Where is Spokane Located? 

Spokane is located along the eastern border of Washington State in the heart of the Inland Northwest. The largest city between Seattle and Minneapolis on the I-90 corridor, Spokane is 18 miles west of the Idaho border and 110 miles south of the Canadian border.

As the county seat, Spokane serves as a hub for business, retail and financial services, and is the major health care provider to a 36-county region encompassing parts of Montana, Oregon, Idaho, British Columbia, Alberta, as well as Washington. The Inland Northwest region extends across 80,000 square miles and is home to over two million residents who live, work and enjoy this recreational paradise.

The topography of the land varies from rolling wheat fields to snow-capped mountains, from lush forests to deserts, and from pristine lakes to raging rivers. To the west lies the gradually sloping Columbia River Basin; the land north toward Canada is a forested mountainous region; to the east the precipitous Rocky Mountains thrust toward the heavens; and the rolling hills of the Palouse to the south are the world’s largest producer of peas and lentils.

Surrounding Cities

•  Spokane (509) 625-6250
  The City of Spokane is home to some 195,500 residents; there are around 418,000 residents in the metropolitan area. Spokane is located in the heart of the Inland Northwest, and it serves as a shopping, entertainment, and medical hub for an area that includes Eastern Washington, Eastern Oregon, North Idaho, Western Montana, and southern portions of Alberta and British Columbia. The Spokane River runs through our downtown with spectacular falls on the western end of our city core. Beautiful Riverfront Park also is in the heart of our city.
  
• Airway Heights (509) 244-5578
  Airway Heights, Washington was incorporated in 1955. The city, located in Eastern Washington just six miles west of Spokane, is a dynamic, growing city with business, recreation, and housing opportunities.
  
• Cheney (509) 235-7211
  A thriving community with a population of 10,070 and located just 17 miles southwest of Spokane. Our quality of life is unmatched because of a small town atmosphere and family friendly environment.
  
• City of Spokane Valley (509) 921-1000
  Spokane Valley, Washington is located on the eastern border of the State of Washington. The City was newly incorporated March 31, 2003. With a population of 83,950, Spokane Valley is the 8th largest city in Washington State. The incorporation of Spokane Valley was the largest in the state and the 2nd largest single incorporation in U.S. history. It encompasses approximately 38.5 square miles of land area.
  
• Coeur d’Alene (208) 769-2300
  Today, Coeur d'Alene is a world-class resort city where everyone is welcome! Visitors from all over the world enjoy its beautiful green forests, sparkling lakes, its nationally recognized golf course, mountain sports, and other outdoor recreation.
  
• Deer Park (509) 276-8802
  Located 20 miles north of Spokane, Deer Park is a paradise of outdoor opportunities on the area's lakes, streams, ski resorts and golf course.
  
• Liberty Lake (509) 755-6700
  In Liberty Lake, our goal is to partner with residents and businesses with a focus on quality of life, the environment, and the economic vitality of our city.
  
• Medical Lake (509) 299-7712
  Medical Lake is a picturesque full service residential community located in the heart of the West Plains. Named for the healing properties of the water, Medical Lake has a rich history as a resort destination dating back to the late 1800's. Recreational amenities are still a focal point of the community.
  
• Millwood (509) 924-0960
  This milltown is a suburb of Spokane and was once a stop on the Spokane-Coeur d'Alene Electric Railway.
  
• Post Falls (208) 773-3511
  Post Falls is located four miles east of the Washington-Idaho border along Interstate 90 in Kootenai County and is bounded by Coeur d’Alene, Idaho to the east, the State of Washington to the west, the Spokane River to the south and the Rathdrum prairie to the north.Post Falls is 20 miles east of Spokane, Washington and approximately 100 miles south of the Canadian border.

Population

• Spokane County.....436,300
• City of Spokane......198,700
• Spokane Valley........85,010
• Liberty Lake...............5,255
• Airway Heights...........4,640
• Cheney....................10,070
• Medical Lake..............4,350
• Deer Park...................3,100

Sex

• Male, 49.1%
• Female, 50.9%

Age

• Persons under age 15……20.2 percent
• Persons ages 15-24……...15.5 percent
• Persons ages 25-34……...12.4 percent
• Persons ages 35-44……...14.6 percent
• Persons ages 45-54…….......15 percent
• Persons ages 55-64………..9.8 percent
• Persons age 65 and over...12.5 percent
• Median age............................35 years

