126-911: The First Interstate Center for the Arts is a 2,609-seat theater and entertainment venue in Spokane , Washington . It is located in Downtown Spokane along the south bank of the Spokane River adjacent to the Spokane Convention Center . The facility is owned and operated by the Spokane Public Facilities District . After two years of construction from 1972-1974 for the Expo '74 in Spokane,
252-653: A fur trading post on the Spokane River, which flows west from Lake Coeur d'Alene to the Columbia River , and trade with the local Indians. This post was established in 1810, at the confluence of the Little Spokane and Spokane rivers, becoming the first enduring European settlement of significance in what later became Washington state. Known as the Spokane House , or simply "Spokane", it
378-628: A brief period (1960–1965). As of 2018 , the 92d Air Refueling Wing was commanded by Colonel Derek Salmi. Its Command Chief Master Sergeant was Chief Master Sergeant Lee Mills. Fairchild Air Force Base is named in honor of General Muir S. Fairchild (1894–1950). Born in Bellingham , he graduated from Olympia High School and attended the University of Washington in Seattle . Fairchild received his wings and commission in 1918, and served as
504-624: A confederation of tribes in engagements at the battles of Four Lakes and Spokane Plains . The cessation of hostilities opened the inter-mountain valley of the Pacific Northwest to colonial expansion and safe habitation by settlers. Joint American–British occupation of Oregon Country , in effect since the Treaty of 1818 , eventually led to the Oregon Boundary Dispute after a large influx of American settlers along
630-476: A daily circulation of over 76,000. The first humans to live in the Spokane area were hunter-gatherers that lived off plentiful fish and game; early human remains have been dated to 8,000 to 13,000 years ago. The Spokane tribe, after which the city is named (the name meaning "children of the sun" or "sun people" in Salishan ), are believed to be either their direct descendants, or descendants of people from
756-830: A distinct identity and illustrate the changes throughout the city's history. Most of Spokane's notable buildings and landmarks are in the Riverside neighborhood and the downtown commercial district, where many of the buildings were rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1889 in the Romanesque Revival style. Examples include the Great Northern clock tower, Review Building, Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes , First Congregational Church , Washington Water Power Post Street substation , Peyton Building, and The Carlyle. The principal architect of many buildings of this period
882-924: A group level command, the unit, now known as the 336th Training Group , continues this mission for the Air Education and Training Command (AETC). To provide air defense of the base, U.S. Army Nike-Hercules surface-to-air missile sites were constructed during 1956/1957. Sites were located near Cheney (F-37) 47°32′30″N 117°32′46″W / 47.54167°N 117.54611°W / 47.54167; -117.54611 ; Deep Creek (F-87) 47°39′29″N 117°42′55″W / 47.65806°N 117.71528°W / 47.65806; -117.71528 ; Medical Lake (F-45) 47°35′10″N 117°40′32″W / 47.58611°N 117.67556°W / 47.58611; -117.67556 , and Spokane (F-07) 47°40′50″N 117°36′28″W / 47.68056°N 117.60778°W / 47.68056; -117.60778 . The Cheney site
1008-525: A horse to a frying pan". It would keep this status for subsequent rushes in the region due to its trade center status and accessibility to railroad infrastructure. Spokane's growth continued unabated until August 4, 1889, when a fire, now known as The Great Fire (not to be confused with the Great Fire of 1910 , which happened nearby), began just after 6:00 p.m., and destroyed the city's downtown commercial district. Due to technical problems with
1134-547: A male householder with no partner present, and 31.4% had a female householder with no partner present. The median household size was 2.21 and the median family size was 2.96. The age distribution was 18.8% under 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.4 males. Fairchild Air Force Base Fairchild Air Force Base ( AFB ) ( IATA : SKA , ICAO : KSKA , FAA LID : SKA )
1260-556: A month prior on August 16, 2018. At the time of closing, First Interstate announced plans to phase out the Inland Northwest Bank name in November 2018. Spokane, Washington Spokane ( / s p oʊ ˈ k æ n / spoh- KAN ) is the most populous city in and the county seat of Spokane County, Washington , United States. It is in eastern Washington , along the Spokane River , adjacent to
1386-709: A native of Bellingham . The general entered service as a sergeant with the Washington National Guard in June 1916 and was an aviator in World War I . He died at his quarters at Fort Myer while on duty in the Pentagon in March 1950. The formal dedication ceremony was held 20 July 1951, to coincide with the arrival of the wing's first B-36 Peacemaker . In 1956, the wing began a conversion that brought
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#17327901199971512-553: A natural barrier against possible Japanese attack. As an added incentive to the War Department, many Spokane businesses and public-minded citizens donated money to purchase land for the base. At a cost of more than $ 125,000, these people bought 1,400 acres (5.7 km ) and presented the title to the War Department in January 1942. That year, the government designated $ 14 million to purchase more land and begin construction of
1638-642: A new Spokane Army Air Depot. Spokane Air Depot was served by a rail connection to the Great Northern Railway . From 1942 until 1946, the base served as a repair depot for damaged aircraft returning from the Pacific Theater. The depot command at the base went through several name changes, at one point being designated the Spokane Air Technical Service Command . Effective at 2359L on 31 August 1947,
1764-713: A pilot during World War I . He held various air staff positions during World War II and received his fourth star in 1948. While serving as Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force , he died on 17 March 1950. Since 1942, Fairchild Air Force Base/Station has been a key part of the United States' defense strategy—from World War II repair depot, to Strategic Air Command bomber wing during the Cold War, to Air Mobility Command air refueling wing during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Today, Fairchild's aircraft and personnel make up
1890-575: A plain that eventually rises sharply to the east towards the rugged, timbered Selkirk Mountains . The foothills of the Rockies —the Coeur d'Alene Mountains —rise about 25 miles (40 km) to the east in north Idaho. The city is in a transition area between the barren landscape of the Columbia Basin and the coniferous forests to the east; to the south are the lush prairies and rolling hills of
2016-422: A practice flight for an upcoming air show , killing all four crew members. Pilot error as a result of reckless flying by one of the pilots was determined to be the cause of the crash. Fairchild is home to a wide variety of units and missions. Most prominent is its air refueling mission, with two wings, one active, the 92nd Air Refueling Wing , and one national guard , the 141st Air Refueling Wing , both flying
