Spokane County is a
countyIn the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...
located in the
U.S. stateA U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Washington, named after the Spokane
tribeNative Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
. As of the 2010 census the population was 471,221, making it the fourth most populous county in Washington state. The largest city and
county seatA county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is
SpokaneSpokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, the second largest city in the state, behind Seattle.
Spokane County was formed on January 29, 1858. It was annexed by
Stevens County on January 19, 1864, and re-created on October 30, 1879.
Law and government
Spokane County is governed by a
partisanIn politics, a partisan is a committed member of a political party. In multi-party systems, the term is widely understood to carry a negative connotation - referring to those who wholly support their party's policies and are perhaps even reluctant to acknowledge correctness on the part of their...
Board of County Commissioners, one from each of three districts. They run in a partisan
primary electionA primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
within their own district, then compete countywide in the
general electionIn a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
. Other elected officials include the
SheriffA sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
, Auditor (who is also responsible for elections),
AssessorAn assessor may be:* Assessor , the assistant to a judge or magistrate* Assessor , a senior officer of the University of Oxford* Assessor , an expert who calculates the value of property...
,
TreasurerA treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
, and
ProsecutorThe prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
, which are also partisan offices. Spokane County has an appointed
Medical ExaminerA medical examiner is a medically qualified government officer whose duty is to investigate deaths and injuries that occur under unusual or suspicious circumstances, to perform post-mortem examinations, and in some jurisdictions to initiate inquests....
. Here is a link to election results since 2000.
Geography
According to the
U.S. Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the county has a total area of 1781 square miles (4,612.8 km²), of which 1764 square miles (4,568.7 km²) is land and 17 square miles (44 km²) (0.96%) is water. The lowest point in the county is the
Spokane RiverThe Spokane River is a tributary of the Columbia River, approximately long, in northern Idaho and eastern Washington in the United States. It drains a low mountainous area east of the Columbia, passing through the city of Spokane, Washington.-Description:...
behind
Long Lake DamLong Lake Dam is a concrete gravity dam on the Spokane River, about northwest of Spokane in eastern Washington. It forms Long Lake, a long reservoir, and has a hydroelectric generating capacity of 71 megawatts...
(boundary of
Stevens County) at 1538 feet (468 m) above sea level. (There is virtually no change in
elevationThe elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
between the dam and the mouth of the
Little Spokane RiverThe Little Spokane River is a major tributary of the Spokane River, approximately 35 mi long, in eastern Washington in the United States. It drains a rural area of forested foothills and a farming valley north of the city of Spokane along the Idaho-Washington border.It rises in southern Pend...
inside
Riverside State ParkRiverside State Park is a park northwest of Spokane in Nine Mile Falls, Washington. At over , it is the second-largest state park in Washington. The park includes two campgrounds; one at the Bowl & Pitcher and the other at the Nine Mile Recreation area...
.) The highest point in the county is the summit of
Mount SpokaneMount Spokane is a mountain located northeast of Spokane, Washington. Its summit is the highest point in Spokane County, and it is one of the tallest peaks in the Inland Northwest...
at 5883 feet (1793 m).
Geographic features
Rivers
- Spokane River
The Spokane River is a tributary of the Columbia River, approximately long, in northern Idaho and eastern Washington in the United States. It drains a low mountainous area east of the Columbia, passing through the city of Spokane, Washington.-Description:...
- Little Spokane River
The Little Spokane River is a major tributary of the Spokane River, approximately 35 mi long, in eastern Washington in the United States. It drains a rural area of forested foothills and a farming valley north of the city of Spokane along the Idaho-Washington border.It rises in southern Pend...
- Latah Creek
Latah Creek, also known as Hangman Creek, is a large stream in eastern Washington and north central Idaho in the United States. The creek flows northwest from the Rocky Mountains to Spokane, where it empties into the Spokane River...
Lakes and reservoirs
- Medical Lake
- West Medical Lake
- Liberty Lake
Liberty Lake is an incorporated city in Spokane County, Washington, United States, on the Idaho state line. Liberty Lake is a suburb of Spokane, Washington. Thus, it is situated between Spokane and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho...
- Newman Lake
Summits and peaks
- Mount Spokane
Mount Spokane is a mountain located northeast of Spokane, Washington. Its summit is the highest point in Spokane County, and it is one of the tallest peaks in the Inland Northwest...
Notable parks
- Dishman Hills Natural Conservation Area
Dishman Hills Natural Resources Conservation Area is a 530 acre area protected by a combination of public and non-profit groups, located in Spokane County, Washington...
- Riverside State Park
Riverside State Park is a park northwest of Spokane in Nine Mile Falls, Washington. At over , it is the second-largest state park in Washington. The park includes two campgrounds; one at the Bowl & Pitcher and the other at the Nine Mile Recreation area...
