84-842: The Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge is located six miles (10 km) south of Cheney, Washington , on the eastern edge of the Columbia Basin in Spokane County in northeastern Washington . Turnbull NWR encompasses more than 23,000 acres (9,300 ha) of the Channeled Scablands . The ecosystem that predominates the refuge is unique within the National Wildlife Refuge System and has characteristics that distinguish it from natural reserves worldwide. The combination of basalt outcrops, channeled canyons, and ponderosa pine forests infused in
168-575: A bedroom community to the city of Spokane . Many people who live in Cheney work and shop in Spokane, while over half of the student population at Eastern Washington University commutes to classes in Cheney daily. Cheney has its distinctive economic characteristics, but its fortunes and growth are tightly linked to the greater economy of the Inland Northwest . Eastern Washington University is
252-511: A US average of 100. A component amount below 100 means Cheney has a lower cost than the US average. A component amount above 100 means Cheney has a higher cost. Overall, Cheney's cost of living index is 94.07. The median home cost in Cheney is approximately $ 202,400. Cheney Rodeo Days is held the second weekend in July each year and has been a major annual event for the community since 1967. The event
336-606: A competition with the cities of Seattle and Everett in western Washington. The War Department chose Spokane for several reasons: better weather conditions, the location 300 miles (480 km) from the coast, and the Cascade Range providing a natural barrier against possible Japanese attacks. Fairchild Air Force Base is also the United States Air Force 's primary training facility for Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Techniques ( SERE ). SERE
420-666: A court order upheld the Cheney recount. A new ballot question in 1886 resulted in Spokane becoming the permanent county seat. According to the United States Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 1,781 sq mi (4,610 km ), of which 17 square miles (44 km ) (0.9%) are covered by water. The lowest point in the county is the Spokane River behind Long Lake Dam (boundary of Stevens County ) at 1,538 feet (469 m) above sea level . (Virtually no change in elevation occurs between
504-413: A diverse landscape of over 130 marshes , wetlands , and lakes creates an environment of aesthetic beauty as well as high quality wildlife habitat. The refuge is named for Cyrus Turnbull who lived on the site in the 1880s. The refuge is situated within the Channeled Scablands , an area formed 16,000 years ago by Missoula Floods during the last ice age . The powerful forces of volcanism, glaciation, and
588-740: A government. In late 1859, a group of settlers in the Bitterroot Valley petitioned to create their own county, which was not granted at that time; the territorial legislature reorganized Spokane County on January 17, 1860, with a seat on a land claim near Fort Colville . The first county government met on May 8, 1860, and began conducting business. The eastern and southern portions of Spokane County were partitioned several times as new counties were created, beginning with Missoula County in December 1860 and followed by Shoshone County and Nez Perce County in 1861. These areas became part of
672-464: A household in the county was $ 37,308, and for a family was $ 46,463. Males had a median income of $ 35,097 versus $ 25,526 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 19,233. About 8.30% of families and 12.30% of the population were below the poverty line , including 14.20% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over. Spokane County is governed by a partisan board of county commissioners, one from each of five districts. They run in
756-480: A majority of the votes, but due to alleged irregularities at the polls, the election was won by Spokane Falls. When this was taken to court, a circuit court judge agreed to a ballot recount . Such a recount failed to materialize, however, and the citizens of Cheney took matters into their own hands. On a night when most of the residents of Spokane Falls were at a gala wedding celebration, a delegation of armed "Cheneyites" invaded Auditor's office and took possession of
840-498: A new shopping center with a supermarket, restaurants and a credit union . The city has seen residential growth with the addition of several apartments and housing subdivisions. The city hopes to help attract more businesses and high-tech industries by installing a fiber-optic network that will eventually connect to all businesses in the city as well as developing a technology business park [1] . The city has recently started renovating its historic downtown and has connected downtown to
924-440: A partisan primary election within their own district, then compete countywide in the general election . Other elected officials include the sheriff , auditor (who is also responsible for elections), assessor , treasurer , and prosecutor , which are also partisan offices. Spokane County has an appointed medical examiner . In 2023, Spokane County expanded the number of County Commissioner seats from 3 to 5. As of January 2023,
SECTION 10