2142-436: A publicity stunt. Many Wobblies were incarcerated, including feminist labor leader Elizabeth Gurley Flynn , who published her account in the local Industrial Worker . After mining declined at the turn of the 20th century, agriculture and logging became the primary influences in the Spokane economy. The population explosion and the building of homes, railroads, and mines in northern Idaho and southern British Columbia fueled
2268-406: A pump station, there was no water pressure in the city when the fire started. In a desperate bid to starve the fire, firefighters began razing buildings with dynamite. Eventually, the winds and the fire died down; 32 blocks of Spokane's downtown core had been destroyed and one person was killed. Despite this catastrophe, and in part because of it, Spokane experienced a building boom. The downtown
2394-405: A rifle and planned his attack on the base. At the time of the shooting, Fairchild's hospital was an ungated facility. Mellberg took a cab to the base with a large duffle bag and foam gun case, four weeks to the day following his discharge. The gunman, armed with a Chinese-made MAK-90 , an AK-47 clone, entered the office of Brigham and London and killed both men. Mellberg continued to move through
2520-460: A short time in the hospital, he was deemed fit to return and requested a transfer. After his transfer, he was discharged within two months due to symptoms of his personality disorder. Psychologists after the shooting speculate that the removal of his uniform at dismissal may have been a triggering factor to his rampage. On 24 June 1994, just four days after the base hospital shooting, one of the few remaining B-52H bombers at Fairchild crashed during
2646-907: A slightly newer version with more powerful turbofan engines. As military operations in Vietnam escalated in the mid-1960s, the demand for air refueling increased. Fairchild tanker crews became actively involved in Operation YOUNG TIGER, refueling combat aircraft in Southeast Asia. The wing's B-52s were not far behind, deploying to Andersen AFB on Guam for Operation Arc Light and the bombing campaign against enemy strongholds in Vietnam. On 10 September 1962, an inbound KC-135A from Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota with 44 aboard crashed into fog-shrouded Mount Kit Carson , just west of Mount Spokane . The incident occurred late in
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#17327901199972772-420: A small sawmill on a claim near the south bank of the falls. James N. Glover and Jasper Matheney, Oregonians passing through the region in 1873, recognized the value of the Spokane River and its falls for the purpose of water power. They realized the investment potential and bought the claims of 160 acres (65 ha) and the sawmill from Downing and Scranton for a total of $ 4,000. Glover and Matheney knew that
2898-487: A solitary wolf in Mount Spokane State Park. Although the ecoregion remains ecologically intact, it faces conservation challenges that include the negative effects of certain forestry management and logging practices, higher risks of forest fires due to the alteration of the trees that make up the forest composition, and habitat fragmentation as a result of urban sprawl and development, which endangers
3024-625: A total area of 60.02 square miles (155.45 km ), of which 59.25 square miles (153.46 km ) is land and 0.77 square miles (1.99 km ) is water. Spokane lies mostly within the Spokane Valley Outwash Plains at the periphery of the North Central Rockies forests ecoregion and partly within the eastern edge of the basaltic Channeled Scablands steppe of the Columbia Plateau ecoregion,
3150-659: A year. Spokane's location, between the Cascades Range to the west and the Rocky Mountains to the east and north, protects it from weather patterns experienced in other parts of the Pacific Northwest . The Cascade Mountains form a barrier to the eastward flow of moist and relatively mild air from the Pacific Ocean in winter and cool air in summer. As a result of the rain shadow effect of
3276-649: Is a United States Air Force base , located in the northwest United States in eastern Washington , approximately twelve miles (20 km) southwest of Spokane . The host unit at Fairchild is the 92nd Air Refueling Wing (92 ARW) assigned to the Air Mobility Command 's Eighteenth Air Force . The 92 ARW is responsible for providing air refueling , as well as passenger and cargo airlift and aero-medical evacuation missions supporting U.S. and coalition conventional operations as well as U.S. Strategic Command strategic deterrence missions. Fairchild AFB
3402-591: Is currently being renovated and modernized (as of October 2016). Manito Park and Botanical Gardens on Spokane's South Hill features the Duncan Gardens, a classical European Renaissance -style garden and the Nishinomiya Japanese Garden designed by Nagao Sakurai . Riverside State Park, close to downtown, is a site for outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, and horse riding. The Spokane area has many trails and rail trails ,
3528-466: Is known as the birthplace of Father's Day , and locally by the nickname of "Lilac City". Officially, Spokane goes by the nickname of Hooptown USA , due to Spokane's annual hosting of the Spokane Hoopfest , the world's largest basketball tournament. The city and the wider Inland Northwest area are served by Spokane International Airport , 5 miles (8 km) west of Downtown Spokane , which
3654-465: Is located near another airfield at Fairchild Air Force Base . According to the 2010 census , Spokane had a population of 208,916, making it the 2nd-most populous city in Washington , and the 97th-most populous city in the United States . At the 2020 census , Spokane's population was 228,989. A 2023 estimate sets the population of the metropolitan area at 600,292. The first people to live in
3780-517: Is still trying to make the transition to a more service-oriented economy in the face of a less prominent manufacturing sector. Developing the city's strength in the medical and health sciences fields has seen some success, resulting in the expansion of the University District with two medical school branches. The city faces challenges such as a scarcity of high-paying jobs, pockets of poverty, and areas of high crime. The opening of
3906-610: Is the Washington-native rainbow trout , which is the official fish of Washington state. Big game common in eastern Washington include black and grizzly bears, caribou , Rocky Mountain elk , bighorn sheep, and cougar. Whitetail deer, mule deer, and moose are also found in abundance. The gray wolf population has been making a recovery in the Inland Northwest. As of June 2016, there are 16 wolf packs in eastern Washington. In August 2016, photo evidence confirmed
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4032-562: Is the central business district of Spokane. The neighborhoods south of downtown Spokane are collectively known as the South Hill. Downtown Spokane contains many of the city's public facilities, including City Hall, Riverfront Park (site of Expo '74), and the Spokane Convention Center, First Interstate Center for the Arts and Spokane Arena. The Spokane County Courthouse and public safety campus is adjacent to downtown in