Highways
 - Interstate 90Interstate 90 , a transcontinental Interstate Highway from Seattle, Washington, to Boston, Massachusetts, crosses the state of Washington before crossing the Idaho state line between Spokane and Post Falls...
 - U.S. Route 2U.S. Route 2 is a part of the United States Numbered Highway System that has a western segment that runs from Everett, Washington, to the Upper Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. In Washington, it is a state highway that begins at in Downtown Everett. The of US 2 that lie within...
 - U.S. Route 195 - U.S. Route 395In the U.S. state of Washington, U.S. Route 395 is a major state highway in two parts, separated by a long overlap with Interstate 90 between Ritzville and Spokane. The southern piece, from I-82 near the Tri-Cities to I-90 near Ritzville, is a high-speed four-lane divided highway...
 - State Route 27 |
 - State Route 206State Route 206 is a state highway in northeastern Washington state beginning at US 2 and ending at Mount Spokane State Park....
 - State Route 290State Route 290 , named Hamilton Street and Trent Avenue, is a long state highway serving Spokane County in the U.S. state of Washington. SR 290 travels parallel to a Union Pacific railroad from in Spokane through Millwood and across the Spokane River three times towards Spokane...
 - State Route 291State Route 291 is a long state highway located in Spokane and Stevens counties in the U.S. state of Washington. The highway begins at an intersection with concurrent highways U.S...
 - State Route 902State Route 902 is a long state highway located entirely in Spokane County, Washington, United States. The highway serves to connect Lakeland Village and Medical Lake to the county seat of Spokane. The highway has existed since at least 1931, and before the 1964 state highway renumbering, it was...
 - State Route 904State Route 904 is a long state highway in the U.S. state of Washington, located entirely in Spokane County. The route starts at an interchange with and in Tyler and travels to Cheney, serving the Eastern Washington University, before ending at I-90 and US 395 in Four Lakes...
|
Demographics
As of the
censusA census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 417,939 people, 163,611 households, and 106,019 families residing in the county. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 237 people per square mile (92/km²). There were 175,005 housing units at an average density of 99 per square mile (38/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.62%
WhiteRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.00%
BlackRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or
African AmericanRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.40%
Native AmericanRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.88%
AsianRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.16%
Pacific IslanderRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.82% from
other racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.76% from two or more races. 2.77% of the population were
HispanicRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or
LatinoRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 22.0% were of German, 10.7%
IrishThe Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, 9.9%
EnglishThe English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, 7.6%
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
or American and 6.4% Norwegian ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 163,611 households out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.90% were
married couplesMarriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.20% were non-families. 28.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the county, the population was spread out with 25.70% under the age of 18, 10.60% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,308, and the median income for a family was $46,463. Males had a median income of $35,097 versus $25,526 for females. The
per capita incomePer capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $19,233. About 8.30% of families and 12.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.20% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.
Census-recognized communities
- Airway Heights
Airway Heights is a city in Spokane County, Washington, United States, just west of Spokane. The population was 6,114 at the 2010 census. The city's name was taken from its close proximity to Fairchild Air Force Base and Spokane International Airport....
- Cheney
Cheney is a city in Spokane County, Washington, United States. The full time resident population was 10,590 as of 2010 census. Eastern Washington University is located in Cheney, and its population grows to approximately 17,600 people on a temporary basis when classes at Eastern Washington...
- Country Homes
Country Homes is a census-designated place in Spokane County, Washington, United States. The population was 5,841 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Country Homes is located at ....
- Deer Park
Deer Park is a city in Spokane County, Washington, in the United States. The population was 3,652 at the 2010 census.-History:Deer Park was officially incorporated on June 24, 1908. Deer Park got its name when railroad surveyors saw deer grazing in the area. Deer Park was settled in 1889 when a...
- Fairchild AFB
- Fairfield
Fairfield is a town in Spokane County, Washington, United States. The population was 612 at the 2010 census.-History:In 1888, E.H. Morrison named Fairfield after his wife's hometown. Fairfield was officially incorporated on March 3, 1905.-Events:...
- Fairwood
Fairwood is a census-designated place in Spokane County, Washington, United States. The population was 7,905 at the 2010 census.Based on per capita income, one of the more reliable measures of affluence, Fairwood ranks 73rd of 522 areas in the state of Washington to be ranked.-Geography:Fairwood...
- Latah
Latah is a town in Spokane County, Washington, United States. The population was 183 at the 2010 census.-History:Latah was first settled in 1872 by Lewis Coplen...
- Liberty Lake
Liberty Lake is an incorporated city in Spokane County, Washington, United States, on the Idaho state line. Liberty Lake is a suburb of Spokane, Washington. Thus, it is situated between Spokane and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho...
- Medical Lake
Medical Lake is a city in Spokane County, Washington, United States. The population was 5,060 at the 2010 census. It is home to two mental hospitals, Eastern State Hospital and Lakeland Village.-Geography:...
|
Millwood Millwood is a town in Spokane County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,786 at the 2010 census. Millwood is a suburb of Spokane, Washington, and is surrounded on three sides by the city of Spokane Valley, Washington.-History:...
