>Schmidt (1995), p. 276</ref>

The [[Lilac Bloomsday Run]], held in summer on the first Sunday of May, is a {{convert|7.46|mi|km|adj=on}} race for competitive runners as well as walkers that attracts international competition.<ref>{{cite web | title = History| publisher = Lilac Bloomsday Association| url = http://www.bloomsdayrun.org/history-stats/history | accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> Also in May is the Lilac Festival which honors the military, celebrates youth, and showcases the region.<ref>{{cite web | title = Lilac Festival| publisher = Spokane Lilac Festival Association| url = http://www.spokanelilacfestival.org/index.html | accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> Spokane's nickname, the "[[Lilac]] City", refers to a flowering shrub that has flourished since its introduction to the area in the early 20th century.<ref>{{cite web | last = Kiddo| first = Linda| title = History of the Spokane Lilac Festival| publisher = Spokane Lilac Festival| date = February 2004| url = http://www.spokanelilacfestival.org/history.html| accessdate = December 15, 2008|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080424001505/http://www.spokanelilacfestival.org/history.html |archivedate = April 24, 2008}}</ref> In June the city hosts [[Spokane Hoopfest]], a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, among the largest of its kind.<ref>{{cite web| title = A History: 1990–present| publisher = Spokane Hoopfest Association| url = http://www.spokanehoopfest.net/organization/Pages/history.aspx| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> One of Spokane's most popular local events is Pig Out in the Park, an annual six-day food and entertainment festival where attendees may eat a variety of foods and listen to free live music concerts featuring local, regional, and national recording artists in Riverfront Park.<ref>{{cite web| title = Pig Out In The Park| publisher = Burke Marketing| url = http://spokanepigout.com/| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Bloomsday 2008 - Fort George Wright Drive 20080504.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Runners participating in Spokane's annual Lilac Bloomsday Run| Lilac Bloomsday Run]]


Other notable events in Spokane include the Spokane Interstate Fair, Spokane Comic-[[fan convention|Con]], Japan Week, and the Spokane Pride Parade. The Spokane Interstate Fair is held annually in September at the Spokane Fair and Expo Center.<ref>{{cite web| title = Spokane Interstate Fair| publisher = Fair and Expo Center| url = http://www.spokanecounty.org/fair/| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> Japan Week is held in April and celebrates the sister-city relationship with [[Nishinomiya, Hyogo]], demonstrating the many commonalities shared between the two cities.<ref>{{cite web| title = Japan Week Spokane| publisher = Japan Week Spokane| url = http://www.japanweekspokane.com/| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> Students from the Spokane campus of [[Mukogawa Women's University|Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute]], Gonzaga, Whitworth, and other area schools organize an array of Japanese cultural events. The gay and lesbian Spokane Pride Parade is held each June.<ref>{{cite web| title = About OutSpokane| publisher = OutSpokane| url = http://www.outspokane.com/about_outspokane.html| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref>

==Education==
{{Main|Education in Spokane}}
[[File:St Aloysius at GU.jpg|right|thumb|alt=Saint Aloysius Church on the Gonzaga University campus|St. Aloysius Church at Gonzaga University]]

Serving the general educational needs of the local population are two public library districts, the Spokane Public Library (within city limits) and the Spokane County Library District. Founded in 1904 with funding from philanthropist [[Andrew Carnegie]], the Spokane Public Library system comprises a downtown library overlooking the Spokane Falls and five branch libraries.<ref>{{cite web| title = Branch Locations and Hours| publisher = Spokane Public Library| url = http://spokanelibrary.org/index.php?page=branches| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> Special collections focus on Inland Pacific Northwest history and include reference books, periodicals, maps, photographs, and other archival materials and government documents.<ref>{{cite web| title = Ned M. Barnes Northwest Room Resources| publisher = Spokane Public Library| url = http://www.spokanelibrary.org/index.php?page=research&cat=findthebest&id=50&sub=36| accessdate = October 12, 2014}}</ref>

[[Spokane Public Schools]] (District 81) is the largest public school system in Spokane and the second largest in the state as of 2014, serving roughly 30,000 students in six high schools, six middle schools, and thirty-four elementary schools.<ref>{{cite web| title = District Profile| publisher = Spokane Public Schools| url = http://www.spokaneschools.org/Page/54| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> Other public school districts in the Spokane area include the [[Mead School District]] in north Spokane County, outside city limits. A variety of state-approved, independent [[charter school]]s and private and [[Parochial school|parochial]] elementary and secondary schools augment the public school system. The [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane]] manages 11 such schools in Spokane.<ref>{{cite web| title = Catholic Schools, Diocese of Spokane| publisher = Catholic Diocese of Spokane| url = http://www.dioceseofspokane.org/find_school.php| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref>

