Editing Spokane, Washington (section)

==History==
{{Main|History of Spokane, Washington}}
{{For timeline}}

The first humans to live in the Spokane area were [[hunter-gatherer]]s that lived off plentiful fish and game; early human remains have been dated to 8,000 to 13,000 years ago.<ref name="Ruby p. 5">{{harvp|Ruby|Brown|2006|p=5}}</ref> The [[Spokane people|Spokane]] tribe, after which the city is named (the name meaning "children of the sun" or "sun people" in [[Montana Salish language|Salishan]]),<ref name="Phillips">{{harvp|Phillips|1971|pp=134-135}}</ref><ref name="Spukcane">{{harvp|Ruby|Brown|2006|pp=7–8}}</ref>{{Ref|Spukcane|[a]}} are believed to be either their direct descendants, or descendants of people from the [[Great Plains]].<ref name="Ruby 5-6">{{harvp|Ruby|Brown|2006|pp=5–6}}</ref> When asked by early white explorers, the Spokanes said their ancestors came from "up North."<ref name="Ruby p. 5"/> Early in the 19th century, the [[Northwest Fur Company]] sent two white fur trappers west of the Rocky Mountains to search for [[fur]].<ref>{{harvp|Ruby|Brown|2006|p=34}}</ref> These were the first white men met by the Spokanes, who believed they were sacred, and set the trappers up in the [[Colville River (Washington)|Colville River]] valley for the winter.<ref name="Ruby 35">{{harvp|Ruby|Brown|2006|p=35}}</ref>

===Trading post===
The explorer-geographer [[David Thompson (explorer)|David Thompson]], working as head of the [[North West Company]]'s [[Columbia Department]], became the first European to explore the Inland Empire (now called the [[Inland Northwest (United States)|Inland Northwest]]).<ref name="Stratton19">{{harvp|Stratton|2005|p=19}}</ref> Crossing what is now the Canada–US border from [[British Columbia]], Thompson wanted to expand the North West Company further south in search of furs. After establishing the [[Kullyspell House]] and [[Saleesh House]] trading posts in what are now Idaho and Montana, Thompson then attempted to expand further west. He sent out two trappers, [[Jacques Raphael Finlay]] and Finan McDonald, to construct a [[fur trade|fur trading post]] on the Spokane River, which flows west from [[Lake Coeur d'Alene]] to the [[Columbia River]], and trade with the local Indians.<ref name="SpokaneH">{{cite web |last=Oldham |first=Kit |title=The North West Company establishes Spokane House in 1810 |work=Essay 5099 |publisher=HistoryLink |date=January 23, 2003 |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=5099| access-date = December 7, 2014}}</ref> This post was established in 1810, at the confluence of the [[Little Spokane River|Little Spokane]] and [[Spokane River|Spokane]] rivers, becoming the first enduring European settlement of significance in what later became Washington state.<ref name="Stratton19"/> Known as the [[Spokane House]], or simply "Spokane", it was in operation from 1810 to 1826.<ref name="Phillips"/> Operations were run by the British North West Company and later the [[Hudson's Bay Company]], and the post was the headquarters of the fur trade between the Rocky and Cascade mountains for 16 years. After the latter business absorbed the North West Company in 1821, the major operations at the Spokane House were eventually shifted north to [[Fort Colville]], reducing the post's significance.<ref>{{harvp|Meinig|1993|p=69}}</ref>

[[File:Spokane Falls 1888.jpg|thumb|left|alt= Lithograph depicting the Spokane falls in 1888| [[Spokane Falls]] in 1888]]

