Editing Spokane County, Washington

{{Short description|County in Washington, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Spokane County
 | state                = Washington
 | logo                 = Spokane County (logo).svg
 | founded              = January 29, 1858 (created)<br />January 19, 1864 (annexed to Stevens Co.)<br />October 30, 1879 (separated from Stevens Co.)
 | seat wl              = Spokane
 | largest city wl      = Spokane
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1781
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 1764
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 17
 | area percentage      = 0.9%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 539339
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 555947 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = 275
 | time zone            = Pacific
 | named for            = [[Spokane people]]
 | district             = 5th
 | ex image             = SpokaneCountyCourthouse_2017_0304.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Spokane County Courthouse]]
 | web                  = https://www.spokanecounty.org/
 | demonym              = Spokanite
 | leader type          = Sheriff
 | leader_name          = John Nowels
}}

'''Spokane County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Washington (state)|Washington]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 539,339, making it the [[List of counties in Washington|fourth-most populous county]] in Washington.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/spokanecountywashington/PST045223|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 8, 2024}}</ref> The largest city and [[county seat]] is [[Spokane, Washington|Spokane]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> the second largest city in the state after [[Seattle]]. The county is named after the [[Spokane (people)|Spokane people]].

Spokane County is part of the [[Spokane metropolitan area]], which is also part of the greater [[Spokane–Coeur d'Alene combined statistical area]] that includes nearby [[Kootenai County, Idaho]].

==History==
{{See also|History of Spokane, Washington}}

The first humans to arrive in what is now Spokane County arrived between 12,000 and 8,000 years ago and were [[hunter-gatherer]] societies who lived off the plentiful game in the area. Initially, the settlers hunted predominantly [[bison]] and [[antelope]], but after the game migrated out of the region, the native people became dependent on gathering various roots, berries, and nuts, and harvesting fish.<ref name="Ruby 5-6">Ruby et al. (2006) pp. 5–6</ref> The Spokane tribe, after which the county is named, means "Children of the Sun" or "sun people" in [[Salishan languages|Salishan]]<ref name=Phillips>Phillips (1971), pp. 134–135</ref> Explorer-geographer [[David Thompson (explorer)|David Thompson]], working as head of the [[North West Company]]'s [[Columbia Department]], became the first European to explore what is now the [[Inland Northwest (United States)|Inland Northwest]].<ref name="Stratton19">Stratton (2005), p. 19</ref> After establishing the [[Kullyspell House]] and [[Saleesh House]] fur 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 in Washington 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=[[HistoryLink]] |date=January 23, 2003 |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=5099 |accessdate=December 13, 2008}}</ref> This post was established in 1810, at the confluence of the [[Little Spokane River|Little Spokane]] and [[Spokane River]]s, becoming the first enduring European settlement of significance in Washington.<ref name="Stratton19"/> Known as the [[Spokane House]], or simply "Spokane", it was in operation from 1810 to 1826.<ref name="Phillips" />

Spokane County was established by the [[Washington Territorial Legislature]] effective January 29, 1858, from a portion of [[Walla Walla County, Washington|Walla Walla County]], which originally encompassed most of eastern [[Washington Territory]] between the [[Cascade Mountains|Cascades]] and [[Rocky Mountains|Rockies]]. The new county was bound to the west by the [[Columbia River|Columbia]] and [[Snake River|Snake]] rivers and to the east by the Rockies; it included portions of modern-day [[Idaho]] and [[Montana]].<ref name="Prosch">{{cite journal |last=Prosch |first=Thomas W. |date=March 1904 |title=The Evolution of Spokane and Stevens Counties |pages=25–33 |journal=[[The Quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society]] |location=Portland, Oregon |volume=5 |issue=1 |jstor=20609600}}</ref><ref name="HistoryLink">{{cite web |last=Colford |first=Ann M. |date=March 13, 2006 |title=Spokane County — Thumbnail History |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/7686 |work=HistoryLink |accessdate=October 23, 2024}}</ref> The territorial legislature designated the farm of Angus McLeod as the temporary [[county seat]] and appointed officials to several positions for Spokane County, but they never took office and did not organize a government. In late 1859, a group of settlers in the [[Bitterroot Valley]] petitioned to create their own county, which was not granted at that time; the territorial legislature reorganized Spokane County on January 17, 1860, with a seat on a land claim near [[Fort Colville]].<ref name="Prosch"/><ref name="HistoryLink-Stevens">{{cite web |last=Wilma |first=David |date=November 5, 2006 |title=Stevens County — Thumbnail History |url=https://www.historylink.org/file/7995 |work=HistoryLink |accessdate=October 23, 2024}}</ref>

