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Spokane is the largest city and county seat of Spokane County, and is the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest. It is located along the Spokane River in Eastern Washington about from the Washington-Idaho border.
The city was settled in 1871 as "Spokan Falls" (without an 'e' at the end), drawing on the Native American tribe known as the Spokane, which means "Children of the Sun.” The city's name is often mispronounced "Spo-CANE", while the correct pronunciation is "Spo-CAN". Spokane's official nickname is the 'Lilac City', named after the flowers that have flourished since their introduction to the area in the early 20th century.
According to 2006 census estimates, Spokane has a population of 198,081, making it the second most populous city in the State of Washington, and the fourth largest in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, after Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, and Boise, Idaho. 446,706 residents live in Spokane's official metropolitan area, Spokane County, as recognized by the U.S. Census). With neighboring Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, the city is unofficially a part of the Spokane-Coeur d'Alene metropolitan area, which accounts for a population of nearly 600,000 people.
The city was settled in 1871 as "Spokan Falls" (without an 'e' at the end), drawing on the Native American tribe known as the Spokane, which means "Children of the Sun.” The city's name is often mispronounced "Spo-CANE", while the correct pronunciation is "Spo-CAN". Spokane's official nickname is the 'Lilac City', named after the flowers that have flourished since their introduction to the area in the early 20th century.
According to 2006 census estimates, Spokane has a population of 198,081, making it the second most populous city in the State of Washington, and the fourth largest in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, after Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, and Boise, Idaho. 446,706 residents live in Spokane's official metropolitan area, Spokane County, as recognized by the U.S. Census). With neighboring Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, the city is unofficially a part of the Spokane-Coeur d'Alene metropolitan area, which accounts for a population of nearly 600,000 people.
HistoryIn 1871 two squatters named James J. Downing and Seth Scranton built a small sawmill on a claim located near the south bank of the Spokane Falls. James N. Glover and Jasper Matheney, two Oregonians who were passing through the region recognized the value of the Spokane River and its falls. In 1873 Glover purchased the sawmill and the claim from Downing. He later purchased some more property from Scranton on the north end of the falls. Glover eventually bought out his partner Matheney and opened Spokane's first bank. Glover is considered the founding father of Spokane and later became one of its first mayors as well.
Spokane Falls was a gathering place for the area's indigenous people due to the abundance of salmon in the Spokane River. Camp Spokane was established by the U.S. Army at a location northwest of Spokane on October 21, 1880 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 (without an 'e'; the 'e' was added in 1883) was officially incorporated on November 29, 1881. In 1891, the name was changed to Spokane. The President of the first City Council was mill owner and Methodist minister Samuel G. Havermale.
The Great FireIn 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.
While the damage caused by the fire was a devastating 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 clock tower currently in Riverfront Park was built as part of the depot and is one of the biggest in the Northwest, with each of its clock faces measuring 9 feet (2.7 m) across. The clock tower is the only part of the depot that remains standing to this day.
1974 World's FairSpokane hosted the first environmentally themed World's Fair in 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 sits next to an IMAX theater, and the Washington State Pavilion became the INB Performing Arts Center. The Expo site itself became the 100 acre (40 ha) Riverfront Park, containing, among other features, the U.S. Pavilion, the turn-of-the-20th-century (and meticulously preserved) 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.
Downtown Urban RenewalDowntown Spokane has undergone a major rebirth in recent years after the completion of RiverPark Square mall. The historic Davenport Hotel underwent a major renovation in 2002 after being vacant for over 20 years. The project was funded by local entrepreneur Walt Worthy, who also added a Safari-themed 20 story tower to the hotel in 2007. Other major projects include the renovation of the Holley Mason Building, the building of the Big Easy concert house, the renovation of the Montvale Hotel and the historic Fox Theater (now home to the Spokane Symphony after its renovation), numerous new condo buildings, and renovations of historic, older brick buildings that will house both condos and business. Also, the Spokane Convention Center just finished a major expansion which helped host the 2007 US Figure Skating Championships. All new skyscrapers built in Spokane are subject to city height restrictions, and therefore, any new efforts to build major buildings are hampered. Recently, a local developer (Rob Brewster) has proposed building the new VOX Tower which, if approved, will become the tallest building in Spokane. In all over 500 projects worth over $2 billion dollars are taking place in downtown.