Spokane is home to many higher education institutions. They include the private universities [[Gonzaga University|Gonzaga]] and [[Whitworth University|Whitworth]], and the public [[Community Colleges of Spokane]] system ([[Spokane Community College]] and [[Spokane Falls Community College]]) as well as a variety of technical institutes. Gonzaga University and [[Gonzaga University School of Law|Law School]] were founded by the Italian-born priest [[Joseph Cataldo]] and the [[Jesuits]] in 1887.<ref>{{cite web | last = Kershner| first = Jim| title = Gonzaga University| work = Essay 8097| publisher = HistoryLink| date = February 21, 2007| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=8097| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> Whitworth, founded in 1890, is affiliated with the [[Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)|Presbyterian Church]], and had 2,500 students studying in 53 different undergraduate and degree programs as of 2011.<ref>{{Cite book| last= | first= | title= 2011 College Access and Opportunity Guide| pages =458–478| publisher= Center for Student Opportunity| location = Bethesda, Maryland| date= July 1, 2010| isbn= 978-1-4022-4405-6| url= http://books.google.com/books?id=jDjmMta1kfQC&pg=PA408}}</ref> While Spokane is one of the larger cities in the U.S. to lack a main campus of a state-supported university within its city limits, [[Eastern Washington University]] (EWU) and [[Washington State University]] (WSU) have operations at the [[Riverpoint Campus]] in the University District, just adjacent to downtown and across the Spokane River from the Gonzaga campus.<ref>{{cite web| title = WSU Spokane| publisher = Washington State University| url = http://spokane.wsu.edu| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title = EWU Spokane| publisher = Eastern Washington University| url = http://www.ewu.edu/locations/riverpoint-campus.xml| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> [[Washington State University Spokane]] is WSU's health sciences campus and houses the school's College of Medical Sciences, College of Nursing, and College of Pharmacy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Academic Programs|url=http://spokane.wsu.edu/admissions/academic-programs.html| publisher=Washington State University|accessdate=October 12, 2014}}</ref> The main EWU campus is located {{convert|15|mi|km}} southwest of Spokane in nearby Cheney, and WSU is located {{convert|65|mi|km}} to the south in [[Pullman, Washington|Pullman]]. In addition to WSU's health science presence in Spokane, there is also a four-year [[medical school]] branch affiliated with the [[University of Washington]]'s [[WWAMI Regional Medical Education Program|WWAMI]] program.<ref>{{cite web |title=UW Medicine: Spokane | url=http://www.uwmedicine.org/education/md-program/admissions/applicants/wwami-first-year/wwami-spokane| publisher=University of Washington| accessdate=October 9, 2014}}</ref> An international branch campus of the [[Mukogawa Women's University]], the Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute, is located in Spokane.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute |url=http://www.mfwi.edu/| publisher=Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute |accessdate=December 7, 2014}}</ref>

==Sports==
{{Main|Sports in Spokane, Washington}}
[[File:SpokaneArenaSECorner.jpg|thumb|right|alt=The Spokane Arena sports venue|The Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena]]
Spokane is close to dozens of lakes and rivers which can be used for swimming, boating, rafting, and fishing, as well as mountains for skiing, hiking, biking and sightseeing.<ref name="LiveAndLaunch">{{cite news| title = 100 best places to live and launch | publisher = CNNMoney| date=July 2, 2008| url = http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/fsb/0803/gallery.best_places_to_launch.fsb/77.html| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref>
Spokane's professional and semi-professional sports teams include the [[Spokane Indians]] in Minor League Baseball, [[Spokane Shock]] in arena football, and [[Spokane Chiefs]] in junior ice hockey.<ref name="Teams">{{cite web| title = Recreation & Sports| publisher = Experience Spokane| url = http://www.experiencespokane.com/sports/| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> Collegiate sports in Spokane focus on the local teams such as the [[Gonzaga Bulldogs]] that compete in the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]'s [[Division I (NCAA)|Division I]] [[West Coast Conference]] and the [[Whitworth Pirates]] playing in the [[Division III (NCAA)|Division III]] [[Northwest Conference]] as well as other regional teams, including the [[Washington State Cougars]], [[Eastern Washington Eagles]], and the [[Idaho Vandals]].<ref name="Teams"/>

The Spokane Indians are a [[Class A-Short Season|Class-A-Short-Season]] baseball team in the [[Northwest League]] (NWL) and have been a [[farm team]] of the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] since 2003.<ref name="Blanchette">{{cite news| last = Blanchette| first = John| title = Jewel on Havana Street| publisher = ''The Spokesman-Review''| date = June 15, 2008| url = http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2008/jun/15/john-blanchette-jewel-on-havana-street| accessdate = November 5, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title= Texas Rangers Affiliation| url= http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?sid=t486&ymd=20100224&content_id=8131630&vkey=roster|publisher= Minor League Baseball| accessdate= November 5, 2014}}</ref> The Indians play their home games at the 6,803-seat [[Avista Stadium]] and have won seven NWL titles since their Short-Season-A debut in 1982.<ref name="Blanchette"/> Prior to 1982, the Indians played at the [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A level]]. The team achieved considerable success in the early 1970s, winning the [[Pacific Coast League]] championship in 1970, and having a 94–52 record.<ref>{{cite web| title= 1970 PCL Championship Team| url= http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?ymd=20100625&content_id=11565988&sid=t486&vkey=team2|publisher= Minor League Baseball| accessdate= November 5, 2014}}</ref> In the 1920s and 1930s the Spokane City League, a semiprofessional baseball league of teams of the Inland Empire, reached its peak.<ref>Popejoy (2010), p.127</ref>

The Spokane Shock is an [[arena football]] franchise awarded to the city in August 2005.<ref>{{cite news| last = Trimmer| first = Dave| title = Spokane awarded arenafootball2 franchise| publisher = ''The Spokesman-Review''| date = August 27, 2005| url = http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2005/aug/27/spokane-awarded-arenafootball2-franchise| accessdate = November 6, 2014}}</ref> The team was quickly placed into the [[Arena Football 1|Arena Football League]] (AFL) after winning championships in two of their four seasons in the Arenafootball2 league, all while setting league records for attendance. The Shock were crowned AFL champions in their inaugural season after defeating the [[Tampa Bay Storm]] 69–57 in [[ArenaBowl XXIII]].<ref>{{cite news| last = Meehan| first = Jim| title = Spokane Shock are AFL champions| publisher = ''The Spokesman-Review''| date = August 20, 2010| url = http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/aug/20/spokane-shock-win-arenabowl| accessdate = November 6, 2014}}</ref> The Spokane Chiefs are a junior ice hockey team that play in the [[Canadian Hockey League]]’s [[Western Hockey League]].<ref name="CBC">{{cite news| title = Spokane Chiefs win Memorial Cup| publisher = ''CBC''| date = May 25, 2008| url = http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/spokane-chiefs-win-memorial-cup-1.757728| accessdate = November 6, 2014}}</ref> They play their home games in the Spokane Arena and have a regional rivalry with the [[Tri-City Americans]]. They have won the CHL's top prize, the [[Memorial Cup]], two times in club history, first in 1991 and again in 2008.<ref name="CBC"/>