Race

• White........................................................88.9
• Black or African American……....................1.7
• American Indian and Alaska Native..............1.5
• Asian........................................................1.9
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander....0.2
• Two or More Races.....................................2.4
• Some other race........................................ 0.8
• Hispanic or Latino ethnicity (of any race)……2.6

 Land Area

• City of Spokane …….........58 square miles
• Spokane County……..1,763.6 square miles
• Washington State…....68,192 square miles

Mileage to Spokane

• Boise, ID...................................391
• Calgary, Alberta.........................487
• Coeur d'Alene, ID........................33
• Coulee Dam, WA....................... 85
• Denver, CO.............................1,204
• Glacier National Park, MT...........287
• Los Angeles, CA.....................1,126
• Minneapolis, MN.....................1,349
• Nelson, British Columbia.............179
• Portland, OR..............................348
• Seattle, WA...............................289
• Vancouver, British Columbia........402
• Yellowstone Park, WY................437 

Cost Of Living

Cost of Living Ranking* (4th Quarter 2005)
All figures compared to a national average of 100

Spokane's Climate

Spokane is four-season country, each contributing to the region’s unique lifestyle. Situated between the Rocky and Cascade mountain ranges, Spokane is protected from damp coastal weather like that of Seattle, as well as continental-type winters. The growing season extends from mid-April to mid-October.

Summer weather is ideal for enjoying the many mountain and lake recreational areas. Winter weather includes occasional snowfalls of several inches. Nearby mountainous winter sport areas receive a great deal more snow and sometimes enjoy a five- to six-month season.

Yearly Climate Averages

• Precipitation, 16.7 inches
• Snow, 48.8 inches
• Wind (mean speed), 8.9 mph
• Relative Humidity: Morning, 78 percent and Afternoon, 52 percent
• Days with maximum temperatures over 90 F, 29
• Days with maximum temperatures under 32 F, 24

Temperature Averages

• January.....33 F high.....22 F low
• March.........49 F high.....30 F low
• May.............66 F high.....43 F low
• July.............82 F high.....55 F low
• Sept............73 F high.....46 F low
• Nov.............41 F high.....29 F low

Quick Spokane Facts - Taxes

Sales/usage tax for Spokane MSA is 8.5 percent. A 6.5 percent tax is remitted to Washington State and 0.6 percent is a public transit tax. Tax deferral is available for businesses moving into the state. The average property tax rate (per $1,000 assessed value) for Spokane County is $15.08, $14.75 (per $1,000 assessed value) in the City of Spokane and $14.85 (per $1,000 assessed value) in the City of Spokane Valley.Washington State has a Business and Occupation tax ranging between 0.138 and 1.5 percent; rates are based on the type of business activity. It represents approximately 16.1 percent of the state’s general fund revenues and has been the second leading tax source for the past 50 years. Washington State does not have a state incometax.

Top Ten Employers in Spokane County

• 92nd Air Refueling Wing
  Fairchild AFB, WA 99011
  Phone: 247-5704
  FTE: 5616
  Category: U.S. Air Force
• Sacred Heart Medical Center
  101 W. Eighth
  Spokane, WA 99220-2555
  Phone: 474-3131
  FTE: 3232
  Category: Health Care
• U.S. Government
  Various federal agencies
  FTE: 3174
  Category: Government
• Spokane Public Schools
  200 N. Bernard
  Spokane, WA 99201
  Phone: 354-7265
  FTE: 3126
  Category: Education
• State of Washington
  Various state agencies
  FTE: 2878
  Category: Government
• City of Spokane
  808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.
  Spokane, WA 99201
  Phone: 625-6363
  FTE: 2025
  Category: Government
• Spokane County
  1116 W. Broadway
  Spokane, WA 99201
  Phone: 477-5789
  FTE: 2009
  Category: Government
• Empire Health Services
  800 W. Fifth
  Spokane, WA 99210-0248
  Phone: 473-7690
  FTE: 1650
  Category:Nonprofit health care organization that operates Deaconness Medical Center and Valley Hospital & Medical Center
• URM Stores, Inc.
  7511 N. Freya
  Spokane, WA 99220-3365
  Phone: 467-2620
  FTE: 1446
  Category: Wholesale grocery distributor
• Community Colleges of Spokane
  501 N. Riverpoint Blvd.
  Spokane, WA 99217-6000
  Phone: 434-5107
  FTE: 1412
  Category: Higher Education

Source: Journal of Business, 2005 Book of Lists