|
|
Weather:
Spokane, WA Links
Chamber of Commerce
Visit Spokane
|
Spokane is the second largest city in Washington state, the third largest city in the Pacific
Northwest region of the United States 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" (without an 'e' at the end), drawing on the Native American tribe
known as the Spokane, which means "Children of the Sun.” It is often mispronounced "Spo-cane";
however, it is correctly pronounced "spo-can". Spokane is often referred to as the 'Lilac City'
(for its flowers).
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 (450 km) east of Seattle and 375 miles (600 km) northeast of Portland.
The 2000 census showed that the city population was 197,400, and the county had a
population of 446,714. 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.
Spokane, Washington History:
In 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
was 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
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 (without
an 'e') 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.
Spokane Businesses Wanted
Have a computer or internet related business in Spokane, Washington?
We would like to talk to you about becoming a reseller of our services.
Contact Us to request more information or a copy of
our resellers agreement.
|