Otis Orchards-East FarmsOtis Orchards-East Farms is a census-designated place in Spokane County, Washington, United States, near the county's border with Idaho. The population was 6,220 at the 2010 census...
RockfordRockford is a town in Spokane County, Washington, United States. The population was 470 at the 2010 census.-History:Rockford was first settled in 1878 by D.C. Farnsworth...
SpangleSpangle is a town in Spokane County, Washington, United States. The population was 240 at the 2000 census. The name is from William Spangle, early pioneer.- History :Spangle was first settled in 1872 by William Spangle...
SpokaneSpokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
Spokane ValleySpokane Valley is an incorporated city in Spokane County, Washington, United States. It is located east of Spokane and west of Coeur d'Alene. It surrounds the town of Millwood on three sides...
Town and CountryTown and Country is a census-designated place in Spokane County, Washington, United States. The population was 4,857 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Town and Country is located at ....
WaverlyWaverly is a town in Spokane County, Washington, United States. The population was 121 at the 2000 census and decreased 12.4% to 106 in the 2010 census.-History:...
|
Other communities
- Amber
Amber is an unincorporated community in Spokane County, Washington, United States. The town, is located along Amber Lake. Amber is assigned the ZIP code 99004.The population as of 2000 was 14,407,And the population as of 2011 was 17,036.n...
- Chattaroy
Chattaroy is an unincorporated community in Spokane County, Washington, United States. The town is located on U.S. Route 2 approximately 10 miles north-northeast of Spokane at the confluence of the Little Spokane River and Dragoon Creek.- History :...
- Colbert
Colbert is an unincorporated community in Spokane County, Washington, United States. The town is on U.S. Route 2.The ZIP Code is 99005 and centered at .Colbert has one store....
- Elk
Elk is an unincorporated rural community in northern Spokane County, Washington, United States. It was once incorporated, prior to reverting to the County...
- Espanola
- Four Lakes
Four Lakes is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Spokane County, Washington, United States, just southwest of the city of Spokane, and north of Cheney. As of the 2010 census, its population was 512. Both Interstate 90 and SR 904 run through Four Lakes and the junction of the...
- Green Bluff
Green Bluff is a small unincorporated farming community in Spokane County in the U.S. state of Washington, and the name of a nearby cliff.The 2010 census population was 761. The 2010 census was the first time the community has been recognized by the U.S. Census bureau...
- Marshall
Marshall is an unincorporated community in Spokane County, Washington, United States. Named in 1880 for early settler William H. Marshall, Marshall is south-southwest of downtown Spokane. Marshall has a post office with ZIP code 99020....
|
Mead Mead is an unincorporated suburb north of Spokane in Spokane County, Washington, United States. Named for Civil War general George Meade, this rural area is tracked by the United States Census Bureau. As of 2010, population of Mead was 7,275....
MicaMica is an unincorporated community in Spokane County, Washington, United States. Mica is located along Washington State Route 27 southeast of downtown Spokane. Mica has a post office with ZIP code 99023....
MilanMilan is an unincorporated community in Spokane County, Washington, United States. Milan is a rural community located along the Burlington Northern Railroad, east of Deer Park. It is named after the Italian city of Milan....
Newman LakeNewman Lake is an unincorporated community in Spokane County, Washington, United States. Newman Lake, which took its name from early settler William Newman, is east-northeast of downtown Spokane. Newman Lake has a post office with ZIP code 99025....
Nine Mile FallsNine Mile Falls is an unincorporated community in Spokane County, Washington, United States. It is located 9 mi from downtown Spokane, at the location of the former falls on the Spokane River. The Nine Mile Falls Dam was built by Spokane & Inland Empire Railroad on the site of the falls in...
Plaza
Tyler
ValleyfordValleyford is an unincorporated community in Spokane County, Washington, United States. Valleyford is southeast of downtown Spokane. Valleyford has a post office with ZIP code 99036....
|
Spokane County Library District
Established in 1942,
Spokane County Library District was created as a limited purpose municipal corporation to serve the unincorporated areas of Spokane County. In addition, the library also serves the cities and towns of Cheney, Deer Park, Fairfield, Latah, Medical Lake, Millwood, Rockford, Spangle, Spokane Valley, and Waverly (annexed to District); and Airway Heights (contracting with District). The total population served is 236,120 including 123,411 in the unincorporated county and 112,709 in affiliated cities and towns. Employing 164 full and part-time staff, the library system is composed of ten branches - two resource libraries (North Spokane and Spokane Valley) and eight community libraries; Airway Heights, Argonne, Cheney, Deer Park, Fairfield, Medical Lake, Moran Prairie, North Spokane, Otis Orchards and Spokane Valley.
External links