In 1836, Reverend [[Samuel Parker (missionary)|Samuel Parker]] visited the area and reported that around 800 Native Americans were living in Spokane Falls.<ref>{{harvp|Ruby|Brown|1988|p=75}}</ref> A [[Whitman Mission National Historic Site|medical mission]] was established by [[Marcus Whitman|Marcus]] and [[Narcissa Whitman]] to cater for [[Cayuse people|Cayuse]] Indians and hikers of the Oregon Trail at [[Walla Walla, Washington|Walla Walla]] in the south.<ref name=Essay10777>{{cite web |last=Tate |first=Cassandra |title=Missionaries Marcus and Narcissa Whitman begin their journey to the Northwest, one day after their wedding, on February 19, 1836. |work=Essay 10777 |publisher=HistoryLink |date=May 8, 2014 |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=10777| access-date = November 22, 2014}}</ref> 
After [[Whitman massacre|the Whitmans were killed]] by Indians in 1847, Reverend [[Cushing Eells]] established [[Whitman College]] in their memory, also setting up the [[Tshimakain Mission|first church]] in the Spokane area.<ref name=Essay10777 />

In 1853, two years after the establishment of the Washington Territory, the first governor, [[Isaac Stevens]], made an initial effort to make a treaty with [[Chief Garry]] and the Spokanes at Antoine Plantes' Ferry, not far from [[Millwood, Washington|Millwood]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Tate |first=Cassandra |title=Cayuse Indians |work=Essay 10365 |publisher=HistoryLink |date=April 3, 2013 |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=10365| access-date = November 22, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Kershner |first=Jim |title=Chief Spokane Garry (ca. 1811–1892) |work=Essay 8713 |publisher=HistoryLink |date=August 1, 2008 |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=8713| access-date = November 22, 2014}}</ref> After the last campaign of the [[Yakima War|Yakima Indian War]], the [[Coeur d'Alene War]] of 1858 was brought to a close by the actions of Col. [[George Wright (general)|George Wright]], who won decisive victories against a confederation of tribes in engagements at the battles of [[Battle of Four Lakes|Four Lakes]] and [[Battle of Spokane Plains|Spokane Plains]].<ref>{{harvp|Stratton|2005|pp=81–83}}</ref> The cessation of hostilities opened the inter-mountain valley of the Pacific Northwest to colonial expansion and safe habitation by settlers.<ref>{{harvp|Stratton|2005|p=84}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Wilma |first=David |title=U.S. Army Colonel George Wright hangs Yakama and Palouse prisoners at the Ned-Whauld River beginning on September 25, 1858 |work=Essay 5141 |publisher=HistoryLink |date=January 29, 2003 |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=5141| access-date = December 7, 2014}}</ref>

===American settlement===
[[File:SpokaneMap1890GiesAndCompanyofBuffaloNew York.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Spokane Falls in 1890|Spokane Falls, 1890]]
Joint American–British occupation of [[Oregon Country]], in effect since the [[Treaty of 1818]], eventually led to the [[Oregon Boundary Dispute]] after a large influx of American settlers along the [[Oregon Trail]]. Great Britain ceded its claims to lands in [[Puget Sound]] and the central and lower Columbia Basin by the [[Oregon Treaty]] of 1846. The Hudson's Bay Company wound up its operations in the area over the next few years.

In what is now Spokane, the first American settlers were J.J. Downing and S.R. Scranton, cattle ranchers who [[squatters|squatted]] and established a claim at Spokane Falls in 1871.<ref name="p. 19">{{harvp|Kensel|1971|p=19}}</ref> Together they built a small sawmill on a claim near the south bank of the falls.<ref name="p. 19"/><ref>{{cite web |last=Wilma |first=David |title=J. J. Downing and S. R. Scranton file claims and build a sawmill at Spokane Falls in May 1871 |work=Essay 5132 |publisher=HistoryLink |date=January 27, 2003 |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=5132| access-date = December 7, 2014}}</ref> [[James N. Glover]] and Jasper Matheney, Oregonians passing through the region in 1873, recognized the value of the Spokane River and its falls for the purpose of water power.<ref name="p. 19"/> They realized the investment potential and bought the claims of {{convert|160|acre|ha}} and the sawmill from Downing and Scranton for a total of $4,000.<ref>{{harvp|Schmeltzer|1988|p=39}}</ref> Glover and Matheney knew that the [[Northern Pacific Railroad Company]] had received a government charter to build a main line across this [[Northern Transcon|northern route]].<ref name="p. 19"/> Amid many delays in construction and uncertainty over the completion of the railroad and its exact course, Matheney sold his interest in the claim to Glover.<ref name="p. 20">{{harvp|Kensel|1971|p=20}}</ref>{{ref|Glover|[b]}} Glover confidently held on to his claim and became a successful Spokane business owner and the city's second mayor.<ref>Durham (1912), p. 362–363</ref> He later came to be known as the "Father of Spokane".<ref>Schmeltzer (1988), p. 40</ref>