Kendall YardsThe new Kendall Yards development on the northside of Downtown Spokane along the Spokane River will become one of the largest construction projects in the city's history. The proposed development will directly connect to downtown with bridges across the Spokane River and blends residential and retail space with plazas, and walking trails. Phase I of the development will incorporate about 500 residential units and of non-residential use. Town homes, condominiums, and apartments will comprise the residential makeup. Upon completion, the nearly 80 acre Kendall Yards project will include up to 2,600 residential units and up to one million square feet of commercial, retail and office space.
Spokane and its metropolitan areaSpokane is located at . The City of Spokane covers an area of 58.5 sq mi (151.6 km²). Spokane is surrounded by many unincorporated communities (and several incorporated cities), which make up the suburbs of Spokane. They include Airway Heights, Mead, Colbert, Spokane Valley, Millwood, Nine Mile Falls, and Liberty Lake. Across the border in Idaho, are Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene.
NeighborhoodsMuch of Spokane is reflected in its large variety of neighborhoods. Neighborhoods range from the late Victorian-era style Browne's Addition, to the Davenport Arts District of Downtown, to the more contemporary neighborhoods of North Spokane. Virtually every social class is represented. Some of the neighborhoods are officially recognized by the city, while others are not, but are commonly thought of as distinct neighborhoods by residents.
Geography and climateSpokane 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.
Downtown Spokane is at an elevation of about 1,890 feet (576 m) above sea level, while the rest of the city varies by nearly 1,000 feet (300 m). The lowest elevation in the city of Spokane is the northernmost point of the Spokane River in Riverside State Park within city limits at 1,608 feet (490 m). (As a state park, its territory continues further downstream.) This is located next to the 7900 block of Aubrey L. White Parkway. The highest elevation is on the northeast side near the community of Hillyard, though closer to Beacon Hill and the North Hill Reservoir at 2,591 feet (790 m). As both extremes are located on city boundaries, any further annexations in these areas will likely result in a revision.
Spokane has the quintessential four-season climate, being in the continental and semi-arid zone. Winters are cold, averaging of snow per year, while summers are warm and sunny with temperatures usually in the 80's and 90's, occasionally getting into the 100's. 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 58.5 square miles (151.6 km²), of which, 57.8 square miles (149.6 km²) is land and 0.8 square miles (2.0 km²) (1.30%) is water.
GovernmentThe City of Spokane operates under a Mayor-Council form of government, also referred to as "Strong Mayor." It switched to a Strong Mayor system in January 2001, after 40 years of running under a Council-Manager system.
The Mayor of Spokane is Mary Verner. She was formerly on the City Council for four years and became the new mayor on November 27, 2007 replacing Dennis P. Hession, who conceded on November 9th, 2007. Hession became mayor on December 16, 2005 after the recall of the late Jim West who was forced from office after a gay sex scandal that made national headlines. 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 2nd-term Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (a Republican).
See also: List of mayors of Spokane, Washington
EducationSpokane Public Schools (Distrct 81) is the main and largest public school system in Spokane, serving roughly 30,000 students. Two other significant public school districts in the Spokane area are Central Valley School District, and Mead School District, serving approximately 12,000 and 9,100 students, respectively.
Spokane is home to many higher education institutions. They include the private universities, Gonzaga and Whitworth, and the public Community Colleges of Spokane system. 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, Washington State University, and University of Washington (through EWU)
operate satellite campuses alongside Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute (SIRTI) at the Riverpoint Higher Education Park (more commonly known as the "Riverpoint Campus"), just adjacent to downtown.