#17328017876351008-527: A permanent county seat was to be decided in an election in November 1880 between the growing cities of Cheney and Spokane Falls, both candidates for a major Northern Pacific Railway hub. The unofficial returns showed a 14-vote margin in favor of Cheney, but the result was disputed by county officials from Spokane Falls based on "irregularities" in the ballots. The official result had a margin of two or three votes for Spokane Falls, but Cheney residents demanded
1092-407: A private developer that led to the construction of Brewster Hall, a mixed-use student residence in the downtown core. Pathways to Progress is no longer an active organization. Downtown Cheney has since evolved into a more traditional "university district", hosting numerous community festivals, a farmers' market , and businesses catering to the college crowd. Cheney's downtown area is also home of
1176-526: A recount, which was granted by a court order that was ignored by county officials in Spokane Falls. On March 21, 1881, a group of armed Cheney residents forcibly took custody of the county auditor, recount ballots, and other county records during a nighttime raid. After declaring their own recount had been in favor of Cheney as county seat, the records and the county auditor were moved from Spokane Falls; other government officials also moved to Cheney after
1260-533: A stage agent in Boston and soon organized an express between Boston and Montreal . He later consolidated that stagecoach line with others to form the United States and Canada Express Company, which 37 years later he merged with American Express , becoming American Express's largest shareholder. The only time Cheney visited the town of Cheney was on September 18, 1883, following the "Last Spike Ceremony" which
1344-679: A substantial portion of the Cheney community. Originally established as a World War II repair depot, it has transitioned over the years from a 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 the backbone of the Air Force's airborne refueling tanker fleet on the West Coast. Fairchild's location north of Cheney and 12 miles (19 km) west of Spokane , resulted from
1428-528: A summer concert and movie series that is held at Sutton Park. The recreation programs run by local non-profit organizations include: There are four access points to the trail near Cheney: Fish Lake Trailhead (Milepost 365), Cheney Trailhead (Milepost 361.25), Amber Lake Trailhead (Milepost 349.25), Martin Road Trailhead (Milepost 342). The section between the Fish Lake and Cheney trailheads is paved;
1512-403: A vision of preferred lifestyle choices for the youth. Cheney is located at 47°29′19″N 117°34′43″W / 47.48861°N 117.57861°W / 47.48861; -117.57861 (47.488634, -117.578581), at an elevation of 2,400 ft (730 m). Cheney is at the highest point on the railroads between Spokane and Portland and sits atop the route of the gentlest gradient from
1596-598: Is John Nowels, whose term began on January 1, 2023. Transportation planning within the county is handled by the Spokane Regional Transportation Council, a metropolitan planning organization that was created in 1962. It distributes federal and state funds for transportation projects and updates the long-range transportation plan for Spokane County. Spokane County is rather conservative for an urban county, voting Republican for president all but three times since 1948. Democratic strength
1680-496: Is a city in Spokane County, Washington , United States. The full-time resident population was 13,255 as of the 2020 census . Eastern Washington University is located in Cheney. When classes are in session at EWU, the city's population reaches approximately 17,600 people temporarily. Named for Boston railroad tycoon Benjamin Pierce Cheney , Cheney was officially incorporated on November 28, 1883. The City of Cheney
1764-729: Is a U.S. military training program developed at the end of the Korean War to provide service members with training in the Code of Conduct , survival skills, evading capture, and dealing with being taken prisoner. It was created by the U.S. Air Force but was expanded to the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy after the Vietnam War . The SERE school at Fairchild AFB is intended to train aircrews, special forces, and other service members who operate in dangerous areas and are thus more likely to be captured. The education level of residents in Cheney of
SECTION 20
#17328017876351848-469: Is assisted by some advisory committees that include: Spokane County, Washington Spokane County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington . As of the 2020 census , its population was 539,339, making it the fourth-most populous county in Washington. The largest city and county seat is Spokane , the second largest city in the state after Seattle . The county is named after
1932-576: Is concentrated in Spokane itself and in Cheney, which is home to Eastern Washington University , while the suburban areas are heavily Republican. The Republican edge has narrowed somewhat since the turn of the century. In the last five elections, the margin has been under 9% each time. The county government adopted an official flag in 1988 following a public design contest sponsored by the Spokane County Centennial Commission. The winning entry from Stephanie Bumgarner-Ott,
