Spokane County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2010 census the population was 471,221, making it the fourth-most populous county in Washington state. The largest city and county seat is Spokane, the second largest city in the state, behind Seattle.
History[]
Spokane County was formed on January 29, 1858. It was annexed by Stevens County on January 19, 1864, and re-created on October 30, 1879. It is named after the Spokane tribe.
Geography[]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,781 square miles (4,610 km2), of which 1,764 square miles (4,570 km2) is land and 17 square miles (44 km2) (0.9%) is water.[6] The lowest point in the county is the Spokane River behind Long Lake Dam (boundary of Stevens County) at 1538 feet (468 m) above sea level. (There is virtually no change in elevation between the dam and the mouth of the Little Spokane River inside Riverside State Park.) The highest point in the county is the summit of Mount Spokane at 5883 feet (1793 m).
Government[]
Spokane County is governed by a partisan Board of County Commissioners, one from each of three districts. They run in a partisan primary election within their own district, then compete countywide in the general election. Other elected officials include the Sheriff, Auditor (who is also responsible for elections), Assessor, Treasurer, and Prosecutor, which are also partisan offices. Spokane County has an appointed Medical Examiner.
Politics[]
Spokane County has consistently been a Republican county.
Communities[]
Cities[]
- Airway Heights
- Cheney
- Deer Park
- Liberty Lake
- Medical Lake
- Millwood
- Spangle
- Spokane (county seat)
- Spokane Valley
Towns[]
- Fairfield
- Latah
- Rockford
- Waverly
Census Designated Place[]
- Country Homes
- Fairchild AFB
- Fairwood
- Four Lakes
- Green Bluff
- Mead
- Otis Orchards-East Farms
- Town and Country
Unincorporated Communities[]
- Amber
- Chattaroy
- Colbert
- Elk
- Espanola
- Greenacres
- Marshall
- Mica
- Milan
- Newman Lake
- Nine Mile Falls
- Plaza
- Spokane Bridge
- Tyler
- Valleyford