Encyclopedia
Spokane is the second largest city in
Washington state and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest. It is the county seat of Spokane County in the
State of
Washington,
USA. It was originally incorporated as "Spokan Falls" , drawing on the Native American tribe known as the Spokane, which means "Children of the Sun.”
The town site was originally
platted, about 1880, surrounding the falls of the
Spokane River, where the river descends from the Selkirk Mountain range into the
Columbia Plateau. Spokane is 280 miles east of
Seattle and 375 miles northeast of
Portland. The
2000 U.S. census showed that the city population was 197,400, and the county had a population of 417,939. The most recent state figures, released in April of 2006, show that the city population has since increased to 201,600, while metropolitan estimates show the area has more than half a million people, and may be approaching 600,000.
Government
The has operated under a Mayor-Council form of government, also referred to as "Strong Mayor," since January 2001, after 40 years under a Council-Manager system.
Dennis P. Hession, formerly the City Council President, became the new mayor on December 16, 2005 after the recall of the late Jim West. The City Council consists of seven members: two elected from each of three districts, plus a
president elected at large. The current City Council President is Joe Shogan.
Spokane is in
Washington's 5th congressional district, and is currently represented by freshman
Representative Cathy McMorris .
History
Spokane Falls was a gathering place for the area's indigenous people because the Spokane River had large amounts of
salmon. Camp Spokane was established by the
U.S. Army at a location 56 Miles Northwest of Spokane as a consolidation of the garrisons at
Fort Colville, and Camp Chelan on October 21, 1880. The intent was to protect the construction of the Northern Pacific Railway, and to secure the location for U.S. settlement. By 1881, the
Northern Pacific Railway was completed at this point, bringing European settlement. The city of Spokan Falls was officially incorporated on November 29, 1881. In 1883, the name was changed to Spokane . The President of the first City Council, was mill owner and Methodist minister Samuel G. Havermale.
The Great Fire
In the summer of 1889, a fire destroyed the city's downtown commercial district. Due to technical problems with a pump station, there was no water pressure in the city when the fire started. When volunteer fire fighters attempted to quench the flames, they found their hoses were unusable. Eventually winds died down and the fire exhausted of its own accord. 27 blocks of Spokane's downtown were destroyed.
Great Northern Railway
While the damage caused by the fire was a devasting blow, Spokane continued to grow. Just three years after the fire, in 1892, the Great Northern railroad reached Spokane and built a rail yard that made Spokane a transportation hub for the area. The first rail yard, built by
James J. Hill, was completed in 1902. The clocktower currently in Riverfront Park was built as part of the depot and is one of the biggest in the northwest, with each side measuring 9 feet across. The clocktower is the only part of the depot that remains to this day.
1974 World's Fair
Spokane hosted the environmentally themed
Expo '74, becoming the then-smallest city to ever host a World's Fair. This event transformed Spokane's downtown, removing a century of railroad industry that built the city and reinventing the urban core.
Many of the structures built for the World's Fair are still standing and in use. The United States Pavilion now houses an
IMAX theater, and the Washington State Pavilion became the Inland Northwest Bank Performing Arts Center. The Expo site itself became the 100-acre Riverfront Park, containing, among other features, the U.S. Pavilion, the turn-of-the-20th-century Looff Carousel, and the Great Northern Railway clock tower, the last remnant of the vast rail depot that was demolished for Expo '74. The U.S. Pavilion and the clock tower are prominently featured in the park's logo.
Geography and climate
Spokane is located at the eastern edge of the Columbia Plateau's wheat farms and
steppe, where they meet the forested
Rocky Mountain foothills, the
Selkirk Mountains. The
Spokane River, a major tributary of the
Columbia River, passes through the city, tumbling through a series of falls in the middle of downtown.
Spokane has a continental, semi-arid climate, with moderately cold winters and warm summers. The
Cascade Mountains to the west shield the city from the direct modifying effect of
Pacific Ocean air, and Idaho's mountains to the east help to protect it from the worst effects of arctic air in winter. Precipitation is concentrated in the cooler half of the year, with the summer typically having dry and stable weather.
According to the
United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 151.6 km² . 149.6 km² of it is land and 2.0 km² of it is water.