The main EWU campus is located southwest of Spokane in Cheney, and WSU is located in Pullman about to the south.
InfrastructureHealthcareSpokane is the hub for medical services in the Inland Northwest. The region's healthcare needs are served primarily by Seattle-based Providence Health & Services and Spokane-based Empire Health Services, two non-profit organizations who run the two biggest hospitals in Spokane, Sacred Heart Medical Center, and Deaconess Medical Center, respectively. Both hospitals are Level II trauma centers and work together by alternating weeks of being the designated trauma center in the area. The two hospitals, along with a majority of Spokane's major health care facilities are located on Spokane's Lower-South Hill, just south of Downtown. The close proximity of the hospitals and many doctors offices and specialized clinics scattered around this area, form what is known as the "Medical District" of Spokane.
Healthcare in Spokane is considered excellent, and the level of service attracts patients from beyond the region. Deaconess Medical Center has been ranked one of the Top 100 Heart Hospitals in the nation 5 times in the last 8 years by Solucient, and is ranked 1 in Washington for overall cardiac services by HealthGrades.
In 2003, Sacred Heart Medical Center opened the first and only major Children's Hospital in Eastern Washington.
Other hospitals in the Spokane area include Holy Family Hospital (on the north side), and Valley Hospital and Medical Center (in the Spokane Valley.
TransportationRoads and HighwaysFor its city streets, Spokane uses the very common street grid that is oriented to the four cardinal directions; north, south, east, and west. The median streets are Division St. (running north-south, dividing east and west), and Sprauge Ave. (running east-west, dividing north and south).
Spokane is primarily served by Interstate 90, which runs east-west from Seattle, through Downtown Spokane, and eastward through Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, and onward to Coeur d'Alene. Although they are not limited access highways like I-90, US-2 and 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, and US-2 branches off to the northeast, continuing to Mead, Colbert, Chattaroy, Newport, and Sandpoint.
Over the past decade, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has aggressively improved local highways to keep up with the region's growth and to try to prevent congestion problems that plague many large cities around the country. In 2005, the WSDOT completed the first two phases of its I-90 Spokane-Idaho State Line widening project. Currently the Interstate has been widened to six lanes through Spokane Valley, but another $166 million in funding is still needed to widen the last segment between Sullivan Road and the Idaho state line.
The Department of Transportation is also constructing the US 395 North Spokane Corridor. When completed, the corridor will be a brand new 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 north of Wandermere. Aside from the construction of I-90 itself, this is the largest road construction project ever to be implemented in Spokane. The north-south freeway is excpected to take over $2 billion to complete (over $3 billion if inflation is factored in). The first segment of the freeway is scheduled to be open in 2009. The rest of the freeway will be built when funding is available. With full funding, the roadway is expected to take 10 years to complete.
Public transportationBefore the influx of automobiles, people got around by using Spokane's streetcar system. Many of the older sidestreets in Spokane still have visible streetcar rails embedded in them to this day, as they were never removed.
Today, mass transportation throughout the Spokane area is provided by the Spokane Transit Authority (STA). STA currently operates around 160 buses and has a service area that covers roughly 371 square miles. A large percentage of STA bus routes originate from the main central hub, the STA Plaza, in Downtown Spokane. Passengers that stop at The Plaza can transfer virtually any other of Spokane Transit's routes.
In the late-1990's, talks of constructing a rapid-transit system became popular. Although bus rapid transit was considered, constructing a light rail system was the preferred alternative. The proposed light rail line was to run from The Plaza eastward through the Spokane Valley to Liberty Lake, with future extensions from The Plaza to Spokane International Airport, Liberty Lake to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and a line running in the median of the currently-being-constructed, North Spokane Corridor. In 2005, the $263 million project was narrowly defeated by voters, shelving the project, at least for the meantime.
