Spokane,
Washington lies at the heart of the
Inland Northwest United States, in the
shadows of the
Columbia Plateau and the
Rocky Mountain foothills. The
Spokane River, a tributary of the
Columbia River, passes through the city,
providing a series of enchanting
waterfalls. This vibrant northwestern
community earned the title of
All-America City in 2004.
Census 2000 data reported the Spokane, WA
population as 195,629 residents; however, early
2006 estimates show the population in excess of
200,000. This makes Spokane the second largest
city in Washington and the
Pacific Northwest’s third largest city. The
metro area surrounding Spokane is home to more
than half a million individuals. Located along
the bustling
I-90 corridor, Spokane, Washington lies just
18 miles west of the
Idaho State line and 110 miles south of
Canada.
Seattle and
Portland, the region’s largest urban
centers, are both within a half-day’s drive of
Spokane.
Spokane, WA serves as the seat of
Spokane County and is a significant center
of business, health care and retail services for
the Inland Northwest region. This massive
80,000 square mile region encompasses 36
counties that span several
U.S. states and a portion of
Canada. Spokane’s workforce has access to a
progressive business atmosphere and a diverse
economy that thrives on agriculture,
biotechnology, forestry and manufacturing.
Spokane, Washington is also an important
distribution site for a large agricultural,
horticultural, lumber, mining and stock-raising
area.
Fairchild Air Force Base,
Spokane Public Schools and
Sacred Heart Medical Center are among
Spokane’s largest employers.
Spokane, WA boasts an impressive selection of higher learning
facilities that include
Eastern Washington University,
Gonzaga University, Spokane’s campus of the
Washington State University and
Whitworth College. Spokane, WA is also home
to the
Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute, which serves
as the American campus of the Mukogawa Women’s
University in
Nishinomiya, Japan. Residents also have
top-notch primary and secondary schools in the
public and private sectors. In recent years,
Newsweek recognized
Lewis & Clark High School as one of the top
high schools in the
United States. In addition, Spokane earned
second place (out of eighty large U.S. cities)
for its kid-friendly atmosphere according to
Population Connection in 2004.
Spokane, Washington residents enjoy a
well-rounded cultural and recreational lifestyle
with four distinct seasons. Nearby mountains
afford opportunities for biking, hiking and
skiing, while local lakes and rivers provide the
ideal setting for boating, fishing and
swimming. Residents and visitors also have
access to art galleries, Broadway performances,
challenging golf courses, museums and nearly
35,000 acres of stunning parkland. Popular
destinations in Spokane include the Fairchild
Air Force Base, the
Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture,
Silverwood Theme Park, the
Spokane Raceway Park,
wine tours and the preserved structures from
the
1974 World’s Fair. Spokane also
offers
HotZone, which is a large municipal wireless
fidelity (wi-fi) network that allows free
high-speed Internet access to anyone within the
massive 100-block access area.
Spokane,
Washington offers a culturally rich
community with an impressive array of big city
amenities. Surrounded by breathtaking scenery,
this award-winning city truly embodies its
slogan: “Near nature. Near perfect”.
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