4158-627: Is the closest natural reserve, the closest National Forest is the Colville National Forest , the closest National Recreation Area is the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area and the closest national park is Mount Rainier National Park , approximately a four-and-a-half hour drive from Spokane. Spokane's neighborhoods range from the Victorian -style South Hill and Browne's Addition, to
4284-551: Is the official tree of the City of Spokane, which is where specimens were first collected by botanist David Douglas in 1826. The Canadian Rockies ecoregion supports 70 mammals, 16 reptiles and amphibians, 168 birds, and 41 fish species. There is a high concentration of raptors in the area, bald eagles are a common sight near Lake Coeur d'Alene in December and January when kokanee spawn. The most common fish present in area lakes
4410-522: The Air Materiel Command . The facility was one of the thirteen original sites built for storage, maintenance, and operational readiness of the nuclear stockpile. Deep Creek became part of Fairchild AFB on 1 July 1962, with operations transferred to SAC. On 15 March 1966, the 336th Combat Crew Training Group was established at Fairchild. In 1971, the group became a wing and assumed control over all Air Force survival schools. Later reduced to
4536-622: The Army Corps of Engineers Northern Pacific Division directed its Seattle District to begin survey and mapping operations for the first Atlas-E site to be located in the vicinity of Spokane. Originally, the Air Force wanted three sites with three missiles at each (3 x 3); however, in early 1959, the Air Force opted to disperse the missiles to nine individual sites as a defensive safety measure. Work started at Site A on 12 May 1959, and completion at Site I occurred on 10 February 1961. Auxiliary support facilities for each site were built concurrent with
4662-697: The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist serves as that of the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane . The Spokane Washington Temple in the east of the county serves the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Gonzaga University was established in 1887 by the Jesuits , and the private Presbyterian Whitworth University was founded three years later and moved to north Spokane in 1914. In sports,
4788-470: The Chicago World's Fair in 1893, Cutter found work constructing many mansions for mining and railroad tycoons such as Patrick "Patsy" Clark and Daniel C. Corbin and son Austin. The older neighborhoods of the early 20th century, such as West Central, East Central, Logan , Hillyard, and much of the lower South Hill, feature a large concentration of American Craftsman style bungalows . In Hillyard,
4914-781: The Great Plains . When asked by early white explorers, the Spokanes said their ancestors came from "up North." Early in the 19th century, the Northwest Fur Company sent two white fur trappers west of the Rocky Mountains to search for fur . These were the first white men met by the Spokanes, who believed they were sacred, and set the trappers up in the Colville River valley for the winter. The explorer-geographer David Thompson , working as head of
5040-634: The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), or "Wobblies" as they were often known, whose free speech fights had begun to garner national attention. Now, with grievances concerning the unethical practices of the employment agencies, they initiated a free speech fight in September 1908 by purposely breaking a city ordinance on soapboxing . With IWW encouragement, union members from many western states came to Spokane to take part in what had become
5166-918: The North West Company 's Columbia Department , became the first European to explore the Inland Empire (now called the Inland Northwest ). Crossing what is now the Canada–US border from British Columbia , Thompson wanted to expand the North West Company further south in search of furs. After establishing the Kullyspell House and Saleesh House trading posts in what are now Idaho and Montana, Thompson then attempted to expand further west. He sent out two trappers, Jacques Raphael Finlay and Finan McDonald, to construct
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5292-519: The Northern Pacific Railroad Company had received a government charter to build a main line across this northern route . Amid many delays in construction and uncertainty over the completion of the railroad and its exact course, Matheney sold his interest in the claim to Glover. Glover confidently held on to his claim and became a successful Spokane business owner and the city's second mayor. He later came to be known as
5418-609: The Oregon Trail . Great Britain ceded its claims to lands in Puget Sound and the central and lower Columbia Basin by the Oregon Treaty of 1846. The Hudson's Bay Company wound up its operations in the area over the next few years. In what is now Spokane, the first American settlers were J.J. Downing and S.R. Scranton, cattle ranchers who squatted and established a claim at Spokane Falls in 1871. Together they built
5544-646: The Palouse . The highest peak in Spokane County is Mount Spokane , at an elevation of 5,883 feet (1,793 m), on the eastern side of the Selkirk Mountains. The Spokane River is the area's most prominent water feature, a 111-mile (179 km) tributary of the Columbia River , originating from Lake Coeur d'Alene in northern Idaho. The river flows west across the Washington state line through downtown Spokane, meeting Latah Creek , then turns to
5670-602: The Queen Anne and early American Craftsman styles. The area houses the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture. In northeast Spokane, the Hillyard neighborhood began in 1892 as the chosen site for James J. Hill's Great Northern Railway yard, placed outside Spokane city limits to avoid "burdensome taxes". The downtown Hillyard Business District, located on Market Street, was the first Spokane neighborhood listed in
5796-420: The River Park Square in 1999 served as a catalyst and sparked a downtown rebirth that included the building of the Spokane Arena and expansion of the Spokane Convention Center . Other major projects include the building of the Big Easy concert house (now the Knitting Factory ) and renovation of the historic Montvale Hotel , the Kirtland Cutter-designed Davenport Hotel (after being vacant for over 20 years),
5922-425: The Selkirk Mountains , and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills, 92 miles (148 km) south of the Canadian border , 18.5 miles (30 km) west of the Washington– Idaho border, and 279 miles (449 km) east of Seattle , along Interstate 90 . Spokane is the economic and cultural center of the Spokane metropolitan area , the Spokane–Coeur d'Alene combined statistical area , and the Inland Northwest . It
