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History of Spokane, Washington

Spokane (pronounced spō-CAN [spoʊ ˈkæn]) is a city located in Eastern Washington. The county seat|seat of Spokane County, Washington|Spokane County, Spokane is the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest, is the second largest city in Washington state, and the third largest city in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The United States Census 2000|2000 census showed that Spokane's population was 197,400 with a county population of 446,714. The most recent state figures, released in April of 2006, show that the city's population has since increased to 201,600, while estimates of the metropolitan area show that more than half a million people reside in and around Spokane.

The city is located along the Spokane River, where the river descends from the Selkirk Mountains|Selkirk Mountain range into the Columbia River Plateau|Columbia Plateau. It is less than 20 miles from the Washington-Idaho border and is located 280 miles|mile (450 km) east of Seattle, Washington|Seattle and 375 miles (600 km) northeast of Portland, Oregon|Portland.

The city was settled in 1872 [http://encarta.msn.com/media_461525217_761564306_-1_1/Spokane.html] as "Spokan Falls" (without an 'e' at the end), drawing on the Native American tribe known as the Spokane (tribe)|Spokane, which means "Children of the Sun.” [http://experiencespokane.com/quickfacts/] 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 ever since their introduction to the area in the early 20th century.


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