Short answers, pulled from the story.
The name Airway Heights reflects two geographic facts: the city sits at a higher elevation than the Spokane city center, and it lies in close proximity to the runways of Fairchild Air Force Base and Spokane International Airport. Travelers driving into the city along U.S. Route 2 from Downtown Spokane climb more than 500 feet.
Airway Heights was founded in 1942 and officially incorporated on the 28th of June 1955.
Two major openings drove population growth: the Airway Heights Corrections Center, opened by the Washington State Department of Corrections in 1992, and the Northern Quest Resort and Casino, opened by the Kalispel Indian Tribe in 2000. The city's population rose from approximately 4,500 in 2000 to 10,757 by the 2020 census.
Airway Heights had a population of 10,757 at the 2020 census and was estimated at 11,950 in 2024. The city covers a total area of just over 6 square miles.
In July 2015, Mayor Patrick Rushing was asked to resign after calling President Barack Obama a "monkey man" and First Lady Michelle Obama a "gorilla" on his Facebook page. He initially refused but submitted his resignation in August 2015, citing declining health. He was succeeded by then-Deputy Mayor Kevin Richey.
The majority of Airway Heights falls within the Cheney School District, No. 360. The northeastern portion of the city is served by the Great Northern School District, No. 312, for grades kindergarten through sixth grade.