6048-463: The first church in the Spokane area. In 1853, two years after the establishment of the Washington Territory, the first governor, Isaac Stevens , made an initial effort to make a treaty with Chief Garry and the Spokanes at Antoine Plantes' Ferry, not far from Millwood . After the last campaign of the Yakima Indian War , the Coeur d'Alene War of 1858 was brought to a close by the actions of Col. George Wright , who won decisive victories against
6174-406: The "Father of Spokane". In 1880, Fort Spokane was established by U.S. Army troops under Lt. Col. Henry C. Merriam 56 miles (90 km) northwest of Spokane, at the junction of the Columbia and Spokane Rivers, to protect the construction of the Northern Pacific Railway and secure a place for U.S. settlement. By June 30, 1881, the railway reached the city, bringing major European settlement to
6300-418: The 141st Fighter Interceptor Group of the Washington Air National Guard , an F-101 Voodoo unit at Geiger Field , to an air refueling mission with KC-135 aircraft. The unit would then be renamed the 141st Air Refueling Wing (141 ARW) and move to Fairchild. Work began soon thereafter and by 1976 eight KC-135E aircraft transferred to the new 141 ARW. Today, the 141 ARW continues its air mobility mission, flying
6426-412: The 1920s and 1930s remained slow but less drastically so, forcing city boosters to market the city as a quiet, comfortable place suitable for raising a family rather than a dynamic community full of opportunity. The Inland Empire was heavily dependent on natural resources and extractive goods produced from mines, forests, and farms, which experienced a fall in demand. The situation improved slightly with
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#17327901199976552-919: The 1960s and 1970s where his main body of work was done in the modernist style, designing numerous residential houses, apartment buildings, and architectural embellishments. Some of his most noteworthy works in Spokane include The Parkade , Spokane International Airport, Spokane Regional Health Building, and the Burlington Northern Latah Creek Bridge over Hangman Valley. Other well-represented architectural styles downtown include Art Deco (Spokane City Hall, Paulsen Center , Fox Theater , John R. Rogers High School , City Ramp Garage), Renaissance Revival (Steam Plant Square, Thomas S. Foley Courthouse , Legion Building , San Marco ), Neoclassical (Masonic Center, Hutton Building , Bing Crosby Theater ), Chicago School ( U.S. Bank Building , Liberty Building, Old City Hall ) and Modernist ( The Parkade , Ridpath Hotel , Bank of America Financial Center). The tallest building in
6678-499: The 92d Bombardment Wing (Heavy) was re-designated the 92d Wing, emphasizing a dual bombing and refueling role. With the inactivation of the Strategic Air Command (SAC) in June 1992, the B-52 portion of the wing became part of the newly established Air Combat Command (ACC) and was re-designated the 92d Bomb Wing. As SAC finished 46 years of service to the nation, Fairchild bomber and tanker crews took top honors at Proud Shield '92, SAC's final bombing/navigation competition. The wing won
6804-411: The 98th followed in August. After only a few months, General MacArthur released the 92nd to return to the states while the 98th remained in the Far East. The 98th was then reassigned to Nebraska. Upon its return to Fairchild, the 92nd was re-designated the 92d Bombardment Wing (Heavy). In November 1950, the base took its current name in memory of Air Force Vice Chief of Staff , General Muir S. Fairchild ,
6930-595: The Air Force. Dubbed as the new "tanker hub of the Northwest," the wing was capable of maintaining an air bridge across the nation and the world in support of US and allied forces. Since 1994, the 92 ARW has been involved in many contingency missions around the world. 92 ARW KC-135s have routinely supported special airlift missions in response to world events or international treaty compliance requirements. In 1995 aircraft from Fairchild flew to Travis AFB, California in support of its first Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) mission, transporting Russian inspectors to sites in
7056-416: The Blue Zoo an interactive aquarium in the NorthTown Mall . The area supports an abundance of wildlife in part because of its varied geology and natural history. The area contains a wide range of vegetation, from densely wooded coniferous forests to rolling grassy hills and meadows. Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir are common in the drier and lower elevation areas throughout the region. The ponderosa pine
7182-407: The Browne's Addition neighborhood and residences contain the largest variety of residential architecture in the city. These residences are lavish and personalized, featuring many architectural styles that were popular and trendy in the Pacific Northwest from the late 19th century to 1930, such as the Victorian and Queen Anne styles. In high demand following his firms' design of the Idaho Building at
7308-504: The Cascades, the Spokane area has 16.5 inches (420 mm) average annual precipitation, less than half of Seattle's 39.3 inches (1,000 mm). Precipitation peaks in December, and summer is the driest time of the year. The Rockies shield Spokane from some of the winter season's coldest air masses traveling southward across Canada. In the summer season, Spokane, like much of the western United States , has been experiencing drier conditions and more frequent and larger wildfire events since
7434-409: The City of Spokane, with the plan that the city would eventually take ownership of the building from the State of Washington. The legislative bill to transfer the ownership to the city was signed on April 20, 1979 in a special ceremony in front of the Opera House with then-Washington State Governor Dixy Lee Ray , although the actual legal transfer of the property would not take place until 90 days after
7560-426: The Davenport District of Downtown, to the more contemporary neighborhoods of north Spokane. Spokane's neighborhoods are gaining attention for their history, as illustrated by the city being home to 18 recognized National Register Historical Districts . Some of Spokane's best-known neighborhoods are Riverside , Browne's Addition , and Hillyard . The Riverside neighborhood consists primarily of downtown Spokane and
7686-404: The Davenport Hotel cost two million dollars to complete and included new technologies at the time of its opening in September 1914, such as chilled water, elevators, and air cooling. In contemporary times, one of the city's foremost and influential architects has been Warren C. Heylman, who helped give the city a great breadth of mid-century architecture. Heylman's career was most prolific during
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#17327901199977812-402: The Fairchild Trophy for best bomber/tanker team as well as the Saunders Trophy for the tanker unit attaining the most points on all competition missions. 7 December 1993 marked the beginning of a significant change in the mission of Fairchild when the B-52s were transferred to another ACC base while the KC-135s, now assigned to the newly established Air Mobility Command (AMC) would remain. This