Spokane has rail and bus service provided by Amtrak and Greyhound via the Spokane Intermodal Center. The city is a stop for Amtrak's Emprire Builder on it's way from Chicago. Through service continues once a night to both Seattle and Portland, Oregon, a reflection of the old Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway.
AirportsSpokane, Eastern Washington and North Idaho are served by Spokane International Airport, which, ironically, has no international flights, but is still the second largest airport in the state of Washington. The airport lies west of the city, and is a 10 minute drive to downtown. The airport is the second largest in the state of Washington. The international airport three letter designation is GEG, a result of the legacy Geiger Field days. Geiger is now a National Guard landing field and general aviation.
Felts Field is a general aviation airport serving Spokane County and is located in east Spokane along the Spokane River. Felts Field served as Spokane's primary airport until SIA was built. Today the terminal building, among others at the airport, still stand and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
SportsSpokane hosted the 1998 Memorial Cup, the championship of the Canadian Hockey League, at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena.
Spokane hosted the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournaments in 2002 (Women's), 2003 (Men's) and 2007 (Men's) at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. The Tournament will again be held in Spokane in 2008 (Women's).
Spokane hosted the 2007 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and set a record for attendance, selling nearly 155,000 tickets and passing the previous mark of 125,000 set by Los Angeles. Fans, analysts and athletes, including Ice Dancing champion Tanith Belbin, spoke highly of the city's performance as host, which included large, supportive crowds. Spokane was also a candidate city for the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships, losing its bid to Los Angeles. Skating analyst Dick Button said that Spokane should host that event in the future.
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. With the split of the 'B' classification in 2006, beginning in 2007 the city will be host to the State 2B (the state's second smallest class) Basketball Championships.
Parks and recreationIn 1907, Spokane's board of park commissioners retained the services of the Olmsted Brothers to draw up a plan for Spokane parks. Today, Spokane has a system of over 75 parks totaling , with parks ranging in size from the quarter-acre Skeet-So-Mish Park playground to the Palisades Park conservation area. Some of the parks in Spokane’s extensive park system are listed below:
Riverfront Park, 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 (a recently rebuilt gondola that carries visitors across the falls from high above the river gorge), the 5-story IMAX theater, 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. Riverside State Park is close to downtown and is a site for hiking, mountain biking, rafting, and also has scenic views.
The Centennial Trail 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, which runs from west of Spokane into Idaho.
Highbridge Park and People's Park: These two parks are located in Peaceful Valley, where it meets Hangman creek.
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. 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 Oreille, or one of the other nearby bodies of water. The Spokane area has 76 lakes and numerous 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.
Travelling the scenic Hiawatha Trail just east of the Spokane-Coeur d'Alene area is a popular destination for cycling.Events and activitiesSpokane is home to a number of annual events and attractions that draw people from a large surrounding area:
The Lilac Bloomsday Run, a race for walkers and competitive runners, is the largest timed road race in the world, typically drawing about 45,000 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 25,000 participants or around 6,000 3-4 person teams.
Each April, Japan Week celebrates the sister-city relationship with Nishinomiya, Hyogo, 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 Garland Village Arts & Music Festival takes place the second Saturday each August. 2006 will mark the 4th annual street fair. More information can be found at The Garland Village.Pig-Out In The Park 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.Tour Des Lacs 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 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 Spokane Symphony performs a full season of concerts in the refurbished 1931 art deco Fox Theater, while the Spokane Jazz Orchestra 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 Community College. Mobius is a science center and children's museum.
The Northwest Renaissance Festival is a renaissance festival north of Spokane that began in 1995. The festival's 13th Season will be open every weekend from June 23 to July 15, 2007 11am to 7pm.
The Spokane Pride Parade happens every June downtown drawing gays and lesbians and their supporters.