2016-638: Is grown and where it comes from. Cheney is home to the Eastern Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives, which provides archival and records management services to local government agencies throughout Adams , Asotin , Columbia , Ferry , Garfield , Lincoln , Pend Oreille , Spokane , Stevens , Walla Walla and Whitman counties in the state of Washington. Eastern Region's collections include: Local government records include those from county offices such as
2100-410: Is held each Saturday from June 1 through September 14. Located in downtown Cheney, the annual Market provides a wide variety of regionally grown and prepared products and produce pieces from local artisans, and handcrafted goods. The market encourages the community to get to know the local farmers and learn about local food sources. Local farmers come to the market to help the community understand how food
2184-519: Is located in Spokane County and is home to 13,255 residents, according to the 2020 Census. Cheney is proud of its small-town nature, which is enhanced by the diverse influence of Eastern Washington University, a public regional university with over 10,000 full-time students. The Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League held the majority of their summer training camps at EWU , from 1976 to 1985, and again from 1997 through
2268-765: Is put on by the Cheney Rodeo Association and includes three days of rodeo competition held at the rodeo grounds just north of Cheney. Cheney Federal Credit Union sponsors the Happy Hoofers Fun Run in conjunction with Rodeo weekend, and the City of Cheney holds the Cheney Rodeo Days Parade through the Main Street of downtown along with a street fair. The Cheney Rodeo features over $ 40,000 in prize money, rodeo stock from
2352-553: Is water. Nearby cities and towns Cheney is located on the edge of the semi-arid region leading up to the foothills of the Selkirk Mountains , where the summers are hot and dry, and winters are cold, wet, and windy. Located approximately four blocks from the EWU campus, Historic Downtown Cheney offers a traditional mix of retail and service businesses as well as government offices. In 1999, Eastern Washington University,
2436-485: The 2000 census , there were 417,939 people, 163,611 households, and 106,019 families were in the county. The population density was 237 people per square mile (92 people/km ). The 175,005 housing units had an average density of 99 units per square mile (38 units/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 88.62% White, 2.00% African American, 1.40% Native American, 1.88% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 0.82% from other races, and 2.76% from two or more races; 2.77% of
2520-537: The 2010 census , there were 471,221 people, 187,167 households, and 118,212 families were residing in the county. The population density was 267.2 people per square mile (103.2 people/km ). The 201,434 housing units had an average density of 114.2 units per square mile (44.1 units/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 89.2% White, 2.1% Asian, 1.7% African American, 1.5% American Indian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from other races, and 3.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.5% of
2604-568: The Cascades and Rockies . The new county was bound to the west by the Columbia and Snake rivers and to the east by the Rockies; it included portions of modern-day Idaho and Montana . The territorial legislature designated the farm of Angus McLeod as the temporary county seat and appointed officials to several positions for Spokane County, but they never took office and did not organize
Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge - Misplaced Pages Continue
2688-762: The National Finals Rodeo , and is a professional rodeo event that is part of the Columbia River Prorodeo Circuit which is part of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association , that professional cowboys can use to qualify to join the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo, and potentially further qualify for a chance to compete at the National Finals Rodeo , the rodeo world championships. Cheney Farmers' Market
2772-474: The Spokane River and Little Spokane River , that are located within 20 miles (32 km) of Cheney that provide abundant recreational opportunities such as boating, swimming, water skiing, and fishing. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 4.30 square miles (11.14 km ), of which, 4.27 square miles (11.06 km ) is land and 0.03 square miles (0.08 km )
2856-547: The Spokane Valley to the Columbia Plateau , which was the reason for much of its early growth and railroad activity. The town is built on rolling Palouse hills overlooking Channeled Scablands carved out by the pre-historic Missoula Floods to the south and east. These scablands now host " pothole " lakes and wetlands, and are home to Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge . There are numerous lakes, along with
2940-463: The Spokane people . Spokane County is part of the Spokane metropolitan area , which is also part of the greater Spokane–Coeur d'Alene combined statistical area that includes nearby Kootenai County, Idaho . The first humans to arrive in what is now Spokane County arrived between 12,000 and 8,000 years ago and were hunter-gatherer societies who lived off the plentiful game in the area. Initially,