Demographics
As of the
census of 2000, there were 199,630 people, 81,512 households, and 47,276 families residing in the city. The
population density was 1,307.7/km² . There were 87,941 housing units at an average density of 587.8/km² .
The most recent ethnic percentages are as follows:
There were 81,512 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.3% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.0% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,273, and the median income for a family was $41,316. Males had a median income of $31,676 versus $24,833 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,451. 15.9% of the population and 11.1% of families were below the
poverty line. 19.3% of those over the age of 18 and 9.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Since February 2005 the population has seen a rapid increase, which attributed to the decrease in the average cost of living and and increase in the job market. Spokane was #49 on the
Men's Journal 2005 "50 Best Places to Live" list, #5 on the
Forbes Magazine 2005 "Safest Places to Live" list, and #35 on the
Inc. Magazine 2005 "Top US Cities for Doing Business" list.
Education
Colleges and universities
Community Colleges- Spokane Community College
- Spokane Falls Community College
HistoricalParks and recreation
In 1907, Spokane's board of park commissioners retained the services of the Olmsted Brothers to draw up a plan for . Today, Spokane has a system of over 75 parks totaling 3,500 acres, with parks ranging in size from the quarter-acre Skeet-So-Mish Park playground to the 464-acre Palisades Park conservation area. Some of the parks in Spokane’s extensive park system are listed below:
- , created after Expo '74 and occupying the same site, is one hundred acres in downtown Spokane and the site of some of Spokane's largest events. The park has views of the Spokane Falls, and holds a number of civic attractions, including the Skyride , the 5-story IMAX theatre, and numerous rides and concessions. Various festivals are held in the park throughout the year. A new "Great Gorge Park," originally designed by the Olmsted Brothers, is being proposed as an extension of Riverfront Park along the deep river gorge through the Peaceful Valley neighborhood.
- Manito Park and Botanical Gardens, on Spokane's South Hill, has a duck pond, a central conservatory named in memory of Dr. David Gaiser, Duncan Garden, a classical European Renaissance style garden and the Nishinomiya Japanese Garden.
- is close to downtown and is a site for hiking, mountain biking, rafting, and also has scenic views.
- The has over thirty-seven miles of paved trails running along the Spokane River and across the metropolitan area for running, walking, bicycling or inline skating. Informational signs and parking are provided along the trail.
- Highbridge Park and People's Park: These two parks, located in Peaceful Valley where it meets Hangman Valley, are centers of Spokane's nudist culture, though the parks are open to all.
- The John A. Finch Arboretum is a 57-acre public arboretum featuring a variety of rare and native trees and wildlife.
- Downriver Park, near Riverside State Park and Downriver Golf Course, has a championship 21-hole disc golf course adjoining the Spokane River. Another 18-hole disc golf course can be found in High Bridge Park, near downtown. Maps and information are available at:
- Award-winning, city-owned golf courses include: The Creek at Qualchan, Indian Canyon, Esmerelda, Downriver, and Hangman golf courses. In addition, the Spokane Country Club and Manito Country Club offer private memberships to their own courses. Spokane County also runs a number of public courses
- In the summer Spokane residents may visit Lake Coeur d'Alene, Priest Lake, Lake Pend O'Reille, or one of the other nearby bodies of water. The Spokane area has numerous lakes and rivers, where various water sports, fishing, camping, and rafting take place.
- In the winter, Spokane residents have access to five ski resorts within a few hours of the city. A non-profit organization operates nearby Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park. Mt. Spokane also has trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and dog sledding. During the non-winter months, hikers and mountain bikers use the trails.
Sports teams and events
Spokane has hosted the NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments, and has been selected to do so again in 2009.
Spokane will host the 2007 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, and was a candidate city for the 2009
World Figure Skating Championships, losing its bid to Los Angeles.
The Spokane Arena is also the perennial host to the State 'B' Basketball Tournament, which brings athletes and fans from many of Washington's smaller high schools to town. In 2007 it will be host to the State 2B Championships.
Events and activities
Spokane is home to a number of annual events and attractions that draw people from a large surrounding area:
- The Lilac Bloomsday Run, a 7.46 mile race for walkers and competitive runners, is the largest timed road race in the world, typically drawing between 50,000 and 70,000 participants . It is held on the first Sunday of each May.