The [[Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena]] is the city's premier sports venue. In the years since the Spokane Arena opened, it has played host to several major sporting events. The first major event was the [[1998 Memorial Cup]], the championship game of the Canadian Hockey League.<ref>{{cite web| last = Knight| first = Stephen| title = 1998 Memorial Cup Notebook| publisher = Canoe Inc.| date = May 8, 1998| url = http://www.canoe.ca/MemorialCup98/may17_memnotes_smk.html| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref>  Four years later in 2002, the city hosted the [[2002 Skate America]] figure skating competition<ref>{{cite web| title = 2002 Smart Ones Skate America| publisher = U.S. Figure Skating| date = October 27, 2002| url = http://www.usfigureskating.org/event_details.asp?id=25110| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> and then the [[2007 U.S. Figure Skating Championships]] in the Spokane Arena.<ref name="FigureSkating">{{cite web| title = Spokane, Wash., Selected to Host 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships| publisher = U.S. Figure Skating| date = May 5, 2008| url = http://www.usfigureskating.org/Story.asp?id=41450| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> The latter event set an attendance record, selling nearly 155,000&nbsp;tickets. Spokane later hosted the [[2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships]] – ending eighteen days before the start of the [[2010 Winter Olympics]] in [[Vancouver, British Columbia]].<ref name="FigureSkating" />

==Transportation==

===Roads and highways===

Spokane's streets use a [[street grid]] that is oriented to the four [[cardinal direction]]s; generally, the east–west roads are designated as avenues, and the north–south roads are referred to as streets. Major east–west thoroughfares in the city include Francis, Wellesley, Mission, Sprague, and 29th Avenues. Major north–south thoroughfares include Maple–Ash, Monroe, Division, Hamilton, Greene–Market (north of I-90), and Ray–Freya (south of I-90) Streets. Division Street divides the city into East and West, while Sprague Avenue splits the city into North and South.<ref>{{cite web| title=MapSpokane| url=http://maps.spokanecity.org/?lyr=City%20Council%20District|publisher=City of Spokane| accessdate=October 11, 2014}}</ref> Division Street is Spokane's major retail corridor; Sprague Avenue serves the same purpose in Spokane Valley. With over 40,000 vehicles per day in [[average daily traffic]] from [[Interstate 90 (Washington)|Interstate 90]] north to the US 2–US 395 junction, North Division is Spokane's busiest corridor.<ref>{{cite web| title = City of Spokane Traffic Flow Map| publisher = City of Spokane| url = https://static.spokanecity.org/documents/streets/traffic/2012-2013-traffic-flow-map.pdf| format = PDF| accessdate = October 12, 2014}}</ref>

[[File:I-90SunsetHillSpokane.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Interstate 90 heading into Spokane from the east|I-90 descending Sunset Hill into Spokane]]

Interstate 90 runs east–west from Seattle, through downtown Spokane, and eastward through Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, and onward to Coeur d'Alene and then [[Missoula]].<ref name="StateMap">{{cite map |title=Official State Highway Map |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/87105CAD-83A9-49A7-80F3-5719637C1E2D/0/FrontMapBig.pdf |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |year=2008 |edition=2008–2009 |scale=1:842,000 |series=Official State Highway Maps |cartography=United States Geological Survey |accessdate=December 7, 2014}}</ref> Although they are not limited access highways like I-90, [[US 2 (WA)|US 2]] and [[US 395 (WA)|US 395]] enter Spokane from the west via I-90 and continue north through Spokane via Division St. The two highways share the same route until they reach "The Y", where US 395 continues northward to [[Deer Park, Washington|Deer Park]], [[Colville, Washington|Colville]] then onward to Canada, and US 2 branches off to the northeast, continuing to [[Mead, Washington|Mead]], [[Newport, Washington|Newport]], and [[Sandpoint, Idaho|Sandpoint]]. [[US Route 195|US 195]], also known as the Inland Empire Highway, connects to Interstate 90 west of Spokane near Latah Creek and travels south through the Palouse.<ref name="StateMap"/>

The [[Washington State Department of Transportation]] (WSDOT) is tasked with improving local highways to keep up with the region's growth and to try to prevent congestion problems that plague many larger cities. The WSDOT is constructing the [[North Spokane Corridor]].  When completed, the corridor will be a {{convert|10.5|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} limited-access highway that will run from I-90, in the vicinity of the Thor/Freya interchange, northward through Spokane, meeting the existing US 395 just south of the Wandermere Golf Course.<ref name="Corridor">{{cite web| title = North Spokane Corridor Quick Facts| publisher = Washington State Department of Transportation| url = http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/US395/NorthSpokaneCorridor/Facts.htm| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref>