3024-567: The 2006 training camp. Cheney developed into the city known today because of its strong ties to education, trail riding, and agriculture. This provided a strong economic base for the community and was the result of a much larger event that took place in the United States. In 1858, the last Native American defense occurred in Eastern Washington. Because isolated Eastern Washington was an area of this Native American unrest during
3108-698: The Auditor, the Clerk, the Treasurer, the Board of Commissioners, and from municipalities, school districts, and other service districts. Only a small percentage of the records created by these offices are transferred to the State Archives as archival records. They are selected as archival for their value as legal and historical evidence of policy development, implementation, and effect. The transfer of records to
3192-559: The Cheney Historical Museum which is dedicated to gathering, preserving, and sharing information and artifacts concerning the history of the Four Lakes, Marshall, Cheney, Tyler, and Amber districts of southwest Spokane County in eastern Washington. Volunteers open the museum at various times by season and by appointment as well as engage in research and preserving and caring for the collection. Another historic site,
3276-756: The City Council performs the legislative functions. The City Council meets every second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 6:00 PM. Meetings are conducted in the City Council Chambers in City Hall, located at 609 Second Street. An agenda of the upcoming City Council meeting is posted in City Hall on the Friday before the regularly scheduled City Council meeting. Cheney's current elected officials and key administrators are: The City Council makes final decisions regarding policy and fiscal matters and
3360-698: The City of Cheney, and the downtown business community formed a university/community partnership called "Pathways to Progress." Pathways to Progress quickly adopted the tenets and principles of the Main Street approach to downtown revitalization, formed a board of directors, and began the process of becoming a 501c(3) nonprofit corporation. Pathways to Progress is not a registered 501c(3) nonprofit corporation. Immediately, Pathways to Progress undertook several major projects, including pedestrian streetscape enhancements along First Street (Main Street), and College Avenue. Additionally, Pathways facilitated talks between EWU and
3444-564: The State Archives is an ongoing process. Some historical records remain with their originating office pending future transfer to the archives. Collections span the years from the territorial period to the present and include school census records, tax assessment rolls, court dockets and case files, photographs, maps, plats, and engineering drawings. The Archives building is located on the campus of Eastern Washington University . The City of Cheney has several of significant and well-maintained public parks. Currently, there are seven public parks inside
Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge - Misplaced Pages Continue
3528-695: The Sterling-Moorman House, is also under development. Downtown Cheney is the region's gateway to the Columbia Plateau Trail and the Fish Lake Trail, both of which explore the unique geology of the Great Ice Age Floods . Fairchild Air Force Base , located approximately 7 miles (11 km) north of Cheney and established in 1942, has been a key part of the U.S. defense strategy and its personnel are
3612-542: The age of 25 is: As of the 2010 census , there were 10,590 people, 3,902 households, and 1,669 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,480.1 inhabitants per square mile (957.6/km ). There were 4,183 housing units at an average density of 979.6 per square mile (378.2/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 81.7% White , 4.0% African American , 1.3% Native American , 4.0% Asian , 0.4% Pacific Islander , 3.9% from other races , and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.3% of
3696-403: The average family size was 2.97. In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 18.2% under the age of 18, 41.0% from 18 to 24, 21.6% from 25 to 44, 12.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.7 males. The median income for a household in
3780-431: The base parallel to the tracks. The railroad tracks were not in a true east-west line, however, so the original town is askew with the map; the newer part of Cheney was built more to the compass. After a series of boundary changes caused by legislative acts, Spokane County was created with a permanent county seat still to be selected. Contenders for the honor were Cheney and Spokane Falls (now Spokane ). Cheney received
3864-406: The books, conducted their ballot recount which showed Cheney as the victor, and made off into the darkness with the records. The "Grand Steal" was not contested and was confirmed by a court decision in 1881. Cheney remained the county seat until 1886 when the faster-growing Spokane Falls again brought the issue to a vote and regained the seat. From this point on, the history of Cheney revolves around