- Hoopfest is the largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament in the world. It is held the last weekend in June, and has a variety of participants, from kids, teens, and adults to former college and NBA players, in their respective brackets. Started in 1989 with just 300+ teams, the event now annually averages more than 40,000 participants.
- Each April, Japan Week celebrates the sister-city relationship with Nishinomiya, Japan, demonstrating the many commonalities shared between the two cities. Students from the Spokane campus of Mukogawa Institute, Whitworth College, Gonzaga University, Spokane Falls and Spokane Community College organize an array of Japanese cultural events, in addition to a number of others that take place around the city.
- The takes place the second Saturday each August. 2006 will mark the 4th annual street fair. More information can be found at .
- is an annual summer festival celebrating the joy of food. Local restaurants set up booths all around Riverfront Park. Visitors can browse for food and listen to local bands perform. It is traditionally held over Labor Day weekend in early September.
- is a two-day benefit bike ride that takes place in September. The route takes riders from Spokane to Coeur d'Alene and back, and includes short route options along the Centennial Trail. Routes vary in length from 80 to almost 200 miles and include breakfast, dinner, and food stops.
- Spokane is also home to a National Historic Landmark hand-carved carousel, created in 1909 by Charles I. D. Looff as a wedding present for his daughter. The carousel still operates in Riverfront Park, downtown, where riders can participate in an old-time ring toss. The carousel continues to offer a free ride to the rider who grabs the brass ring.
- The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture houses a large collection of Native American artifacts as well as regional and national traveling art exhibits. Located in Browne's Addition amid the mansions of Spokane's late 19th-century golden age, the Museum is in a secluded setting a few blocks from the center of downtown.
- The performs a full season of concerts and the is the oldest performing jazz orchestra in the United States.
- The Spokane Folklore Society hosts its annual Fall Folk Festival the first full weekend of November at the Spokane Falls Community College.
- is a planned science center and children's musuem.
- is the Inland Northwest's largest Gay & Lesbian celebration held every June.
Notable Spokanites
Musicians
- Jim Boyd, musician, cultural critic, and two-time “Album of the Year” winner at the Native American Music Awards
- Mike Clarke, member of the band The Byrds
...
- Bing Crosby, singer and actor
- Paul D'Amour, former member of the band Tool
- Thomas Hampson, baritone
- Myles Kennedy, lead singer of the band Alter Bridge
- George Lynch, former member of the rock band Dokken and current member of Lynch Mob
- Craig Montoya, member of the band Everclear
- Billy Tipton, transgender jazz musician
Artists
Sports
- Neil Everett, ESPN SportsCenter anchor
- Jan-Michael Gambill, professional tennis player
- Jason Hanson, kicker with the Detroit Lions of the NFL
- Chad Little, former NASCAR driver
- Adam Morrison, Mead High School graduate , former Gonzaga basketball player, current Charlotte Bobcats rookie, and former 2005-2006 preseason and postseason first team All-American.
- Mark Rypien, former World Champion Quarterback for the Washington Redskins of the NFL MVP of the 1991 Super Bowl
- Ryne Sandberg, 2005 Inductee into the Baseball Hall Of Fame, former second baseman for the Chicago Cubs
- Tom Sneva, Indianapolis 500 winner
- John Stockton, former professional basketball player, point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA and Gonzaga Bulldogs
Actors
...
- Craig T. Nelson, actor who has played lead roles in Coach, The District was a television crime drama which aired on CBS [i] from October 7 [i], 2000 [i] to May 1 [i] ...
, and The Incredibles is an Academy Award [i]-winning Pixar Animation Studios [i] animated [i] ...
. - Julia Sweeney, actor and comedian — well known as Pat on Saturday Night Live is a weekly late night 90-minute American [i] comedy [i]-variety show [i] ...
. - Tongolele, film and television actor known throughout Spain and Latin America
Politicians
- Ryan Crocker, U.S. diplomat, currently serving as U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan
- Tom Foley
...