===Public transportation===

[[File:SpokaneTransitAuthority Plaza.jpg|thumb|right|alt=The STA bus plaza in Downtown Spokane|The STA Plaza in downtown Spokane]]
Before the influx of automobiles, Spokane's electric [[streetcar]] and [[interurban]] lines played a dominant role in moving people and goods around Spokane. Streetcars were installed as early as 1888, when they were pulled by horses.<ref>Creighton (2013), p.64</ref> Many older side streets in Spokane still have visible streetcar rails embedded in them. Streetcar service was reduced due to declining ridership beginning in 1922, and by August 1936, all lines had been abandoned or converted to motor buses.<ref>{{cite web| last = Kershner| first = Jim| title = Spokane's Streetcars| work = Essay 8080| publisher = HistoryLink| date = January 25, 2007| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=8080| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> Mass transportation throughout the Spokane area is provided by the [[Spokane Transit Authority]] (STA), which operates a fleet of 156 buses. Its service area covers roughly {{convert|248|sqmi|km2}} and reaches 85 percent of the county's population.<ref>{{cite web| title = Frequently Asked Questions| publisher = Spokane Transit| url = http://www.spokanetransit.com/about-sta/view/faq-frequently-asked-questions/| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> A large percentage of STA bus routes originate from the central hub, the STA Plaza in downtown Spokane. Spokane has rail and bus service provided by [[Amtrak]] and [[Greyhound Lines|Greyhound]] via the [[Spokane Intermodal Center]].  The city is a stop for Amtrak's ''[[Empire Builder]]'' on its way to and from Chicago's [[Union Station (Chicago)|Union Station]] en route to [[Seattle (Amtrak station)|Seattle]] and [[Union Station (Portland)|Portland]].<ref>{{cite web| title = Amtrak Stations – Spokane, WA (SPK)| publisher = National Railroad Passenger Corporation| url = http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=am/am2Station/Station_Page&code=SPK| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> Amtrak's through service to Seattle and Portland is a legacy of [[BNSF Railway]]'s old [[Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway]] trackage.<ref name="Trains">{{cite web| last = Kelly| first= Bruce| title = Hot Spots: Spokane, Wash.| publisher = Trains| url = http://trn.trains.com/en/Railroad%20Reference/Hot%20Spots/2006/07/Spokane%20Wash.aspx| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> Spokane is a major railway junction for the BNSF Railway and the [[Union Pacific Railroad]] and is the western terminus for the [[Montana Rail Link]].<ref name="Trains" />

Spokane has an average [[Walk Score]] of 45, indicating most errands require a car, and an average [[Transit Score]] of 36.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.walkscore.com/rankings/cities/|title=2011 City and Neighborhood Rankings |publisher=Walk Score |year=2011 |accessdate=December 7, 2014}}</ref> The extensive [[skywalk]] system covers thirteen blocks in the downtown area and is among the largest in the United States; it is used for pedestrian travel in cold and inclement weather and retail space as well.<ref>{{cite web| title= Spotlight on one of the largest Skywalk systems in the US| url= http://www.bycitylight.com/spotlight-archive.php?article=1| publisher= ByCityLight.com| accessdate= November 2, 2014}}</ref><ref>Young et al. (1999), p. 328</ref>

===Airports===

[[File:Downtown Spokane WA on approach to the airport.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Aerial of downtown Spokane on approach from the airport|Aerial view of Spokane looking east]]

The primary commercial airport for Spokane, eastern Washington, and northern Idaho is [[Spokane International Airport]] at [[Geiger Field]] (GEG). It is the second largest airport in the state of Washington and is recognized by the [[Federal Aviation Administration]] as a [[Small hub primary airport|small hub]], with service from six airlines and two air cargo carriers.<ref name="SIA">{{cite web| title = Spokane International| publisher = Washington State Department of Transportation| url = http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/7091F0ED-2C67-4507-9D4A-6E902F889C23/0/2012SpokaneInternational.pdf| format = PDF| accessdate = October 12, 2014}}</ref> The {{convert|4800|acres|0|abbr=on|adj = on}} airport is located {{convert|5|mi|km}} west of downtown Spokane and is approximately a 10-minute drive away. The international airport's three-letter designation is "GEG", a result and legacy of the Geiger Field days prior to 1960, when the airport was named after Army aviator Major [[Harold Geiger]] in 1941.<ref name="Airports">{{cite web| last = Arksey| first = Laura| title = Felts Field (Spokane)| work = Essay 8464| publisher = HistoryLink| date = January 15, 2008| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=8464| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref>

[[Felts Field]] is a general aviation airport serving the Spokane area and is located in east Spokane along the south bank of the Spokane River. Aviation at Felts Field dates back to 1913 and the strip served as Spokane's primary airport until commercial air traffic was redirected to Geiger Field after World War II.<ref name="Airports" /> In 1927, the strip was one of the first in the western U.S. to receive official recognition as an airport by the U.S. Department of Commerce and is now named in honor of James Buell Felts, a Washington Air National Guard pilot.<ref name="Airports" />