In 1880, [[Fort Spokane]] was established by U.S. Army troops under Lt. Col. [[Henry C. Merriam]] {{convert|56|mi|km}} northwest of Spokane, at the junction of the [[Columbia River|Columbia]] and Spokane Rivers, to protect the construction of the Northern Pacific Railway and secure a place for U.S. settlement.<ref>{{cite web |last=Oldham |first=Kit |title=U.S. Army establishes Fort Spokane at the junction of the Spokane and Columbia rivers in 1882 |work=Essay 5358 |publisher=HistoryLink |date=March 4, 2003 |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=5358| access-date = December 7, 2014}}</ref> By June 30, 1881, the railway reached the city, bringing major European settlement to the area.<ref>{{harvp|Kensel|1971|p=23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Wilma |first=David |title=First train arrives at Spokane Falls on June 25, 1881 |work=Essay 5137 |publisher=HistoryLink |date=January 28, 2003 |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=5137}}</ref> The city was officially incorporated with a population of about 1,000 residents on November 29, 1881.<ref name="Durham p. 362">Durham (1912), p. 362</ref><ref name="Incorporation">{{cite web |last=Arksey |first=Laura |title=Spokane Falls (later renamed Spokane) is incorporated as a first-class city on November 29, 1881 |work=Essay 9176 |publisher=HistoryLink |date=October 3, 2009 |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=9176| access-date = December 7, 2014}}</ref>{{Ref|incorp|[c]}} When Spokane was officially incorporated in 1881, [[Robert W. Forrest]] was elected as the first mayor of the city, with a Council of seven, S.G. Havermale, A.M. Cannon, Dr. L.H. Whitehouse, L.W. Rima, F.R. Moore, George A. Davis, and W.C. Gray, all serving without pay.<ref name="Durham p. 362"/> The marketing campaigns of transportation companies with affordable fertile land to sell along their trade routes lured many settlers into the region they dubbed "Spokane Country".<ref>{{harvp|Kensel|1971|pp=22–23}}</ref><ref name="Railroads">{{harvp|Stratton|2005|p=33}}</ref>

[[File:Spokane-chronicle-great-fire-1889.jpg|thumb|left|alt=The makeshift Daily Chronicle office after The Great Fire|The makeshift Daily Chronicle office after The Great Fire]]

The 1883 discovery of gold, silver, and lead in the Coeur d'Alene region of northern Idaho lured prospectors.<ref name="p. 28"/> The Inland Empire erupted with numerous mining rushes from 1883 to 1892.<ref>Kensel (1969), pp. 88–89</ref> Mining and [[smelting]] emerged as a major stimulus to Spokane. At the onset of the initial 1883 [[gold rush]] in the nearby [[Silver Valley, Idaho|Coeur d'Alene mining district]], Spokane became popular with prospectors, offering low prices on everything "from a horse to a frying pan".<ref>Kensel (1969), p. 85. According to the ''Spokane Falls Review'' December 1, 1883, edition.</ref> It would keep this status for subsequent [[Silver rush|rushes]] in the region due to its trade center status and accessibility to railroad infrastructure.<ref>Kensel (1969), pp. 85–89</ref>{{ref|Transport|[d]}}