7938-427: The Fox Theater (now home to the Spokane Symphony) as well as the completion of the WSU Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences Building in 2013 and the Davenport Grand Hotel in 2015, Ridpath Hotel in 2018 and the ongoing renovation of Riverfront Park (as of May 2019). The Kendall Yards development on the west side of downtown Spokane is one of the largest construction projects in the city's history. Directly across
8064-475: The KC-135R model. On 23 January 1987, following the inactivation of the 47th Air Division at Fairchild, the 92nd Bombardment Wing was reassigned to the 57th Air Division at Minot AFB in North Dakota . Less than two months later on 13 March, a KC-135A crashed into a field adjacent to the 92nd Bomb Wing headquarters and the taxiway during a practice flight for a low-level in-flight refueling demonstration planned for later that month. Seven were killed in
8190-426: The National Register of Historic Places. Many of the former town's houses were built to house railroad workers, mainly immigrant laborers working in the local yard, who gave Hillyard an independent, blue-collar character. Hillyard has become a home for much of Spokane's growing Russian , Ukrainian , and Southeast Asian communities. Spokane neighborhoods contain a patchwork of architectural styles that give them
8316-486: The South Hill. Yet the rebuilding and development of the city was far from smooth: between 1889 and 1896 alone, all six bridges over the Spokane River were destroyed by floods before their completion. In the 1890s the city was subject to intrastate migration by African-Americans from Roslyn , looking for work after the closure of the area's mines. Two African-American churches, Calvary Baptist and Bethel African Methodist Episcopal, were founded in 1890. Just three years after
8442-456: The Spokane River from downtown, it will blend residential and retail space with plazas and walking trails. Spokane is located on the Spokane River in eastern Washington at an elevation of 1,843 feet (562 m) above sea level, about 18 miles (29 km) from Idaho , 92 miles (148 km) south of the Canadian border , 229 miles (369 km) due east of Seattle, and 279 miles (449 km) southwest of Calgary . The lowest elevation in
8568-422: The Spokane area. The same year it was officially incorporated as a city under the name of Spokane Falls (it was re-incorporated under its current name ten years later). In the late 19th century, gold and silver were discovered in the Inland Northwest. The local economy depended on mining, timber, and agriculture until the 1980s. Spokane hosted the first environmentally themed World's fair at Expo '74 . Many of
8694-434: The Western U.S. The wing has flown START missions in the U.S. every year since. And in May 2000, the wing became the first active duty KC-135 unit to transport U.S. inspectors on a START mission into Ulan Ude, Russia. Throughout much of the 1990s, the wing was actively involved in missions against Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. The wing also deployed aircraft and personnel in 1999 to support Operation Allied Force. Following
8820-417: The area, the Spokane tribe (their name meaning "children of the sun" in Salishan ), lived off plentiful game. David Thompson explored the area with the westward expansion and establishment of the North West Company 's Spokane House in 1810. This trading post was the first long-term European settlement in Washington. Completion of the Northern Pacific Railway in 1881 brought many settlers from America to
8946-525: The area. The city was officially incorporated with a population of about 1,000 residents on November 29, 1881. When Spokane was officially incorporated in 1881, Robert W. Forrest was elected as the first mayor of the city, with a Council of seven, S.G. Havermale, A.M. Cannon, Dr. L.H. Whitehouse, L.W. Rima, F.R. Moore, George A. Davis, and W.C. Gray, all serving without pay. The marketing campaigns of transportation companies with affordable fertile land to sell along their trade routes lured many settlers into
9072-499: The arrival of additional railroads. By 1910 the population had hit 104,000, and Spokane eclipsed Walla Walla as the commercial center of the Inland Empire. In time the city came to be known as the "capital" of the Inland Empire and the heart of a vast tributary region. After the arrival of the Northern Pacific, Union Pacific , Great Northern, and Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific railroads, Spokane became one of
9198-467: The backbone of the Air Force's tanker fleet on the west coast. Fairchild's location, twelve miles (20 km) west of Spokane, resulted from a competition with the cities of Seattle and Everett in western Washington. The War Department chose Spokane for several reasons: better weather conditions for flying, the location 300 miles (480 km) from the coast , and the Cascade Range providing
9324-594: The base hospital and shot and killed four people and wounded 22 others. Previously, psychologists Major Thomas Brigham and Captain Alan London at Fairchild AFB had found him unfit for duty, which resulted in a transfer to the Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland AFB for further psychological examination. With Congressional pressure brought by Mellberg's mother, Airman Mellberg was found to be fit for military service. Airman Mellberg then
9450-694: The base was transferred to the Strategic Air Command (SAC) and assigned to the 15th Air Force (15 AF). Beginning in the summer of 1947, the 92nd and 98th Bomb Groups arrived. Both of the units flew the most advanced bomber of the day, the B-29 Superfortress. In January 1948, the base received the second of its three official names: Spokane Air Force Base. With the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, both groups deployed to Japan and Guam . The 92d departed on 4 July 1950 and
9576-884: The city , at 288 feet (88 m), is the Bank of America Financial Center. Also of note is the Spokane County Courthouse in West Central (the building on the seal of Spokane County), the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Rockwood, the Benewah Milk Bottles in Riverside and Garland, Mount Saint Michael in Hillyard, and the Cambern Dutch Shop Windmill in South Perry. As an early affluent Spokane neighborhood,
9702-618: The city of Spokane is the northernmost point of the Spokane River within city limits (in Riverside State Park ) at 1,608 feet (490 m); 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). Spokane is part of the Inland Northwest region, consisting of eastern Washington, north Idaho , northwestern Montana , and northeastern Oregon . The city has
9828-575: The city was 80.7% White, 2.9% some other race, 2.5% Black or African American, 2.0% Asian, 0.8% Native American or Alaskan Native, and 0.5% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, with 10.5% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 8.1% of the population. Of the 101,130 households, 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.8% had seniors 65 years or older living with them, 35.9% were married couples living together, 7.9% were couples cohabitating, 24.8% had