==Healthcare==
[[File:DeaconessMedicalCenter.jpg|right|thumb|upright|alt=Deaconess Medical Center in Spokane's "Medical District" on the lower South Hill|Deaconess Medical Center]]
The Spokane area has six major hospitals, four of which are full-service facilities.<ref>{{cite web| title = Hospital Directory| publisher = Healthgrades| url = http://www.healthgrades.com/hospital-directory/wa-washington/spokane| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> The healthcare industry is a large and increasingly important industry in Spokane; the city provides specialized care to many patients from the surrounding Inland Northwest and as far north as the Canadian border.<ref>Stratton (2005), p. 9</ref> The city's healthcare needs are served primarily by non-profit Seattle-based [[Providence Health & Services]] and for-profit Tennessee-based [[Community Health Systems]], which run the two biggest hospitals, [[Sacred Heart Medical Center (Spokane)|Sacred Heart Medical Center]], and [[Deaconess Medical Center]], respectively.<ref>{{cite news| last = Stucke| first = John| title = Providence, CHS have split Spokane's health care system| publisher = ''The Spokesman-Review''| date = March 17, 2013| url = http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/mar/17/cornering-the-market-providence-chs-have-split| accessdate = October 12, 2014}}</ref> These two hospitals, along with most of Spokane's major health care facilities, are located on Spokane's Lower-South Hill, just south of downtown, in what is known as the "Medical District" of Spokane.<ref>{{cite news| last = McLean| first = Mike| title = WSU Spokane starts work on master-plan update| publisher = ''Spokane Journal of Business''| date = February 13, 2014| url = http://www.spokanejournal.com/local-news/wsu-spokane-starts-work-on-master-plan-update| accessdate = November 6, 2014}}</ref> The Sacred Heart Hospital, opened originally, with just 31 beds,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://washington.providence.org/hospitals/sacred-heart-medical-center-and-childrens-hospital/|title=Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children's Hospital|publisher=Washington.providence.org|accessdate=November 19, 2014}}</ref> on Spokane Falls Boulevard on January 27, 1887, but later moved to its present location at 101 West Eighth Avenue.<ref>Popejoy (2010), p.98</ref> As of 2014 it had 642 beds, with 28,319 admissions, 71,543 emergency room visits, and 2,982 births annually, and a full-time staff of 29 doctors and dentists and 583 registered nurses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/wa/providence-sacred-heart-medical-center-and-childrens-hospital-6910980/details|title=Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital |publisher=''U.S. News''|accessdate=November 19, 2014}}</ref> Deaconess Medical Center, the smaller of the two main hospitals, had 388 beds as of 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/wa/deaconess-medical-center-spokane-6910880/details|title= Deaconess Medical Center|publisher=''U.S. News''|accessdate=November 19, 2014}}</ref> Other hospitals in the area include the Spokane [[Veterans Health Administration|Veterans Affairs Medical Center]] in the northwest part of town, Holy Family Hospital on the north side, and Valley Hospital and Medical Center in the [[Spokane Valley, Washington|Spokane Valley]]. One of 20 specialty orthopedic [[Shriners Hospitals for Children|Shriners Hospitals]] in the U.S. is also located in Spokane.<ref>{{cite web| title = Locations| publisher = Shriners International & Shriners Hospitals for Children| url = http://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/en/Hospitals/Locations.aspx| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> One of Washington's two state [[psychiatric hospital]]s, [[Eastern State Hospital (Washington)|Eastern State Hospital]], is located {{convert|15|mi|km}} away in [[Medical Lake, Washington|Medical Lake]].<ref>{{cite web | last = Kershner| first = Jim| title = Medical Lake -- Thumbnail History| work = Essay 10231| publisher = HistoryLink| date = October 18, 2012| url = http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=10231| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref>

==Media==
{{See also| Category:Media in Spokane, Washington}}
[[File:Review Building.JPG|thumb|left|upright|alt=The Spokesman-Review building|The Review Building]]

Newspaper service in Spokane is provided by its only major daily newspaper, ''[[The Spokesman-Review]]'', which has a daily circulation of 76,291 and Sunday circulation of 95,939.<ref>{{cite news| title = U.S. newspaper circulation falls 8.7 percent| publisher = ''The Seattle Times''| date = April 26, 2010| url = http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2011707170_newspapercirc27.html?prmid=related_stories_section| accessdate = October 13, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = Spokesman-Review.com| publisher = ''[[The Spokesman-Review]]''| url = http://www.spokesmanreview.com/| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> ''The Spokesman-Review'' was formed from the merger of the ''Spokane Falls Review'' (1883–1894) and the ''Spokesman'' (1890–1893) in 1893 and was first published under the present name on June 29, 1894.<ref>Dyar (1952), pp. 1–658</ref><ref>{{cite news| last= Kershner| first= Jim| title= Bumpy beginning, but quite a ride| work=The Spokesman-Review| date= May 19, 2007| url= http://www.spokesmanreview.com/125/125yr-story.asp| accessdate= December 7, 2014}}</ref> It later absorbed the competing afternoon paper ''The Spokane Daily Chronicle'', a significant newspaper historically which had existed from 1890 until the merger in 1982.<ref>Kershner (2012), p.84</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86072020/|title=About Spokane daily chronicle. (Spokane, Wash.) 1890-1982|publisher=Library of Congress|accessdate=November 19, 2014}}</ref> More specialized publications include the weekly [[Alternative newspaper|alternative]] newspaper ''[[The Pacific Northwest Inlander]]'',<ref>{{cite news| title = The Pacific Northwest Inlander| publisher = ''INLANDER''| url = http://www.inlander.com/spokane/| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> the bi-weekly business journal ''The Spokane Journal of Business,''<ref>{{cite news| title = Spokane Journal of Business| publisher = Journal Of Business| url = http://www.spokanejournal.com/| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> the student-run ''[[The Gonzaga Bulletin]]'', the monthly GLBT newsmagazine ''Q View Northwest, ''and a monthly newspaper for parents, ''[[Kids newspaper]]''. The city also has several community magazines, such as the monthly paper covering the Garland neighborhood, ''The Garland Times'', and ''Spokane Coeur d'Alene Living'', a monthly home and lifestyle magazine.<ref>{{cite book|title=Benn's Media|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=wZ7gAAAAMAAJ|year=1994|publisher=Benn Business Information Services|isbn=978-0-86382-576-7}}</ref>

According to [[Arbitron]], Spokane is the 94th largest radio market in the U.S., with 532,100&nbsp;listeners aged 12 and over.<ref>{{cite web| title = Market Survey Schedule & Population Rankings: Fall 2013| date = Fall 2013| url = http://www.arbitron.com/downloads/fa13_market_survey_schedule_poprankings.pdf| accessdate = October 10, 2014}}</ref> There are 28 AM and FM radio stations broadcast in the city.<ref>{{cite web| title = Radio-Locator| publisher = Theodric Technologies| url = http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/locate?select=city&city=Spokane&state=WA| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> The five most listened-to stations are [[KKZX|KKZX-FM]] (classic rock), [[KQNT|KQNT-AM]] (news/talk), [[KXLY-FM]] (country), [[KISC-FM]] (adult contemporary), and [[KZZU-FM]] ([[Hot AC (radio network)|Hot AC]]).<ref>{{cite web |title= #94 Spokane: Summer P2 Arbitrends| url= http://ratings.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/rol.exe/arb177 | publisher= Radio Online| accessdate= October 11, 2014}}</ref> Spokane's primary sources of non-commercial and community radio include Spokane's [[National Public Radio|NPR]]-affiliate station [[KPBX-FM]] and [[KYRS]], a full-power community radio station.<ref>{{cite web |title= Spokane Public Radio| url= http://spokanepublicradio.org| publisher= Spokane Public Radio| accessdate= October 11, 2014}}</ref>

