Spokane information

Spokane is a city located in Eastern Washington. The seat of Spokane County, Spokane is the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest, the second largest city in Washington state, and the third largest city in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The most recent US Census figures, released in July of 2006, show that the city's population has increased to about 198,000, while recent state figures put the city's population over 202,000. Estimates show nearly a half a million people reside in Spokane County (Spokane's official metropolitan area as recognized by the U.S. Census). The Coeur d'Alene, Idaho metropolitan area is not recognized as a part of the Spokane metropolitan area mainly because it is on the other side of the Washington-Idaho state line, but the two areas are unified economically, and if combined, would account for a metro population of nearly 600,000 people. The Spokane-Coeur d'Alene area is also the fourth largest in the Pacific Northwest after Seattle, Vancouver, Canada, and Portland, Oregon.
The city is located along the Spokane River, where the river descends from the Selkirk Mountain range into the Columbia Plateau. It is less than 20 miles from the Washington-Idaho border and is located 280 miles (450 km) east of Seattle and 375 miles (600 km) northeast of Portland.
The city was settled in 1872 as "Spokan Falls" (without an 'e' at the end), drawing on the Native American tribe known as the Spokane, which means "Children of the Sun.” The city's name is often mispronounced "Spo-CANE", while the correct pronunciation is "Spo-CAN". Spokane's official nickname is the 'Lilac City', named after the flowers that have flourished since their introduction to the area in the early 20th Century. (...) more....

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