Spokane, Washington

**Spokane** (Pronounced: ) is a city in the U.S. state of Washington. Spokane is in the eastern half of the state, about  from Idaho. Spokane is  south of Canada.

Spokane is the second largest city in Washington, while Seattle is the largest. Spokane's nickname is the "Lilac City" because of how many of those flowers grow in the area.

The population of the city in 2020 was 228,989, and the population of the metro area of Spokane is 585,784.

## History

Spokane was founded in 1871 when a sawmill was built on the Spokane Falls. In 1889 a fire burned down the downtown area of Spokane. In 1892 the railroad came to Spokane, and this made it easier for people to get into and out of the city.
In 1974 Spokane hosted the World's Fair. This brought a lot of people and business into Spokane.

## Spokane River

The Spokane River flows through the city. In downtown Spokane, there is a large waterfall called the Spokane Falls. The first buildings in Spokane were built near the falls.

The Spokane River has many dams that make energy for the people of Spokane.

## Climate

In the Summer, Spokane is hot and dry. Spokane has cold and snowy Winters. Spring and Fall are very short.

Temperatures over  or less than  do not usually happen in Spokane. However, the hottest temperature in Spokane was , and the coldest was .

## Infobox (settlement)

- **name**: Spokane, Washington
- **settlement type**: City
- **named for**: Spokane people
- **nickname**: The Lilac City
- **motto**: Creative by Nature
- **blank name sec1**: Official tree
- **blank info sec1**: _Pinus ponderosa, Ponderosa Pine_
- **image skyline**: File:Spokane aerial, May 2023.png
- **image flag**: File:Flag of Spokane, Washington (2021–present).svg
- **image map**: Spokane in Spokane County.png
- **subdivision type**: Country
- **subdivision type1**: U.S. state, State
- **subdivision type2**: List of counties in Washington, County
- **subdivision name**: United States
- **subdivision name1**: Washington (state), Washington
- **subdivision name2**: Spokane County, Washington, Spokane
- **established title**: Founded
- **established date**: 1873
- **founder**: James N. Glover
- **government type**: Mayor–council
- **leader title**: Mayor
- **leader name**: Lisa Brown (Washington politician), Lisa Brown
- **established title2**: Municipal corporation, Incorporated
- **established date2**: November 29, 1881
- **unit pref**: Imperial
- **area total km2**: 179.99
- **area land km2**: 178.09
- **area water km2**: 1.91
- **area total sq mi**: 69.50
- **area land sq mi**: 68.76
- **area water sq mi**: 0.74
- **population as of**: 2020 United States census, 2020
- **population total**: 228989
- **population urban**: 447279 (US: List of United States urban areas, 90th)
- **population density urban km2**: 1,006.0
- **population density urban sq mi**: 2,605.4
- **population density km2**: auto
- **population density sq mi**: auto
- **population rank**: US: List of United States cities by population, 98th
WA: List of municipalities in Washington, 2nd
- **population metro**: 597919 (US: Metropolitan statistical area, 98th)
- **population blank1 title**: Combined statistical area, CSA
- **population blank1**: 781497 (US: Combined statistical area, 70th)
- **population demonym**: Spokanite
- **timezone**: Pacific Standard Time, PST
- **utc offset**: -8
- **timezone dst**: Pacific Daylight Time, PDT
- **utc offset dst**: -7
- **area code**: Area code 509, 509
- **elevation m**: 562
- **elevation ft**: 1843
- **postal code type**: ZIP Codes
- **blank name**: Federal Information Processing Standard, FIPS code
- **blank info**: 53-67000
- **blank1 name**: Geographic Names Information System, GNIS feature ID
- **blank1 info**: 1512683