Spokane, Washington
The Spokane tribe, whose name translates to "children of the sun" in Salishan, lived off plentiful game along the river that would eventually bear their name. In 1810, explorer-geographer David Thompson established the North West Company's Spokane House at the confluence of the Little Spokane and Spokane rivers. This trading post became the first enduring European settlement of significance in what later became Washington state. Operations continued until 1826 when major activities shifted north to Fort Colville after the Hudson's Bay Company absorbed the North West Company. By 1836, Reverend Samuel Parker reported around 800 Native Americans living in Spokane Falls. The area remained a hub for fur trappers and indigenous communities until American settlers J.J. Downing and S.R. Scranton squatted on claims at Spokane Falls in 1871. They built a small sawmill near the south bank of the falls, marking the beginning of permanent non-indigenous occupation.
By the 30th of June 1881, the Northern Pacific Railway reached the city, bringing major European settlement to the area. The city was officially incorporated with about 1,000 residents on the 29th of November 1881, under the name Spokane Falls. Robert W. Forrest was elected as the first mayor that same year. In 1883, gold and silver discoveries in the Coeur d'Alene region lured prospectors to the area. The city served as a trade center offering low prices on everything from horses to frying pans during the mining rushes between 1883 and 1892. On the 4th of August 1889, just after 6:00 p.m., a fire began due to technical problems with a pump station leaving no water pressure. Firefighters razing buildings with dynamite could not stop the flames which destroyed 32 blocks of downtown core and killed one person. Despite this catastrophe, the city experienced a building boom and reincorporated under its current name in 1891. Between 1889 and 1896 alone, all six bridges over the Spokane River were destroyed by floods before completion.
Mining and smelting emerged as a major stimulus to Spokane's early economy following the 1883 gold rush. After mining declined at the turn of the 20th century, agriculture and logging replaced it as primary economic influences. Rail freight rates in Spokane were much higher than coastal seaport cities like Seattle and Portland. Inland Empire farmers exported wheat, livestock, and other agricultural products to ports such as New York, Liverpool, and Tokyo. The situation improved slightly with World War II when aluminum production commenced due to cheap electricity from regional dams. Growth in the late 1970s and early 1980s was interrupted by another U.S. recession in 1981 when silver, timber, and farm prices dropped. Market forces began impacting the local Kaiser Aluminum plant leading to layoffs, pension cuts, a 1998, 1999 labor strike, and eventually bankruptcy in 2002. Growing companies such as Key Tronic helped lessen dependence on natural resources during this difficult period.
Spokane businessmen formed Spokane Unlimited in the early 1960s to revitalize downtown after decades of stagnation. They executed a proposal to host the first environmentally themed World's Fair in Expo '74 on May 4, making it the smallest city at the time to host such an event. This transformation removed a century of railroad infrastructure and re-invented the urban core into what is now Riverfront Park. The fairgrounds became Riverfront Park which includes views of the Spokane Falls and civic attractions like a skyride and a rebuilt gondola lift. The historic hand-carved Riverfront Park Looff carousel created in 1909 by Charles I.D. Looff remains part of the park today. The opening of River Park Square in 1999 served as a catalyst sparking a downtown rebirth including the building of the Spokane Arena and expansion of the Convention Center. Directly across the river from downtown lies Kendall Yards, one of the largest construction projects in the city's history blending residential and retail space with plazas and walking trails.
Most notable buildings were rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1889 in the Romanesque Revival style designed by architect Kirtland Cutter who arrived in 1886. 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 Davenport Hotel cost two million dollars to complete and included new technologies at its September 1914 opening such as chilled water, elevators, and air cooling. Browne's Addition was Spokane's first prestigious address featuring old mansions built by early elite in Queen Anne and American Craftsman styles. In Hillyard, which began in 1892 as James J. Hill's Great Northern Railway yard, 85 percent of houses are historic American Craftsman bungalows. During the mid-20th century modernist movement flourished with architects like Warren C. Heylman designing numerous residential houses and apartment buildings from 1948 to the mid-1970s.
As of the 2020 census there were 228,989 people residing in the city with a metropolitan area estimated at 605,000 residents. The racial makeup was 84.0% White alone non-Hispanic, 2.59% Black or African American alone non-Hispanic, and 2.52% Asian alone non-Hispanic according to 2010 data. People of German descent made up 19.5% of the population followed by English at 13.1% and Irish at 11.5%. As of 2016, there were at least three Jewish congregations including Emanu-El which erected the first synagogue in Spokane on the 14th of September 1892. The city has become more diverse with people from former Soviet Union countries forming a large demographic after the USSR dissolved in 1991. Pacific Islanders are now the third-largest minority group in the county after Russian and Ukrainian communities. Spokane is known as the birthplace of Father's Day with the first observation occurring on the 19th of June 1910. The Lilac Bloomsday Run held annually on the first Sunday of May attracts international competition while Hoopfest hosts one of the world's largest basketball tournaments.
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Common questions
When was Spokane Falls officially incorporated and who became its first mayor?
Spokane Falls was officially incorporated on the 29th of November 1881 with about 1,000 residents. Robert W. Forrest was elected as the first mayor that same year.
What caused the Great Fire in Spokane on the 4th of August 1889?
A fire began due to technical problems with a pump station leaving no water pressure at just after 6:00 p.m. The flames destroyed 32 blocks of downtown core and killed one person despite firefighters attempting to stop them with dynamite.
Why did Spokane host Expo '74 and what happened to the fairgrounds afterward?
Spokane businessmen formed Spokane Unlimited in the early 1960s to revitalize downtown and executed a proposal to host the first environmentally themed World's Fair on May 4. The fairgrounds became Riverfront Park which includes views of the Spokane Falls and civic attractions like a skyride and a rebuilt gondola lift.
Which architect designed most notable buildings in Spokane after the Great Fire of 1889?
Most notable buildings were rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1889 in the Romanesque Revival style designed by architect Kirtland Cutter who arrived in 1886. 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.
When was Father's Day first observed in Spokane and how many people live there now?
The first observation of Father's Day occurred on the 19th of June 1910 making Spokane known as its birthplace. As of the 2020 census there were 228,989 people residing in the city with a metropolitan area estimated at 605,000 residents.