Spokane's growth continued unabated until August 4, 1889, when a fire, now known as [[Great Spokane Fire|The Great Fire]] (not to be confused with the [[Great Fire of 1910]], which happened nearby), began just after 6:00&nbsp;p.m., and destroyed the city's downtown commercial district.<ref name="GreatSpokaneFire">{{cite web |last=Arksey |first=Laura |title=Great Spokane Fire destroys downtown Spokane Falls on August 4, 1889 |work=Essay 7696 |publisher=HistoryLink |date=March 20, 2006 |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&File_Id=7696| access-date = December 7, 2014}}</ref> Due to technical problems with a pump station, there was no water pressure in the city when the fire started.<ref>Schmeltzer (1988), pp. 42–43</ref> In a desperate bid to starve the fire, firefighters began razing buildings with dynamite. Eventually, the winds and the fire died down; 32 blocks of Spokane's downtown core had been destroyed and one person was killed.<ref name="GreatSpokaneFire" />
[[File:SpokaneFalls1895.jpg|thumb|right|alt=The city of Spokane Falls circa 1895|Spokane ca. 1895]]

Despite this catastrophe, and in part because of it, Spokane experienced a building boom.<ref name="Schmeltzer 44" />{{ref|investment|[e]}} The downtown was rebuilt, and the city was reincorporated under the present name of "Spokane" in 1891.<ref name="Incorporation" /> According to historian David H. Stratton, "From the late 1890s to about 1912, a great flurry of construction created a modern urban profile of office buildings, banks, department stores, hotels and other commercial institutions" which stretched from the Spokane River to the site of the Northern Pacific railroad tracks below the South Hill.<ref name="Creighton7">Creighton (2013), p. 7</ref> Yet the rebuilding and development of the city was far from smooth: between 1889 and 1896 alone, all six bridges over the Spokane River were destroyed by floods before their completion.<ref name="Creighton7"/> In the 1890s the city was subject to intrastate migration by African-Americans from [[Roslyn, Washington|Roslyn]], looking for work after the closure of the area's mines. Two African-American churches, Calvary Baptist and Bethel African Methodist Episcopal, were founded in 1890.<ref>Williamson (2010), p. 7</ref> Just three years after the fire, in 1892, [[James J. Hill]]'s [[Great Northern Railway (U.S.)|Great Northern Railway]] arrived in the chosen site for Hill's [[classification yard|rail yard]]s, the newly created township of [[Hillyard, Spokane, Washington|Hillyard]] (annexed by Spokane in 1924).<ref name="Hillyard">{{cite web |last=Kershner |first=Jim |title=Spokane Neighborhoods: Hillyard – Thumbnail History |work=Essay 8406 |publisher=HistoryLink |date=December 15, 2007 |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=8406| access-date = December 7, 2014}}</ref> Spokane became an important rail shipping and transportation hub for the Inland Empire, connecting mines in the [[Silver Valley, Idaho|Silver Valley]] with agricultural areas around the [[Palouse]] region.<ref name="Railroads"/><ref name="Schmeltzerp.41">Schmeltzer (1988), p. 41</ref> The city's population ballooned to 19,922 in 1890, and to 36,848 in 1900 with the arrival of additional railroads.<ref name="Schmeltzer 44">Schmeltzer (1988), p. 44</ref> By 1910 the population had hit 104,000, and Spokane eclipsed [[Walla Walla, Washington|Walla Walla]] as the commercial center of the Inland Empire.<ref>Stratton (2005), pp. 29–30, 32–33</ref> In time the city came to be known as the "capital" of the Inland Empire and the heart of a vast tributary region.<ref name="p. 28">{{harvp|Stratton|2005|p=28}}</ref><ref name="Malone">Malone (1996), p. 201</ref> After the arrival of the Northern Pacific, [[Union Pacific Railroad|Union Pacific]], Great Northern, and [[Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific]] railroads, Spokane became one of the most important rail centers in the western U.S.<ref name="Schmeltzer 44" /><ref name="Malone"/><ref>{{harvp|Stratton|2005|p=32}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Spokane, Gateway City: Metropolis of the Inland Empire |journal=Railway Employees Magazine and Journal |volume=6 |issue=1 |publisher=Stanford University |location=San Francisco, California |date=October 1911 |pages=2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AINOAQAAIAAJ&q=spokane+gateway+city&pg=RA5-PA2}}</ref>