9954-480: The city. During this time of stagnation, unrest was prevalent among the area's unemployed, who became victimized by "job sharks", who charged a fee for signing up workers in the logging camps. Job sharks and employment agencies were known to cheat itinerant workers, sometimes paying bribes to periodically fire entire work crews, thus generating repetitive fees for themselves. Crime spiked in the 1890s and 1900s, with eruptions of violent activity involving unions such as
10080-510: The coldest month is over 26.6 °F (−3 °C), though in the US this threshold is often defined to be 32 °F (0 °C). The area typically has a warm, arid climate during the summer months, bracketed by short spring and fall seasons. On average, the warmest month is July and the coolest month is December; July averages 71.0 °F (21.7 °C), while December averages 29.1 °F (−1.6 °C). Daily temperature ranges are large during
10206-534: The crash, all USAF personnel, six aboard the aircraft, and a motorist on the ground. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, a total of 560 base personnel deployed to Desert Shield and Desert Storm from August 1990 to March 1991. The 43d and 92d Air Refueling Squadrons flew a combined total of 4,004 hours, 721 sorties, and off-loaded a total of 22.5 million pounds of fuel to coalition aircraft. On 1 September 1991, under Air Force reorganization,
10332-593: The current state legislative session ended. The facility was owned and operated by the City of Spokane until September 2, 2003 when it transferred both the ownership and operations of the Spokane Opera House along with the Spokane Convention Center to the Spokane Public Facilities District. In 2006, Spokane-based Inland Northwest Bank purchased the naming rights to the Spokane Opera House in a 10-year, $ 1.5 million deal and
10458-689: The destruction of the World Trade Center, the wing began providing around-the-clock air refueling of Combat Air Patrol fighter aircraft and initiated 24-hour ground alert operations in support of Operation Noble Eagle. The wing also began a series of extended Operation Enduring Freedom deployments for aircrews and maintainers as well as combat support and medical personnel. References for history introduction, major commands and major units Reference The 567th Strategic Missile Squadron operated nine SM-65E Atlas ICBM sites (1 April 1960 – 25 June 1965). On 14 July 1958,
10584-784: The downtown area's older Romanesque Revival -style buildings were designed by architect Kirtland Kelsey Cutter after the Great Fire of 1889 . The city is also home to the Riverfront and Manito parks, the Smithsonian-affiliated Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture , the Davenport Hotel , and the Fox and Bing Crosby theaters. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane , and
10710-570: The facility was renamed to the INB Performing Arts Center. In December 2015, it was announced that INB's naming rights deal was renewed for an additional 10 year period. On September 19, 2018, the facility was renamed the First Interstate Center for the Arts after First Interstate BancSystem , which had completed its acquisition of Northwest Bancorporation, Inc., the parent company of Inland Northwest Bank,
10836-418: The fairgrounds became the 100-acre (40 ha) Riverfront Park. The growth witnessed in the late 1970s and early 1980s was interrupted by another U.S. recession in 1981, in which silver, timber, and farm prices dropped. The period of decline for the city lasted into the 1990s and was also marked by a loss of many steady family-wage jobs in the manufacturing sector. At this time, market forces began to impact
10962-508: The fire, in 1892, James J. Hill 's Great Northern Railway arrived in the chosen site for Hill's rail yards , the newly created township of Hillyard (annexed by Spokane in 1924). Spokane became an important rail shipping and transportation hub for the Inland Empire, connecting mines in the Silver Valley with agricultural areas around the Palouse region. The city's population ballooned to 19,922 in 1890, and to 36,848 in 1900 with
11088-459: The first of 45 B-52 Stratofortress bombers on 26 March 1957 to Fairchild, followed by first of twenty KC-135 Stratotanker on 21 February 1958. In 1961, the 92d became the first "aerospace" wing in the nation with the acquisition of the Atlas -E intercontinental ballistic missile, operated by the 567th Strategic Missile Squadron . With the new role and the addition of missiles, the 92d Bomb Wing
11214-600: The following month. On 28 September 1961, Headquarters SAC declared the squadron operational and during the following month, the 567th placed the first Atlas E missile on alert status. The bulk of the Fairchild force was on alert status in November. As a result of Defense Secretary Robert McNamara 's May 1964 directive accelerating the phaseout of Atlas and Titan I ICBMs, the first Atlas missiles came off line at Fairchild in January ;1965. On 31 March,
11340-437: The historic West Central neighborhood. To the east of downtown is East Central and the adjacent University District and budding "International District". To the west of downtown is one of Spokane's oldest and densest neighborhoods, Browne's Addition. A National Historic District west of Downtown, Browne's Addition was Spokane's first prestigious address, notable for its array of old mansions built by Spokane's early elite in
11466-473: The hospital, injuring several people, and killing eight-year-old Christin McCarron. The gunman then walked out of the building into the parking lot and killed Anita Lindner. He then was confronted by a security policeman, Senior Airman Andy Brown. From approximately 70 yards away, Brown ordered Mellberg to drop his weapon. After Mellberg refused, Brown fired four shots from his 9mm pistol, with two rounds hitting
11592-438: The integrity of Spokane's street grid pattern is largely intact (especially the areas north of downtown and south of Francis Ave.), and the houses have backyard alleys for carports, deliveries, and refuse collection. Contemporary suburbs and architecture are prevalent at the north and south edges of Spokane as well as in the new Kendall Yards neighborhood north of downtown. In 1907, Spokane's board of park commissioners retained
11718-580: The last missile came off alert status, which marked the completion of Atlas phaseout. The squadron was inactivated within three months. Today all of the former missile sites still exist and most appear to be in good condition. Most of them are in agricultural areas and presumably are being used to support farmers by storage of equipment and other material. Site "1" and "2" appear to be redeveloped into light industrial estates; "4" and "6" appear to be converted into private residences. On 20 June 1994, 20-year-old Dean Mellberg, an ex-Air Force member, entered
11844-473: The late 1850s in part due to the hilltops. The Palouse was and still is a breadbasket and was able to develop and grow with the completion of several railroad networks as well as a highway system that began to center around the city of Spokane, aiding farmers from around the region in distributing their products to market. Inland Empire farmers exported wheat, livestock and other agricultural products to ports such as New York, Liverpool and Tokyo. Local morale