The Spokane Gay & Lesbian Film Festival happens every November celebrating the gay and lesbian community through film.The Spokane Hempfest takes place for a weekend in August at Riverfront Park and attracts thousands of people to the park each year.CultureSpokane Art Districts- The first Friday of every month is dedicated to the Spokane Art Walk. Galleries during this period stay open longer and hold artist receptions. Galleries such as the Lorinda Knight, host performance art as well as visual. Spokane has two main art walk dates; the first Friday of February and October. During These two months, crowds are unusually big in the art district. Spokane's art districts are located in the Davenport District, the Garland Village, and a recently formed art district in 1800 E. Sprague.
The Davenport District, home to many art galleries, including Goodworks Co-op, beneath the infamous Ella's Supper Club, which projects silent black and white movies on the back of the Fox Theater each night.
The Fox Theater recently re-opened, restored almost to its exact original Art Deco state. This establishment seats more than the Bing Crosby Theater. Despite its regal appeal prices are still reasonable, $9 for students.
The Garland District is home to Galleries and shops such as the Tinman art Gallery and the Ruby Slippers Bookstore. Benny and Joon, featuring Johnny Depp, was filmed in the Garland Village, at the local eateries.
Northwest Glass Society located in the Spokane Valley featuring glass art in the on site galley by local and regional glass artists such as; William Hagy,Joel Nelson, Rick Lemly, Spencer Erlendson,and Jo Schmitt. This non-profit glass studio was founded in 2005 by instructor William Hagy to offer those in the community professional lampwork, and glass education.
A Cat's Eye Gallery lies between the Garland Village and Davenport District. It's building was built somewhere between 1898-1900, it was the first animal hospital in Washington State. Later the building became a brownie baking company. Since 1998 it's served as a studio/gallery for 35 artists, including Sam White, Marcia Dukes, Conrad Bagley, John Belmore and Lydia Quinn. This space offers classes of figure drawing, glass and ceramics. A Cat's Eye Gallery is also affiliated with Events such as Glass on the Grass, First Night Spokane, Turned-Thrown-n-Hammered, as well as Art-n-Living/Thin Air Radio.
1800 E Sprague Art District is a recent surge of galleries/studios as of 2004. The Object provides space to many artists, as well as 'Out There' Magazine. This gallery as well as it's counterpart across the street serve to emerging artists of medias such as Gorilla art, Noise art, and Modern Art.In popular cultureSeveral motion pictures have been set and filmed (at least partially) in Spokane, including:
''Why Would I Lie? (1980)Vision Quest (1985), (also a novel by Terry Davis)Benny & Joon (1993),Shadow of Fear (2004),Hangman's Curse (2003), a movie adapted from the book with the same title by popular Christian author Frank Peretti, Mozart and the Whale (2005), The Cutter (2005) with Chuck NorrisEnd Game (2006) with Cuba Gooding Jr. and Burt Reynolds.The Family Holiday (2007), with Dave Coulier.Home Of The Brave (2007), with Jessica Beil, Curtis Jackson
The Comedy Central series Dog Bites Man was set in Spokane.
In an episode of the TV show Coach, Hayden Fox (Craig T. Nelson) is lauded as "The Man from Spokane" in an over-the-top presentation. Nelson is a one time Resident of Spokane. He graduated in 1962 from Lewis & Clark High School.
Also, the movie Home of the Brave with Samuel L. Jackson and Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson is set and takes place partly in Spokane.
The popular support tool "Spokane" draws its name from the fact that key developers were in the city when the project was devised.
In an episode of Frasier, Dr. Frasier Crane travels to Spokane to broadcast his show from a talk radio station there. There are two references to the "horses on the Looff" in this episode.
In a story arc of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, architect Ted Mosby is designing an 80 story skyscraper for downtown Spokane.
Noted YA author and former Spokane Mental Health therapist Chris Crutcher has centered a few of his award-winning novels in Spokane, notably 1995's Ironman.