Spokane is the 73rd largest television market in the U.S., accounting for 0.366% of the total TV households in the U.S.<ref>{{cite web| title = Local Television Market Universe Estimates| publisher = Nielsen Media Research, Inc.| date = September 27, 2014| url = http://www.tvb.org/media/file/Nielsen_2014-2015_DMA_Ranks.pdf| format = PDF| accessdate = October 10, 2014}}</ref> The city has six television stations, representing the major commercial networks and public television.<ref name="TV">{{cite web| title = Station Index| publisher = Station Index| url = http://www.stationindex.com/tv/markets/Spokane| accessdate = December 7, 2014}}</ref> Spokane is the television broadcast center for much of eastern Washington (except the [[Yakima]] and [[Tri-Cities, Washington|Tri-Cities]] area), northern Idaho, northwestern Montana, northeastern Oregon, and parts of southern Canada (by cable television). Spokane receives broadcasts in the [[Pacific Time Zone]], with weekday prime time beginning at 8&nbsp;pm. Montana and Alberta, Canada are in the [[Mountain Time Zone]] and receive Spokane broadcasts one hour later by their local time. The major network television affiliates include [[KREM (TV)]] 2 ([[CBS]]), [[KXLY-TV]] 4 ([[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]), [[KHQ-TV]] 6 ([[NBC]]; Spokane's first television station, on air on December 20, 1952), [[KAYU-TV|KAYU]] 28 ([[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]]), [[KSPS-TV]] 7 ([[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]]), and [[Idaho Public Television|KCDT-TV]] 26 (PBS; operating out of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho).<ref name="TV" />

==Notable people==
{{Main|List of people from Spokane, Washington}}

==Sister cities==
{{SisterCities|Spokane|four current}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Sister Cities Association of Spokane |url=http://www.spokanesistercities.org/ |publisher=Spokane Sister Cities Association|accessdate=December 7, 2014}}</ref>

*{{flagicon|Japan}} [[Nishinomiya]], [[Hyōgo Prefecture]], Japan&nbsp;– since September 1961 (Spokane's first sister city)
*{{flagicon|South Korea}} [[Jecheon]], South Korea
*{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Jilin City]], China
*{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Limerick]], Ireland

==See also==
{{Portal|Washington|Mining}}
*[[The Parkade]]

==Notes==
{{Refbegin|30em}}
{{note|Spukcane|[a]}}The name is said to derive from ''Spukcane'', the vocalization of a sound made by a snake which the Chief of the Spokanes came to call "power from the brain" after pondering it made his head vibrate. It is unknown when  the present meaning of the word, "Sun People" replaced this earlier meaning.<ref name="Spukcane"/><br />
{{note|Glover|[b]}}Unbeknownst to them, the Spokane Valley was the only area within 200 miles that could provide passage to the Inland Empire through the Rockies at a reasonable grade.<ref name="p.19"/><br />
{{note|incorp|[c]}}The present name, set forth by an 1891 charter reincorporated the city under the name "Spokane Falls", stating: ''"The corporate name of the city is Spokane Falls, and by that name shall have perpetual succession" (Charter, Article I).'' However, a later article in that same charter which was voted on concurrently changed the name to "Spokane."<ref>{{Cite book| last= Spokane, Washington| title=Charter of the city of Spokane, Washington: approved by the people at an election held March 24, 1891, attested and went into effect April 4, 1891 (including amendments).| publisher= W.D. Knight Co.| location= Spokane, Washington| year=1896}}</ref><br />
{{note|Transport|[d]}}Secretary of the Spokane chamber of commerce, John R. Reavis tells of Spokane's significance to the Inland Northwest region as a distributing center (largely the city's raison d'être) in his 1891 Annual Report, writing: "By reason of her geographical position and railroad connections Spokane is fitted as no other city is, or ever can be, to be the distributing center of all that country within a radius of 150 miles, and in some instances territory much farther away. There is no point 150 miles from Spokane that is not at least 225 miles from any other city of 10,000 population [without crossing a mountain]. We have about us a territory of 60,000 square miles in extent, to every point of which we are nearer than any other city, to every point of which we have better railroad connections and easier grades than any other city&nbsp;... We have eight lines of railroad that radiate out in all directions through it, so that shipments made here in the morning can reach any point within its borders by nightfall. We have a telephone system connecting us with almost every shipping town and shipping station within its borders. Goods may be ordered, shipped and received, in most instances, within one day. Never was a city more intimately knit to its surrounding territory than Spokane, and never was one more free from a legitimate rival in trade&nbsp;..."<ref>Reavis, John R. (1892). ''First Annual Report of the Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce of Spokane for the Year 1891''. Pacific Northwest Collections, University of Washington Libraries. Spokane, Washington: W.D. Knight Co.  pp.&nbsp;6–7, 10–12.</ref><br />
{{note|investment|[e]}}The financing for rebuilding the downtown core came in large part from the infusion of investment from Dutch bankers; this investment was so deep that by 1896, one prominent Dutch mortgage company, the ''Northwestern and Pacific Hypotheekbank'' owned a quarter of the city.<ref>Stratton (2005), p. 33, p. 200</ref><br />
{{note|Hepburn|[f]}}In 1892, the [[Interstate Commerce Commission]] agreed with the city after it filed a complaint about these practices, but that decision was struck down by a federal court. In 1906, Spokane sued under the newly passed [[Hepburn Act]], and won on July 24, 1911.<ref>Durham (1912), pp.&nbsp;599–603</ref><br />
{{Refend}}

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

===Bibliography===

* {{cite book| last1=Bao  | first1=Sandra | last2=Brash | first2=Celeste | last3= Lee | first3=John | last4=Sainsbury | first4=Brendan |title=Lonely Planet Washington, Oregon & the Pacific Northwest|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=YO3zAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT461|date=1 March 2014|publisher=Lonely Planet Publications|isbn=978-1-74360-002-3|pages=461}}