===Early 20th century===
[[File:MonroeStreetBridgea.jpg|thumb|upright=1.85|alt=Construction of the Monroe Street Bridge, August 3, 1911|The [[Monroe Street Bridge (Spokane River)|Monroe Street Bridge]], 1911]]

Expansion abruptly stopped in the 1910s and was followed by a period of population decline,<ref name="Stagnation">{{harvp|Stratton|2005|p=35}}</ref> due in large part to Spokane's slowing economy. Control of regional mines and resources became increasingly dominated by national corporations rather than local people and organizations, diverting capital outside of Spokane and decreasing growth and investment opportunities in the city.<ref name="Stagnation" /> During this time of stagnation, unrest was prevalent among the area's unemployed, who became victimized by "job sharks", who charged a fee for signing up workers in the logging camps. Job sharks and employment agencies were known to cheat itinerant workers, sometimes paying bribes to periodically fire entire work crews, thus generating repetitive fees for themselves.<ref>{{cite web |last=Reider |first=Ross |title=IWW formally begins Spokane free-speech fight on November 2, 1909 |work=Essay 7357 |publisher=HistoryLink |date=June 22, 2005 |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=7357| access-date = December 7, 2014}}</ref> Crime spiked in the 1890s and 1900s,<ref>{{harvp|Stratton|2005|pp=148-151}}</ref><ref>Kienholz (1999), p. 209–210</ref> with eruptions of violent activity involving unions such as the [[Industrial Workers of the World]] (IWW), or "Wobblies" as they were often known, whose [[Free speech fights#Spokane free speech fight|free speech fights]] had begun to garner national attention.<ref name="p. 52">{{harvp|Stratton|2005|p=152}}</ref> Now, with grievances concerning the unethical practices of the employment agencies, they initiated a free speech fight in September 1908 by purposely breaking a city ordinance on [[soapbox]]ing.<ref name="p. 52"/> With IWW encouragement, union members from many western states came to Spokane to take part in what had become a publicity stunt. Many Wobblies were incarcerated, including feminist labor leader [[Elizabeth Gurley Flynn]], who published her account in the local ''[[Industrial Worker]]''.<ref name="p. 52"/>

[[File:Riverside Ave, Spokane, Washington, ca 1923 (WASTATE 448).jpeg|thumb|left|alt=Riverside Avenue c. 1923|Riverside Avenue c. 1923]]

After mining declined at the turn of the 20th century, agriculture and logging became the primary influences in the Spokane economy.<ref name="Kenselp.25">Kensel (1968), p. 25</ref> The population explosion and the building of homes, railroads, and mines in northern Idaho and southern British Columbia fueled the logging industry.<ref name="Kenselp.25" /> Although overshadowed in importance by the vast timbered areas on the coastal regions west of the Cascades, and burdened with monopolistic rail freight rates and stiff competition, Spokane became a noted leader in the manufacture of doors, [[sash window|window sashes]], blinds, and other [[planing mill]] products.<ref>Kensel (1968), pp. 28–29, 31</ref> Rail freight rates were much higher in Spokane than the rates in coastal [[seaport]] cities such as Seattle and Portland, so much so that [[Minneapolis]] merchants could ship goods first to Seattle and then back to Spokane for less than shipping directly to Spokane, even though the rail line ran through Spokane on the way to the coast.<ref name="Malone"/><ref>Durham (1912), p. 598</ref>{{ref|Hepburn|[f]}}

The Inland Northwest region has also long been associated with farming, especially [[wheat]] production.<ref name="p. 119">{{harvp|Stratton|2005|p=119}}</ref> Initially, the Palouse was thought to be unsuitable for wheat production due to the hilly terrain, believing wheat could not be cultivated on the tops of the hills, but the region showed great promise for wheat production when it began in the late 1850s in part due to the hilltops.<ref name="p. 119"/> The Palouse was and still is a [[breadbasket]] and was able to develop and grow with the completion of several railroad networks as well as a highway system that began to center around the city of Spokane, aiding farmers from around the region in distributing their products to market.<ref>{{harvp|Stratton|2005|pp=126-127}}</ref> Inland Empire farmers exported wheat, livestock and other agricultural products to ports such as New York, Liverpool and Tokyo.<ref name="p. 127">{{harvp|Stratton|2005|p=127}}</ref>