3948-416: The city has seen some significant growth since the mid and late 1990s, which continues today as the Spokane area continues growing. Much of the growth and development has taken place in the northern part of the city, where Interstate 90 enters Cheney. I-90 is the main thoroughfare between Cheney and Spokane. Over the years, this area has seen the development of several new businesses and restaurants, including
4032-663: The city limits with land set aside for the addition of two more soon to accommodate Cheney's substantial recent growth. The current parks are: The City of Cheney has a wide variety of recreation programs that are available in addition to the park facilities listed above. These programs and activities are administered by a coalition made up of the city and county government agencies and local non-profit organizations. The activities in these programs range from basketball, baseball, softball gymnastics, karate, day camps, and arts & crafts for youth and children to adult sports leagues and educational and field trips for senior citizens, along with
4116-399: The city was $ 22,593, and the median income for a family was $ 37,935. Males had a median income of $ 27,745 versus $ 23,375 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 12,566. About 20.1% of families and 30.9% of the population were below the poverty line , including 25.4% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over. Once a booming railroad town and county seat , Cheney is
4200-422: The city. The population density was 2,161.0 people per square mile (833.8/km ). There were 3,293 housing units at an average density of 805.7 per square mile (310.9/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 85.28% White , 2.11% African American , 1.32% Native American , 6.34% Asian , 0.35% Pacific Islander , 1.71% from other races , and 2.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.35% of
4284-548: The college going until the next legislative session. The growth of the Cheney Normal School and the transformation of the frontier land into a thriving community were the basis for the changing attitudes in this area. The innovators who created the small community atmosphere were the women of the frontier. All of the energies that were once focused on making the West home for their families were transformed into creating
SECTION 50
#17328017876354368-414: The county consist of foreign born persons. Of those 25 years or older, 94.2% people in the county hold a high school diploma , GED , or higher; and 31.5% obtaining a bachelor's degree or higher. Of those below the age of 65 years, 10.% have a disability and 6.3% are without health insurance. The median household income was $ 64,079 (in 2021 dollars) and 11.2% of the county are living in poverty. As of
4452-400: The county was 82.1% White , 2.0% African American , 1.5% Native American , 2.3% Asian , 0.8% Pacific Islander , 2.2% from some other races and 9.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.6% of the population. 21.3% of residents were under the age of 18, 5.5% were under 5 years of age, and 17.5% were 65 and older. Females consisted of 50.1% of the county. 5.3% of
4536-438: The current commissioners for Spokane County are Chris Jordan ( Democrat ), Amber Waldref ( Democrat ), Josh Kerns ( Republican ), Mary Kuney ( Republican ), and Al French ( Republican ), from the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth county districts, respectively. The previous Sheriff was Ozzie D. Knezovich , who was appointed on April 11, 2006, and retired on December 31, 2022. The current elected Sheriff of Spokane County
4620-608: The dam and the mouth of the Little Spokane River inside Riverside State Park .) The highest point in the county is the summit of Mount Spokane at 5,887 ft (1,794 m). NAVD 88 Spokane County has a complex geologic history and varied topography. To the west is the barren landscape of the Columbia Basin and to the east are the foothills of the Rockies —the Coeur d'Alene Mountains , which rise to
4704-480: The daughter of state legislator Gary Bumgarner , depicts the ceremonial headdress of the Spokane people against a yellow sun; the background is green with a diagonal blue stripe to represent the Spokane River. The flag was sent for display at the Washington State Capitol for the state centennial in 1989 and 25 copies were made at a cost of $ 1,751.75; it was used for official events, including
4788-547: The dry, sagebrush dotted grasslands of the Columbia Basin up toward the timbered Selkirk and Bitterroot Mountains provides excellent wildlife habitat. The Columbia Plateau Trail provides access to the refuge. The Pine Lake Loop Trail , designated a National Recreation Trail in 2006, provides 1.25 miles (2.01 km) of wheelchair-accessible hiking along Winslow Pool and around Pine Lake. Cheney, Washington Cheney ( / ˈ tʃ iː n i / CHEE -nee )
4872-583: The early part of the territorial period, it was not until the late 1860s and early 1870s that settlers made homes in the area. In the latter part of that decade, settlers attracted by plentiful water and timber and the promise of a railway line made their homes near a group of springs bubbling through a willow copse from the bank where the Burlington Northern depot now stands. The name of the community, originally Section Thirteen, became Willow Springs, then became Depot Springs, because of its ties to