Notable peopleMusicians
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 ByrdsBing Crosby, singer and actorPaul D'Amour, former member of the band ToolThomas Hampson, baritoneMyles Kennedy, lead singer of the band Alter BridgeGeorge Lynch, former member of the rock band Dokken and current member of Lynch MobCraig Montoya, former member of the band EverclearPatrice Munsel, former Metropolitan opera starmanolito daniel, lead singer of the group manolitoBilly Tipton, transgender jazz musician
Artists
Sherman Alexie, author (born in Wellpinit, Washington).Harold Balazs, sculptor.Kenneth Callahan, painter from the "Northwest School."David Eddings, author of the Belgariad and many other books.Mike Krahulik, Artist for Penny-Arcade.Kenn Nesbitt, author of Revenge of the Lunch Ladies and other books of humorous children's poetry.Jess Walter, author of award-winning novel Citizen Vince and non-fiction Every Knee Shall Bow.
Sports
Jeremy Affeldt, Major League Baseball pitcher for the Colorado RockiesEd Brandt, Major League Pitcher (1928-38)Neil Everett, ESPN SportsCenter anchorJan-Michael Gambill, professional tennis playerJason Hanson, kicker with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL)]Ed Kirkpatrick, former MLB baseball playerChad Little, former NASCAR driverAdam Morrison, Mead High School graduate (2003), former Gonzaga basketball player, current Charlotte Bobcat, and former 2005-2006 preseason and postseason first team All-American.Mark Rypien, former World Champion Quarterback for the Washington Redskins of the NFL Most Valuable Player of the 1991 Super BowlRyne Sandberg, 2005 Inductee into the Baseball Hall Of Fame, former second baseman for the Chicago CubsTom Sneva, Indianapolis 500 winnerJohn Stockton, former professional basketball player, point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA and Gonzaga BulldogsCory Withrow, center for the San Diego Chargers.John Yarno is a former NFL offensive lineman, born in Spokane and attended High School at Gonzaga Prep and Ferris High School. He graduated from the University of Idaho in 1977. He was recently inducted into the University of Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame. At 6'5" & 251 lb., he played center for Idaho, was an AP All-American, and was selected in the fourth round of the 1977 NFL Draft. He was the starting center for the Seattle Seahawks for six seasons, from 1977-82.
Actors
Darren McGavin (by some accounts), actor best known for starring in and A Christmas Story.Craig T. Nelson, actor who has played lead roles in Coach, The District, and The Incredibles.Julia Sweeney, actor and comedian - well known as Pat on Saturday Night Live.Tongolele, film and television actor known throughout Spain and Latin America.Trevor St. John, actor, joined daytime drama One Life To Live in 2003 as Todd Manning.Dyan Cannon, actress, known in Number OnePaul Johansson, actor, known as Dan Scott in One Tree Hill.
Politicians
Ryan Crocker, U.S. diplomat, currently serving as U.S. Ambassador to IraqTom Foley, U.S. Congressman, former Democratic Speaker of the United States House of RepresentativesSamuel G. Havermale, early Spokane pioneer, minister and politicianEric Johnston, former head of the United States Chamber of Commerce, former President of the Motion Picture Association of AmericaGeorge Nethercutt, U.S. Congressman, Former Judge/attorney Republican Party
Other
Sue Herera, born in Spokane and current CNBC anchorDavid Lynch (Although born in Missoula, Montana), Surrealist Director- Most notable for Twin Peaks, Eraserhead, Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive (film)Walter Houser Brattain (born in China), awarded Nobel Prize in Physics in 1956.Madonna Buder, 75-year-old Catholic nun and oldest Hawaii Ironman Triathlete competitorKirtland Cutter, architect, best known for his work in Spokane, including the Davenport HotelRick Rydell - outdoors author (Alaska Happens), radio talk show host worked at local radio stations KJRB, KZZU, and KKZX.Cyan Worlds, Inc.(Created by brothers Robyn and Rand Miller), the company that produced the computer game MystSonora Smart Dodd, successfully campaigned for the establishment of Father's DayChief Garry, one of the Spokane tribes' most prominent and influential leaders during the shift from indigenous to European-American control of their landCol. David P. Jenkins Civil War Colonel, Spokane homesteader and philanthropistWilder Graves Penfield, American-born Canadian neurosurgeon who mapped out the functional areas of the cerebral cortex and pioneered groundbreaking research into epilepsy treatmentIrwin Rose, American biologist awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2004UFO Phil, comedy/novelty songwriter and regular guest on many national radio programs such as Coast to Coast AM and Dr. DementoJohn Babcock, last remaining Canadian male veteran of World War IJerry Holkins, One half of the Penny Arcade duo.