Local morale was affected for years by the collapse of the [[Division Street Bridge (Spokane, Washington)|Division Street Bridge]] early in the morning on December 15, 1915, which killed five people and injured over 20, but a new bridge was built (eventually replaced in 1994).<ref>Creighton (2013), p. 82</ref> The 1920 census showed a net increase of just 35 individuals, which actually indicates that thousands left the city when considering the natural growth rate of a population.<ref name="Stagnation"/> Growth in the 1920s and 1930s remained slow but less drastically so, forcing city boosters to market the city as a quiet, comfortable place suitable for raising a family rather than a dynamic community full of opportunity.<ref>{{harvp|Stratton|2005|p=35-36}}</ref> The Inland Empire was heavily dependent on natural resources and [[wikt:extractive|extractive]] goods produced from mines, forests, and farms, which experienced a fall in demand.<ref name="p. 38">{{harvp|Stratton|2005|p=38}}</ref> The situation improved slightly with the start of World War II as aluminum production commenced in Spokane due to the area's cheap electricity (produced from regional dams) and the increased demand for airplanes.<ref name="p. 38"/>

===Second half of the 20th century===
[[File:Expo '74, Spokane, Washington, looking northeast.tif|thumb|alt=Expo '74 in Riverfront Park|[[Expo '74]] in [[Riverfront Park (Spokane, Washington)|Riverfront Park]]]]

After decades of stagnation and slow growth, Spokane businessmen formed Spokane Unlimited in the early 1960s, an organization that sought to revitalize downtown Spokane.<ref>Stratton (2005), pp. 211–212</ref> A recreation park showcasing the [[Spokane Falls]] was the preferred option, and after successful negotiation to relocate the railroad facilities on Havermale Island,<ref name="WorldsFair">Stratton (2005), p. 215</ref> they executed on a proposal to host the first [[Environmentalism|environmentally]] themed [[World's Fair]] in [[Expo '74]] on May 4, becoming the smallest city at the time to host a World's Fair.<ref>Stratton (2005), p. 207</ref><ref name="CC">{{cite news |last=Berger |first=Knute |date=November 6, 2012 |title=Preserving state's heritage: Why Spokane is central |url=http://crosscut.com/2012/11/06/mossback/111332/preserving-states-heritage-spokanes-importance |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109111928/http://crosscut.com/2012/11/06/mossback/111332/preserving-states-heritage-spokanes-importance/ |archive-date=November 9, 2012 |access-date=December 7, 2014 |publisher=Crosscut Public Media |df=mdy-all}}</ref> This event transformed Spokane's downtown, removing a century of railroad infrastructure and re-inventing the urban core. After Expo '74, the fairgrounds became the {{convert|100|acre|ha|adj=on}} Riverfront Park.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wilma |first=David |title=Expo 74 Spokane World's Fair opens on May 4, 1974 |work=Essay 5133 |publisher=HistoryLink |date=January 27, 2003 |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&File_Id=5133| access-date = December 7, 2014}}</ref>

The growth witnessed in the late 1970s and early 1980s was interrupted by another U.S. recession in 1981, in which silver, timber, and farm prices dropped.<ref name="Diverse">Schmeltzer (1988), p. 87</ref> The period of decline for the city lasted into the 1990s and was also marked by a loss of many steady family-wage jobs in the manufacturing sector.<ref name="Thumbnail"/> At this time, market forces began to impact the local [[Kaiser Aluminum]] plant and layoffs, pension cuts, a 1998–1999 labor strike, and eventually bankruptcy in 2002 followed.<ref name=Essay10119>{{cite web |last=Kershner |first=Jim |title=Spokane Valley — Thumbnail History |work=Essay 10119 |publisher=HistoryLink |date=May 25, 2012 |url=http://historylink.org/File/10119| access-date = January 11, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Thumbnail"/> Although this was a tough period, Spokane's economy had started to benefit from some measure of economic diversification; growing companies such as [[Key Tronic]] and other research, marketing, and assembly plants for technology companies helped lessen Spokane's dependence on natural resources.<ref name="Diverse"/>