4956-465: The east in northern Idaho. Spokane County lies in a transition area between the eastern edge of the basaltic Channeled Scablands steppe plains to the west and the rugged, timbered Rocky Mountain foothills to the east. The area exhibits signs of the prehistoric geologic events that shaped the area and region such as the Missoula Floods , which ended 12,000 to 15,000 years ago. The geography to
5040-480: The first European to explore what is now the Inland Northwest . After establishing the Kullyspell House and Saleesh House fur 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 a fur-trading post on the Spokane River in Washington and trade with the local Indians. This post
5124-488: The funeral of a county commissioner, but was not on permanent display in Spokane County buildings. One copy of the flag was stored in a vault in the county courthouse until 1995 and later lost again. The county government announced plans to decommission the design in 2002 and hold a new public contest due to the original flag's appearance, which was deemed potentially offensive to Native Americans. A new county seal
SECTION 60
#17328017876355208-471: The growth of the State Normal School, later Eastern Washington College of Education, later Eastern Washington State College, and finally Eastern Washington University . The fierce determination of Cheney to build and promote its college was largely to regain its lost prestige over the county seat. When Washington became a state in 1889, Cheney was able to obtain legislation establishing one of
5292-631: The largest flood in geological history have combined to forge a distinct environment. Refuge ecosystems represent an ecological transition between the dry, sagebrush-dotted grasslands of the Columbia Basin up toward the timbered Selkirk and Bitterroot mountain ranges that rise up to the east. The 3,036 acres (1,229 ha) of wetlands on Turnbull NWR represent some of the last quality breeding habitat available in eastern Washington for waterfowl, which have experienced tremendous population declines across North America due to loss and degradation of breeding, migration and wintering habitat. The powerful forces of
5376-405: The new Idaho Territory , which was organized by the U.S. Congress on March 3, 1863, and reduced the size of Spokane County even further. On January 19, 1864, the county was annexed into neighboring Stevens County , which had been created a year earlier from the northern portions of Walla Walla County. The seat of Stevens County was Pinkney City (now Colville ) until it was temporarily relocated to
5460-425: The northwest portion, which is the rugged and forested Selkirk Mountains . As of the 2020 census , there were 539,339 people, 212,470 households, and 132,324 families residing in the county. The population density was 305.7 inhabitants per square mile (118.0/km ) averaging 2.46 persons per household. There were 224,019 housing units had an average density of 128.0 per square mile (49.4/km ). The racial makeup of
5544-461: The population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. About 22.0% were of German , 10.7% Irish , 9.9% English , 7.6% American, and 6.4% Norwegian ancestry. Of the 163,611 households, 32.4% had children under 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were not families. About 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who
5628-407: The population. There were 3,108 households, out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.6% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.8% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30, and
5712-441: The population. There were 3,902 households, of which 21.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.0% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 57.2% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
5796-427: The population. In terms of ancestry, 27.0% were German, 15.4% were Irish, 13.5% were English, 6.9% were Norwegian, and 4.4% were American . Of the 187,167 households, 30.9% had children under 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were not families; 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size
5880-638: The railroad, then Billings, in honor of a president of the Northern Pacific Company, and finally Cheney, Washington in honor of Benjamin P. Cheney , a director of the Northern Pacific Railroad . Benjamin P. Cheney was the eldest son of a blacksmith who was born in 1815 in Hillsborough, New Hampshire . At age 16, he began working as a stagecoach driver between Nashua and Keene . Five years later he had become
5964-481: The refuge is unique within the National Wildlife Refuge System and has characteristics that distinguish it from natural reserves worldwide. The 3,036 acres (12 km) of wetlands on Turnbull NWR represent some of the last quality breeding habitat available in eastern Washington for waterfowl, which have experienced tremendous population declines across North America due to loss and degradation of breeding, migration and wintering habitat. The ecological transition between
6048-503: The rest is gravel. There are multiple recreational opportunities and events near the city of Cheney that include: The City of Cheney's government operates under a strong mayor-council form of government. The Mayor is elected by the community at large every four years, and the City Council consists of seven members who are also elected to serve in four-year terms. The Mayor performs as the Chief Executive Officer and