11970-510: The late 20th century; the fine particulate matter in the smoke can be carried by the wind and blanket the region in a haze and impact Spokane's air quality . See or edit raw graph data . As of the 2022 American Community Survey estimates, there were 230,176 people and 101,130 households. The population density was 3,347.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,292.5/km ). There were 105,002 housing units at an average density of 1,527.1 per square mile (589.6/km ). The racial makeup of
12096-550: The launchers. Support facilities at Fairchild AFB, including a liquid oxygen plant, were completed by January 1961. Activation of the 567th Strategic Missile Squadron on 1 April 1960, marked the first time SAC activated an E series Atlas unit. On 3 December 1960, the first Atlas E missile arrived at the 567th SMS. Construction continued and SAC accepted the first Series E Atlas complex on 29 July 1961. Operational readiness training, which previously had been conducted only at Vandenberg AFB , California, began at Fairchild during
12222-449: The local Kaiser Aluminum plant and layoffs, pension cuts, a 1998-1999 labor strike, and eventually bankruptcy in 2002 followed. Although this was a tough period, Spokane's economy had started to benefit from some measure of economic diversification; growing companies such as Key Tronic and other research, marketing, and assembly plants for technology companies helped lessen Spokane's dependence on natural resources. As of 2014, Spokane
12348-654: The logging industry. Although overshadowed in importance by the vast timbered areas on the coastal regions west of the Cascades, and burdened with monopolistic rail freight rates and stiff competition, Spokane became a noted leader in the manufacture of doors, window sashes , blinds, and other planing mill products. Rail freight rates were much higher in Spokane than the rates in coastal seaport cities such as Seattle and Portland, so much so that Minneapolis merchants could ship goods first to Seattle and then back to Spokane for less than shipping directly to Spokane, even though
12474-527: The long-term survival of vulnerable species such as mountain caribou and the American goshawk . Spokane has a warm-summer humid continental climate ( Dsb under the Köppen classification), a rare climate due to its elevation and significant winter precipitation; Spokane, however, is adjacent to and sometimes even classified as a warm-summer Mediterranean climate ( Csb ) because the average temperature for
12600-475: The morning and there were no survivors; it was attributed to a navigational error by the crew. Less than five years later, another crash occurred in the same general area. Returning from Hickam AFB in Hawaii on 19 January 1967, a Fairchild-based KC-135A crashed southeast of Mount Spokane shortly after sunset; all nine on board were killed. In late 1974, the Air Force announced plans to convert
12726-459: The most architecturally intact neighborhood in Spokane, 85 percent of these buildings are historic. As the city expanded mainly to the north in the middle of the 20th century, the bungalows in the "minimal traditional" style commonplace from the 1930s to the 1950s tend to predominate in the Northwest, North Hill, and Bemiss neighborhoods. This architectural style occupies the neighborhoods where
12852-428: The most important rail centers in the western U.S. Expansion abruptly stopped in the 1910s and was followed by a period of population decline, due in large part to Spokane's slowing economy. Control of regional mines and resources became increasingly dominated by national corporations rather than local people and organizations, diverting capital outside of Spokane and decreasing growth and investment opportunities in
12978-751: The most notable of which is the Spokane River Centennial Trail , which features over 37.5 miles (60.4 km) of paved trails running along the Spokane River from Spokane to the Idaho border. This trail continues on towards Coeur d'Alene for 24 miles (39 km) as the North Idaho Centennial Trail and is often used for alternative transportation and recreational use. In the summer, it has long been popular to visit North Idaho's "Lake Country", such as Lake Coeur d'Alene , Lake Pend Oreille , Priest Lake , or one of
13104-620: The northwest, where it is joined by the Little Spokane River on its way to the Columbia River, north of Davenport . The Channeled Scablands and many of the area's numerous large lakes, such as Lake Coeur d'Alene and Lake Pend Oreille , were formed by the Missoula Floods after the ice-dammed Glacial Lake Missoula ruptured at the end of the last ice age. The Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge south of Cheney
13230-457: The other nearby bodies of water and beaches. In the winter, the public has access to five ski resorts within a couple hours of the city. The closest of these is the Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park , which has trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and dog sledding. Zoological parks in Spokane include Cat Tales Zoological Park , a wildlife sanctuary primarily for big cats and
13356-539: The perpetrator in the head and shoulder, killing him. A pregnant woman shot in the stomach also subsequently lost her unborn child. After an investigation it was concluded that Airman Brown was justified in his actions, probably having saved lives, and he was awarded the Airman's Medal by President Bill Clinton . In 2016, Brown published Warnings Unheeded: Twin Tragedies at Fairchild Air Force Base . The book reveals
13482-641: The post's significance. In 1836, Reverend Samuel Parker visited the area and reported that around 800 Native Americans were living in Spokane Falls. A medical mission was established by Marcus and Narcissa Whitman to cater for Cayuse Indians and hikers of the Oregon Trail at Walla Walla in the south. After the Whitmans were killed by Indians in 1847, Reverend Cushing Eells established Whitman College in their memory, also setting up
13608-402: The pre-incident indicators of the shooting and the fatal crash of a B-52 bomber that occurred four days afterward. Dean's concerning behavior was long recognized prior to his dismissal from the military. During basic training, in three different psychological examinations it was noted that he should be discharged. However, he was allowed to complete his basic training and earn his uniform. After
13734-425: The preferred option, and after successful negotiation to relocate the railroad facilities on Havermale Island, they executed on a proposal to host the first environmentally themed World's Fair in Expo '74 on May 4, becoming the smallest city at the time to host a World's Fair. This event transformed Spokane's downtown, removing a century of railroad infrastructure and re-inventing the urban core. After Expo '74,
13860-461: The rail line ran through Spokane on the way to the coast. The Inland Northwest region has also long been associated with farming, especially wheat production. Initially, the Palouse was thought to be unsuitable for wheat production due to the hilly terrain, believing wheat could not be cultivated on the tops of the hills, but the region showed great promise for wheat production when it began in