===21st century===
[[File:SpokaneSkywalks.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Spokane's skywalk network is among the nation's most extensive|Spokane has an extensive [[Skywalk]] network]]

As of 2014, Spokane is still trying to make the transition to a more [[service economy|service-oriented economy]] in the face of a less prominent manufacturing sector.<ref name="Thumbnail">{{cite web |last=Arksey |first=Laura |title=Spokane – Thumbnail History |work=Essay 7462 |publisher=HistoryLink |date=September 4, 2005 |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&File_Id=7462| access-date = December 7, 2014}}</ref> Developing the city's strength in the medical and health sciences fields has seen some success, resulting in the expansion of the University District with two medical school branches.<ref name=WWAMI/><ref name=ElsonSFloyd/><ref>{{cite news |last=Geranios |first=Nicholas K. |title=With new school opening, medical education surges in Spokane |publisher=The Seattle Times Company |date=February 12, 2017 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/with-new-school-opening-medical-education-surges-in-spokane/| access-date = January 13, 2018}}</ref> The city faces challenges such as a scarcity of high-paying jobs, pockets of poverty, and areas of high crime.<ref name="Thumbnail"/>

The opening of the [[River Park Square]] in 1999 served as a [[urban renewal|catalyst]] and sparked a downtown rebirth that included the building of the Spokane Arena and expansion of the [[Spokane Convention Center]].<ref name="Thumbnail"/><ref>Spirou (2010), p. 210</ref> Other major projects include the building of the Big Easy concert house (now the [[Knitting Factory]]) and renovation of the historic [[Montvale Hotel]], the Kirtland Cutter-designed Davenport Hotel (after being vacant for over 20 years), the Fox Theater (now home to the Spokane Symphony)<ref name="Davenport">{{cite web |last=Arksey |first=Laura |title=Davenport Hotel (Spokane) |work=Essay 7545 |publisher=HistoryLink |date=November 29, 2005 |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=7545| access-date = December 7, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Fox">{{cite web |last=Kershner |first=Jim |title=Restored Fox Theater in Spokane reopens as the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox in a gala concert on November 17, 2007 |work=Essay 8681 |publisher=HistoryLink |date=July 2, 2008 |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=8681| access-date = December 7, 2014}}</ref> as well as the completion of the WSU Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences Building in 2013 and the Davenport Grand Hotel in 2015, [[Ridpath Hotel]] in 2018 and the ongoing renovation of [[Riverfront Park (Spokane, Washington)|Riverfront Park]] (as of May 2019).<ref>{{cite news |last=Lawrence-Turner |first=Jody |title=WSU Spokane prepares to open pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences building |newspaper=The Spokesman-Review |date=December 5, 2013 |url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/dec/05/wsu-spokane-prepares-to-open-pharmaceutical-and/| access-date = August 12, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Grand opening at the Davenport Grand Hotel |newspaper=The Spokesman-Review |date=June 18, 2015 |url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/jun/18/grand-opening-at-the-davenport-grand-hotel/| access-date = August 12, 2016}}</ref><ref name=RPreno>{{cite web |title=Riverfront Park Redevelopment |url=https://my.spokanecity.org/riverfrontpark/master-plan/|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150907041912/https://my.spokanecity.org/riverfrontpark/master-plan/|url-status= dead|archive-date= September 7, 2015 |publisher=City of Spokane|access-date= August 12, 2016}}</ref> The Kendall Yards development on the west side of downtown Spokane is one of the largest construction projects in the city's history. Directly across the Spokane River from downtown, it will blend residential and retail space with plazas and walking trails.<ref name="Thumbnail" />