6132-652: The settlers hunted predominantly bison and antelope , but after the game migrated out of the region, the native people became dependent on gathering various roots, berries, and nuts, and harvesting fish. The Spokane tribe, after which the county is named, means "Children of the Sun" or "sun people" in Salishan Explorer-geographer David Thompson , working as head of the North West Company 's Columbia Department , became
6216-485: The single largest employer in Cheney, followed by the Cheney School District and city government. In the private sector, healthcare dominates the employment base, followed closely by farming and agriculture with the principal crops being dryland grain crops like wheat, barley, and peas along with a substantial amount of hay production. With Cheney located just 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Spokane,
6300-554: The southeast, such as the Saltese Flats and Saltese Uplands is characterized as a shrub–steppe landscape with grassy hills and ravines. In ecology, as with the topography, the county is also in a transition area, roughly split between the Columbia Plateau ecoregion in the southwest portion, where it is at the eastern edge of the basaltic Channeled Scablands steppe plain and the Northern Rockies ecoregion in
6384-529: The state's normal schools , mandatory under the Enabling Act , in Cheney. Its most convincing argument was that it already had the physical beginnings of a normal school in the Benjamin P. Cheney Academy. Disagreement between legislators and governors resulted in three appropriation vetoes for the normal school in the next 25 years, but in each case, the citizens of Cheney somehow raised the funds to keep
6468-464: The town of Spokane Falls (now Spokane) in 1875. Spokane County was re-established on October 30, 1879, from the portions of Stevens County south of the Columbia, Spokane, and Wenatchee rivers. The western portion of the county was used to create Lincoln County , which was established on November 23, 1883. The first post office in the county was located at Spokane Bridge . The selection of
6552-420: The university with a pedestrian-only walkway that stretches the few blocks between the two. Eastern Washington University is the fastest-growing university in the state of Washington and has seen several new buildings built or renovated on campus, upgrades to and beautification of the campus, a new residential hall built, and a renovation of the football stadium. The following cost of living indices are based on
6636-584: The volcanism which formed the Columbia Plateau , glaciation, and a series of large floods combined to form an environment unique in many respects. The area provides a high quality wildlife habitat that combines scablands, basalt outcrops, channeled canyons, ponderosa pine forests, and meadows in a diverse landscape with over 130 marshes, wetlands and lakes. The refuge was established in 1937 by an Executive Order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide productive breeding and nesting grounds for migratory birds and other wildlife. The ecosystem that predominates
6720-434: Was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age in the city was 22.3 years. 14.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 48.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17.8% were from 25 to 44; 12.4% were from 45 to 64; and 6.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.8% male and 51.2% female. As of the 2000 census , there were 8,832 people, 3,108 households, and 1,529 families residing in
6804-449: Was 2.44, and the average family size was 2.99. The median age was 36.8 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 47,250 and for a family was $ 59,999. Males had a median income of $ 44,000 versus $ 33,878 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 25,127. About 9.1% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line , including 17.0% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over. As of
6888-407: Was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.46, and the average family size was 3.02. In the county, the age distribution was 25.7% under 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females. there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.60 males. The median income for
6972-695: Was established in 1810, at the confluence of the Little Spokane and Spokane Rivers , becoming the first enduring European settlement of significance in Washington. Known as the Spokane House , or simply "Spokane", it was in operation from 1810 to 1826. Spokane County was established by the Washington Territorial Legislature effective January 29, 1858, from a portion of Walla Walla County , which originally encompassed most of eastern Washington Territory between
7056-454: Was the joining of the eastern and western divisions of the railroad. Cheney made donations to establish the Benjamin P. Cheney Academy in the town. The railroad donated 8 acres (32,000 m ) of land so that the educational facility could be built. In 1880 the railroad was graded through the town, and in 1883 the town was incorporated with the streets laid out in the shape of a triangle with
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