See:
Local mediaPrint mediaSpokane 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 Spokane Journal of Business; the bi-weekly GLBT paper, Stonewall News; a monthly outdoor activities paper, Out There Monthly; and the monthly paper covering the Garland neighborhood, The Garland Times. Spokane also has several community magazines,
The Finger, a quarterly magazine for the disillusioned;
Communist Manifesto Weekly, a not so communist publication by former staff members of The Finger who became addicted to 4chan /b/;
Spokane Coeur d'Alene Living, a monthly home and lifestyle magazine; "The Spokane Sidekick a bi-weekly arts & entertainment guide; The Word, a monthly humor publication. Northwest Woman Magazine and The Family Guide, Northwest Woman is a bi-monthly regional publication designed for women in the Northwest. The Family Guide is an annual publication distributed through the Spokane and Coeur d' Alene grade schools and is full of local resources to celebrate and strengthen family life in the Inland Northwest.
TelevisionThe geographic region served by Spokane television broadcasts is among the largest in the nation. It is the television broadcast center for much of eastern Washington (except the Yakima, Tri-Cities area), north Idaho, northwesten Montana, northeastern Oregon, and parts of Canada (by cable television). 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 are:
KREM-TV 2 (CBS) KXLY-TV 4 (ABC) KHQ-TV 6 (NBC) KSPS-TV 7 (PBS) KXMN-LP 11(MNTV) KSKN-TV 22 (CW) KAYU-TV 28 (Fox) KGPX-TV 34 (ION) KQUP 47LP (RTN) (translator for ch. 24 Pullman, Washington.) K55EB 55 (TBN) (translator for KTBN)It also receives transmissions from Idaho Public Television's KCDT-TV channel 26 (PBS) based in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
RadioSpokane has one low power (LPFM) community radio station - KYRS-LP. KYRS serves the Spokane area with progressive perspectives, filling needs that other media do not, providing programming to diverse communities and unserved or underserved groups.
According to Arbitron, Spokane is the 92nd largest radio market in the United States with 480,800 age 12 and over.
Sister citiesIn the cultural exchange program known as "Sister Cities" Spokane is twinned with:
Nishinomiya, Japan since September, 1961 (Spokane's first sister city) Limerick, Ireland Jecheon, South Korea Jilin, China Makhachkala, Russia Lübeck, GermanyExternal linksSpokane Regional Convention and Visitors BureauSpokane Economic Development CouncilDowntown Spokane PartnershipExperience Spokane Visitor ResourcesSpokane PhotosSpokane Night Scenesmetro(spō-kăn') Commentary on Urban Development & Design in SpokaneSpokane Regional Transportation Management Center Regional Traffic Information
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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ski, skiing, sports
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By Going Places user
10 days
My mom, my 5 year old niece Victoria and I are going to be taking the roadtrip from Sioux Falls, SD to Spokane, WA to see my Grandpa!!! YEAH!!!
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4 people reviewed Spokane
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at 8:17AM May 29, 2008
Beautiful city
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at 6:38AM May 29, 2008
I lived here for seven years and enjoyed my time...Especially when Bloomsday came around!
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at 12:49AM May 29, 2008
visited Natalie when she was going to school there... pretty
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at 7:44PM May 28, 2008
Boring!!
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