13986-517: The region they dubbed "Spokane Country". The 1883 discovery of gold, silver, and lead in the Coeur d'Alene region of northern Idaho lured prospectors. The Inland Empire erupted with numerous mining rushes from 1883 to 1892. Mining and smelting emerged as a major stimulus to Spokane. At the onset of the initial 1883 gold rush in the nearby Coeur d'Alene mining district , Spokane became popular with prospectors, offering low prices on everything "from
14112-857: The region's professional and semi-professional sports teams include the Spokane Indians in Minor League Baseball . The Spokane Chiefs in the Western Hockey League . The Spokane Velocity in USL League One with a women's first division team Spokane Zephyr FC in USL Super League . The Gonzaga Bulldogs collegiate basketball team competes at the Division ;I level. As of 2010, Spokane's major daily newspaper, The Spokesman-Review , had
14238-515: The same site, is 100 acres (40 ha) 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 a skyride, a rebuilt gondola lift that carries visitors across the falls from high above the river gorge. The park also includes the historic hand-carved Riverfront Park Looff carousel created in 1909 by Charles I. D. Looff . Riverfront Park
14364-742: The services of the Olmsted Brothers to draw up a plan for Spokane's parks. Much of Spokane's park land was acquired by the city prior to World War I, establishing it early on as a leader among Western cities in the development of a citywide park system. Spokane has a system of over 87 parks totaling 4,100 acres (17 km ) and includes six neighborhood aquatic centers. Some of the most notable parks in Spokane's system are Riverfront Park , Manito Park and Botanical Gardens , Riverside State Park , Saint Michael's Mission State Park , John A. Finch Arboretum , High Bridge Park and Liberty Park . Riverfront Park, created after Expo '74 and occupying
14490-402: The start of World War II as aluminum production commenced in Spokane due to the area's cheap electricity (produced from regional dams) and the increased demand for airplanes. After decades of stagnation and slow growth, Spokane businessmen formed Spokane Unlimited in the early 1960s, an organization that sought to revitalize downtown Spokane. A recreation park showcasing the Spokane Falls was
14616-544: The summer, often exceeding 30 °F (17 °C), and small during the winter, with a range just above 10 °F (5.6 °C). The record high and low are 112 °F (44 °C) and −30 °F (−34 °C), but temperatures of more than 100 °F (38 °C) or less than −5 °F (−21 °C) are rare. Temperatures of 90 °F (32 °C)+ occur an average of 21 days annually, temperatures of 100 °F (38 °C)+ occur an average of only 1 day annually, and those at or below 0 °F (−18 °C) average 2.2 days
14742-598: The venue officially opened as the Washington State Pavilion Opera House on May 1, 1974. A gala took place to celebrate the grand opening of the opera house which included performances by Roberta Peters of the Metropolitan Opera , New York City Ballet's Edward Villella , and Lucette Aldous . After the world's fair ended, operations and management of the facility along with the Spokane Convention Center were transferred to
14868-564: Was Kirtland Kelsey Cutter . Self-taught, he came to Spokane in 1886, and began by designing "Chalet Hohenstein" for himself and other residences for his family, while also working as a bank teller. Other structures designed by Cutter include the Spokane Club, Washington Water Power Substation, Monroe Street Bridge (featured in the city seal), the Steam Plant , and the Davenport Hotel . Built in renaissance and Spanish Revival style,
14994-472: Was active between 1957 – June 1960; Deep Creek Sep 1958 – March 1966; Medical Lake 1957 – March 1966 and the Spokane site between 1957 and June 1960. On 16 October 1984, an unarmed B-52G (57-6479) from Fairchild crashed in northeast Arizona during a nighttime low-level training flight, with five survivors and two fatalities: the gunner and a colonel in the observer jump seat. In 1985, Fairchild's fifteen B-52G aircraft were replaced with nineteen B-52H ;
15120-477: Was affected for years by the collapse of the Division Street Bridge early in the morning on December 15, 1915, which killed five people and injured over 20, but a new bridge was built (eventually replaced in 1994). The 1920 census showed a net increase of just 35 individuals, which actually indicates that thousands left the city when considering the natural growth rate of a population. Growth in
15246-596: Was established 82 years ago in 1942 as the Spokane Army Air Depot . and is named in honor of General Muir S. Fairchild (1894–1950); a World War I aviator from the state, he was the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force at the time of his death. During the Cold War , Fairchild was a Strategic Air Command (SAC) base for 45 years (1947–1992), with bombers and tankers, as well as missiles for
15372-648: Was in operation from 1810 to 1826. Operations were run by the British North West Company and later the Hudson's Bay Company , and the post was the headquarters of the fur trade between the Rocky and Cascade mountains for 16 years. After the latter business absorbed the North West Company in 1821, the major operations at the Spokane House were eventually shifted north to Fort Colville , reducing
15498-527: Was re-designated the 92d Strategic Aerospace Wing. However, the designation remained longer than the missiles, as the Atlas missiles were soon obsolete and removed in 1965. The weapons storage area (WSA) for the bombers was located south of the runway at Deep Creek Air Force Station, a separate installation constructed from 1950 to 1953 by the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and operated by
15624-409: Was reassigned to Cannon Air Force Base where similar events led to him being returned to psychologists for evaluation. After this evaluation, he was discharged from Cannon AFB as being unfit for military service; he had been diagnosed with mild autism , generalized anxiety disorder and paranoid personality disorder . Mellberg traveled to Spokane, Washington, near Fairchild AFB, where he purchased
15750-416: Was rebuilt, and the city was reincorporated under the present name of "Spokane" in 1891. According to historian David H. Stratton, "From the late 1890s to about 1912, a great flurry of construction created a modern urban profile of office buildings, banks, department stores, hotels and other commercial institutions" which stretched from the Spokane River to the site of the Northern Pacific railroad tracks below
15876-416: Was the first step in Fairchild's transition to an air refueling wing. The departure of B-52s continued throughout the spring of 1994, with most of the bombers gone by 25 May 1994. On 1 July 1994, the 92d Bomb Wing was re-designated the 92d Air Refueling Wing (92 ARW), and Fairchild AFB was transferred from ACC to Air Mobility Command (AMC) in a ceremony marking the creation of the largest air refueling wing in
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