, U.S. Congressman, former
Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives
- Samuel G. Havermale, early Spokane pioneer, minister and politician
- Eric Johnston, former head of the United States Chamber of Commerce, former President of the Motion Picture Association of America
Other
- Madonna Buder, 75-year-old Catholic nun and oldest Hawaii Ironman Triathlete competitor
- Kirtland Cutter, architect, best known for his work in Spokane, including the Davenport Hotel
- Cyan Worlds, Inc., the company that produced the computer game Myst
- Sonora Smart Dodd, successfully campaigned for the establishment of Father's Day
- Chief Garry, one of the Spokane tribes' most prominent and influential leaders during the shift from indigenous to European-American control of their land
- Col. David P. Jenkins Civil War Colonel, Spokane homesteader and philanthropist
- Wilder Graves Penfield, American-born Canadian neurosurgeon who mapped out the functional areas of the cerebral cortex and pioneered groundbreaking research into epilepsy treatment
- Irwin Rose, American biologist awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2004
- UFO Phil, comedy/novelty songwriter and regular guest on many national radio programs such as Coast to Coast AM and Dr. Demento
See:
Spokane in film and television
Several films have featured Spokane:
...
, was filmed in Spokane and features many landmarks in town, including The Onion restaurant, the Ridpath Hotel, and Rogers High School. It also features a cameo by an early career Madonna .
- Benny & Joon, starring Johnny Depp, was filmed in Peaceful Valley, near downtown. The scene in the movie with Benny doing the trick with the hat in the cafe was filmed in Ferguson's Diner in the Garland Village.
- Home of the Brave, starring Samuel L. Jackson and 50 Cent, is a straight-to-video production that completed shooting in Spokane in April 2006.
- Hangman's Curse, a book by local author Frank Peretti, became a movie and was filmed in areas in and around Spokane.
- Mozart and the Whale starring Josh Hartnett, Radha Mitchell, and Gary Cole, about the development of the romantic relationship between two people with Asperger syndrome , and based on the real-life experiences of Jerry Newport and his wife, Mary.
- The Comedy Central TV series Dog Bites Man follows a team of news reporters at KHBX, a fictional TV station in Spokane.
See:
Local media
Print media
Spokane is serviced by a variety of
print media.
Newspaper service includes its only daily newspaper, The
Spokesman-Review; the weekly alternative newspaper,
The Pacific Northwest Inlander; the bi-weekly business journal,
; the monthly
GLBT paper,
; a monthly outdoor activities paper,
; and the monthly paper covering the Garland neighborhood,
The Garland Villager. Spokane also has several community
magazines,
, a quarterly magazine for the disillusioned;
, a monthly home and lifestyle magazine; and
The Word, an arts and entertainment magazine published on the 5th and 20th of every month.
Television
Spokane serves as the television broadcast center for much the area along the border of Washington and Idaho, west to the
Cascade Mountains, south to the
Oregon border and North into
Canada. Its major network television affiliates are
KREM 2 ,
KXLY 4 ,
KHQ 6 ,
KSPS 7 ,
KSKN 22 ,
KAYU 28 ,
KGPX 34 . It also receives transmissions from KCDT 26 based in
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and
KQUP-LP 47 based in
Pullman, Washington.
Radio
According to Arbitron, Spokane is the 92nd largest radio market in the
United States with 480,800 over the age of 12.
;Top FM radio stations
| Rank | Station ID | Frequency | Format | Share |
|---|
| 1 | KHTQ-FM | 94.5 | Active Rock | 7.1 |
| 2 | KEYF-FM | 101.1 | Oldies | 5.6 |
| KIXZ-FM | 96.1 | Country |
| KKZX-FM | 98.9 | Classic Rock |
| 5 | KDRK-FM | 93.7 | Country | 5.1 |
| KXLY-FM | 99.9 | AC |
| KZZU-FM | 92.9 | Hot AC |
;Top AM radio stations
| Rank | Station ID | Frequency | Format | Share |
|---|
| 1 | KQNT-AM | 590 | News/Talk | 3.4 |
| 2 | KXLY-AM | 920 | Adult standards | 3.2 |
| KEYF-AM | 1050 | News/Talk |
| 4 | KGA-AM | 1510 | News/Talk | 2.7 |
| 5 | KXLX-AM | 700 | Sports | 1.5 |
|KJRB-AM
|Sports
|1.5
|}
Sister cities
In the cultural exchange program known as "
Sister Cities" Spokane is twinned with:
See also
External links
- City/County Historic Preservation Office
- Commentary on Urban Development & Design in Spokane
- Downtown Spokane Blog
- Spokane lifestyle blog
Annual events
Maps
- zoning, parcel data, zip code, school zones