* {{Cite book|last=Creighton|first=Jeff|title=Bridges of Spokane|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=CqjzFuenhTQC&pg=PA64|year=2013|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-0-7385-9635-8}}

* {{Cite book| last=Durham| first=Nelson W.| title=History of the city of Spokane and Spokane Country, Washington: from its earliest settlement to the present time| volume = 3| publisher=S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.| location= Chicago, Illinois| year=1912| isbn=978-1-152-77997-6| url=https://archive.org/details/historyofcityofs01durh}}

* {{Cite book| last= Dyar| first= Ralph E.| title= News for an Empire: The Story of the Spokesman Review of Spokane, Washington and of the Field It Serves| publisher= The Caxton Printers, Ltd.| location= Caldwell, Idaho| year=1952| isbn=978-1258215460}}

* {{cite book|last1= Fox|first1=James Alan |last2=Levin |first2=Jack|title=Extreme Killing: Understanding Serial and Mass Murder: Understanding Serial and Mass Murder|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=4VMXBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA144|date=29 April 2014|publisher=SAGE Publications|isbn=978-1-4833-5280-0|pages=144–145}}

* {{cite journal| last = Kensel| first = W.H.| authorlink = W. Hudson Kensel| title = The Early Spokane Lumber Industry, 1871–1910| journal = Idaho Yesterdays| volume = 12| issue = 1| publisher = [[Idaho State Historical Society]]| location = Boise, Idaho| date = Spring 1968 | url = http://hudson.kensel.com/downloads/The_Early_Spokane_Lumber_Industry_1871_to_1910_W_Hudson_Kensel_Spring_1968.pdf}}

* {{cite journal| last = Kensel| first = W.H.| authorlink = | title = Inland Empire Mining and the Growth of Spokane, 1883–1905| journal = [[Pacific Northwest Quarterly]]| volume = 60| issue = 2| publisher = University of Washington| location = Seattle, Washington| date = April 1969| url = http://hudson.kensel.com/downloads/Inland%20Empire%20Mining_and_the_Growth_of_Spokane_1883_to_1905_W_Hudson_Kensel_April_1969.pdf}}

* {{cite journal| last = Kensel| first = W.H.| authorlink = | title = Spokane: The First Decade| journal = Idaho Yesterdays| volume = 15| issue = 1| publisher = Idaho State Historical Society| location = Boise, Idaho| date = Spring 1971 | url = http://hudson.kensel.com/downloads/Spokane_The_First_Decade_W_Hudson_Kensel_Spring_1971.pdf}}

* {{cite book|last=Kienholz|first=M.|title=Police Files: The Spokane Experience 1853-1995|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=ss4UWqEx0w0C&pg=PA188|date=1999|publisher=Mary Kienholz|isbn=978-0-87062-286-1}}

* {{cite book|last=Kershner|first=Jim|title=Carl Maxey: a fighting life|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=SxU8BJR2orAC&pg=PA84|date=1 January 2012|publisher=University of Washington Press|isbn=978-0-295-80039-4}}

* {{cite book|last=Landers|first=Rich|title=100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest: Eastern Washington, Northern Rockies, Wallowas|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=2JxK5cnh3uAC&pg=PA92|year=2003|publisher=The Mountaineers Books|isbn=978-0-89886-908-8|pages=90–95}}

* {{Cite book| last= Malone| first= Michael P.| title= James J. Hill: Empire Builder of the Northwest| publisher= University of Oklahoma Press| location = Norman, Oklahoma| year= 1996| isbn= 978-0806128603| url= http://books.google.com/books?id=23ZkL2EuxSkC&pg=PA201&dq=Spokane+Capital+of+the+Inland+Empire&hl=en&sa=X&ei=2jZpVMmfF9DQiQLhk4CICw&ved=0CEwQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=Spokane%20Capital%20of%20the%20Inland%20Empire&f=false}}

* {{Cite book| last=Meinig| first=Donald W.| authorlink=D.W. Meinig| title=The Shaping of America: A Geographical Perspective on 500 Years of History, Volume 2: Continental America, 1800–1867| publisher=Yale University Press| location= New Haven, Connecticut| year=1993| isbn=0-300-05658-3}}

* {{Cite book| last=Moffatt| first= Riley| title= Population History of Western U.S. Cities & Towns, 1850–1990| publisher= Scarecrow Press| location =Lanham, Maryland| year= 1996| isbn= 978-0-8108-3033-2}}

* {{cite book|last1=Mueller |first1=Marge |last2=Mueller |first2=Ted|title=Washington State Parks: A Complete Recreation Guide|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=1wq1lfr271oC&pg=PA270|year=2004|publisher=The Mountaineers Books|isbn=978-0-89886-893-7|pages=270}}

* {{Cite book| last=Phillips| first=James W.| title=Washington State Place Names| publisher=University of Washington Press| location= Seattle, Washington| year=1971| isbn=0-295-95158-3}}

* {{Cite book|last=Popejoy|first=Don|title=Early Spokane|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Kh2s2HcKhG4C&pg=PA98|date=2010|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-1-4396-2528-6}}

* {{Cite book| last1=Ruby| first1=Robert H.| last2=Brown|first2=John A.| title =The Spokane Indians: Children of the Sun| publisher= University of Oklahoma Press| location= Norman, Oklahoma| year = 2006| isbn = 978-0-8061-3761-2| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=qUwYm6e8UxgC&pg}}

* {{cite book|last1=Ruby |first1=Robert H. |last2=Brown |first2=John Arthur|title=Indians of the Pacific Northwest: A History|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Ww8odDD86oAC&pg=PA75|year=1988|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press|isbn=978-0-8061-2113-0|pages=75}}

* {{Cite book| last=Schmeltzer| first= Michael| title =Spokane: The City and The People| publisher =American Geographic Publishing| location=Helena, Montana| year =1988| isbn =978-0938314530}}

* {{cite book| last = Schmidt| first = Leigh E.| title= Consumer Rites: The Buying & Selling of American Holidays| chapter= The Invention of Father's Day: The Humbug of Modern Ritual| url= http://books.google.com/books?id=maF8mTPsJqsC&pg=PA276&vq=father%27s+day&source=gbs_search_s&cad=0#v=onepage&q=father%27s%20day&f=false| date=1995| publisher= Princeton University Press| location = Princeton, New Jersey| isbn= 978-0691017211| page=}}

* {{Cite book| last =Soltero| first =Raymond A.| editors= Robert J. Naiman| title= Watershed Management: Balancing Sustainability and Environmental Change| chapter=The Changing Spokane River Watershed| pages =458–478| publisher =Springer-Verlag| location =New York, New York| year =1992| url =http://books.google.com/books?id=tkLRW9KMzhsC&pg=PA459 | isbn = 978-0-387-94232-2}}

* {{cite book|last =Spirou| first =Costas|title=Urban Tourism and Urban Change: Cities in a Global Economy|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=1dOsAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA210|date=2011|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-136-85903-8|pages=210}}

* {{Cite book| last=Stratton| first=David H.| title=Spokane and the Inland Empire: An Interior Pacific Northwest Anthology| publisher= Washington State University Press| location =Pullman, Washington| year=2005| isbn=978-0-87422-277-7}}

* {{Cite book| last= Ware| first= Susan| title= Notable American Women: A Biographical Dictionary Completing the Twentieth Century| publisher= Harvard University Press| location = Cambridge, Massachusetts| year=2004| isbn=978-0-674-01488-6| url= http://books.google.com/books?id=WSaMu4F06AQC&pg=PA339}}

* {{Cite book|last=Williamson|first=Jerrelene|title=African Americans in Spokane|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=U51zl3w2MicC&pg=PA7|date=2010|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-0-7385-7011-2}}

* {{Cite book| last1= Young| first1= Don| last2=Young| first2=Marjorie| title= Adventure Guide to Pacific Northwest (Adventure Guide to the Pacific Northwest)| publisher= Hunter Publishing| location = Edison, New Jersey| year= 1999| isbn= 978-1556508448| url= http://books.google.com/books?id=89cgOTHRpUEC&pg=RA1-PA328&dq=spokane+skywalk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=lypcVPeSGrDhiQK87YC4Bw&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=spokane%20skywalk&f=false}}

==Further reading==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite book| last= Edwards |first= Jonathan |title= Illustrated history of Spokane county |publisher= W.H. Lever |author2=Nelson Durham  |year=1900 |location=Spokane, Washington |url= http://www.secstate.wa.gov/history/publications_view.aspx?pub=100&p=314&i=images/publications/SL_edwardsillustrated/directory.djvu |format= [[DJVU]] |isbn=978-1-153-38635-7 |oclc=25321986 |others= Washington State Library's Classics in Washington History collection}}

* {{Cite book|last=MacGibbon |first=Elma |title=Leaves of knowledge |publisher=Shaw & Borden |year=1904 |location=Spokane, Washington|url=http://www.secstate.wa.gov/history/publications%5Fdetail.aspx?p=63 |format=[[DJVU]] |isbn=978-1-110-68499-1 |oclc=61326250 |others= Washington State Library's Classics in Washington History collection |chapter=Spokane and the Inland Empire}}

* {{Cite book| last= Matthews| first= Henry| title= Kirtland Cutter: Architect in the Land of Promise| publisher= University of Washington Press| location= Seattle, Washington| year= 1998| isbn= 978-0295987668| oclc= 38536054}}

* {{Cite book|last= Meinig|first=Donald W.|title=The Great Columbia Plain; a historical geography, 1805–1910|publisher=University of Washington Press|location=Seattle, Washington|year=1968|isbn=978-0-295-97485-9|oclc=436410}}

* {{Cite book|last=Morrissey|first=Katherine G.|title=Mental Territories: Mapping the Inland Empire|publisher=Cornell University Press|year=1997|location=Ithaca, New York|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=Y-DcC1a_j2oC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Mental+Territories:+Mapping+the+Inland+Empire&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UnlpVL7MG4WrogS96ILYAQ&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Mental%20Territories%3A%20Mapping%20the%20Inland%20Empire&f=false|format=|isbn=978-0-8014-8326-4|oclc=37187429|chapter=Inset - Spokane}}

* {{Cite book|last=Wang |first=David |title=Sounding Spokane: perspectives on the built environment of a regional city |publisher=Eastern Washington University Press |location=Spokane, Washington |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-910055-85-7| oclc=51306066 }}

* {{Cite book| last= Youngs| first= William T.| title= The Fair and the Falls: Spokane Expo '74: Transforming an American environment| publisher= Eastern Washington University Press| location=Cheney, Washington| year= 1996| isbn= 978-0910055338| oclc= 866331426}}

{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|Spokane}}
* {{official website|http://www.spokanecity.org/}}
* [http://www.visitspokane.com/ Visit Spokane]
* [http://www.greaterspokane.org/ Greater Spokane Incorporated]
* [http://www.historylink.org/ Historylink.org], Online encyclopedia of Washington state history
* {{dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Washington/Localities/S/Spokane}}
* {{Wikivoyage-inline|Spokane}}

{{Spokane County, Washington}}
{{Washington}}
{{Washington cities and mayors of 100,000 population}}
{{Good article}}

[[Category:Spokane, Washington| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Spokane County, Washington]]
[[Category:Cities in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:County seats in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Hudson's Bay Company trading posts]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1871]]
[[Category:Superfund sites in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:1871 establishments in Washington Territory]]
[[Category:Ukrainian communities in the United States]]