The first county government met on May 8, 1860, and began conducting business.<ref name="Prosch"/> The eastern and southern portions of Spokane County were partitioned several times as new counties were created, beginning with [[Missoula County, Montana|Missoula County]] in December 1860 and followed by [[Shoshone County, Idaho|Shoshone County]] and [[Nez Perce County, Idaho|Nez Perce County]] in 1861.<ref name="Newberry-Atlas">{{cite web |editor-last=Long |editor-first=John H. |year=2007 |title=Washington: Individual County Chronologies |url=https://digital.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/WA_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm |work=Atlas of Historical County Boundaries |publisher=[[Newberry Library]] |accessdate=October 23, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Briggeman |first=Kim |date=December 19, 2010 |title=After 150 years, origin of Missoula's moniker still a mystery |url=https://missoulian.com/news/local/after-150-years-origin-of-missoula-s-moniker-still-a-mystery/article_c167d0ac-0b35-11e0-beeb-001cc4c03286.html |work=[[Missoulian]] |url-access=subscription |accessdate=October 23, 2024}}</ref> These areas became part of the new [[Idaho Territory]], which was organized by the U.S. Congress on March 3, 1863, and reduced the size of Spokane County even further.<ref>{{cite news |date=July 27, 1960 |title=This Area Has Been in Four Territories, Five Counties |page=14 |work=The Missoulian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-missoulian-this-area-has-been-in-fou/157721753/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |accessdate=October 23, 2024}}</ref> On January 19, 1864, the county was annexed into neighboring [[Stevens County, Washington|Stevens County]], which had been created a year earlier from the northern portions of Walla Walla County. The seat of Stevens County was Pinkney City (now [[Colville, Washington|Colville]]) until it was temporarily relocated to the town of [[Spokane, Washington|Spokane Falls]] (now Spokane) in 1875.<ref name="Prosch"/><ref name="Chronicle-Seat">{{cite news |last=Lemon |first=John J. |date=December 12, 1974 |title=Cheney vs. Spokane: Vote Theft Recalled |page=38 |work=[[Spokane Daily Chronicle]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/spokane-chronicle-vote-theft-recalled/157722863/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=October 23, 2024}}</ref>

Spokane County was re-established on October 30, 1879, from the portions of Stevens County south of the Columbia, Spokane, and [[Wenatchee River|Wenatchee]] rivers.<ref name="Prosch"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Spokane County, Washington: Historical Dates and Maps |url=http://www.spokanecounty.org/asp/vis_history.asp#dates |access-date=January 1, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214212533/http://www.spokanecounty.org/asp/vis_history.asp#dates |archive-date=December 14, 2007}}</ref> The western portion of the county was used to create [[Lincoln County, Washington|Lincoln County]], which was established on November 23, 1883.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Smith |first=Charles W. |date=July 1909 |title=The Naming of Counties in the State of Washington |page=83 |work=The Magazine of History With Notes and Queries |volume=X |issue=1 |publisher=William Abbatt |location=New York |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044090112079 |via=HathiTrust |accessdate=October 23, 2024}}</ref> The first post office in the county was located at [[Spokane Bridge, Washington|Spokane Bridge]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Kershner |first=Jim |date=May 25, 2012 |url=http://historylink.org/File/10119 |title=Spokane Valley — Thumbnail History |access-date=July 21, 2019 |work=HistoryLink}}</ref>

The selection of a permanent county seat was to be decided in an election in November 1880 between the growing cities of [[Cheney, Washington|Cheney]] and Spokane Falls, both candidates for a major [[Northern Pacific Railway]] hub. The unofficial returns showed a 14-vote margin in favor of Cheney, but the result was disputed by county officials from Spokane Falls based on "irregularities" in the ballots. The official result had a margin of two or three votes for Spokane Falls, but Cheney residents demanded a recount, which was granted by a court order that was ignored by county officials in Spokane Falls. On March 21, 1881, a group of armed Cheney residents forcibly took custody of the county auditor, recount ballots, and other county records during a nighttime raid. After declaring their own recount had been in favor of Cheney as county seat, the records and the county auditor were moved from Spokane Falls; other government officials also moved to Cheney after a court order upheld the Cheney recount.<ref name="Chronicle-Seat"/><ref name="HL-Seat">{{cite web |last=Kershner |first=Jim |date=August 11, 2007 |title=Armed Cheney citizens forcibly remove the county seat from Spokane Falls to Cheney on March 21, 1881 |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/8249 |work=HistoryLink |accessdate=December 7, 2014}}</ref> A new ballot question in 1886 resulted in Spokane becoming the permanent county seat.<ref name="HL-Seat"/>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1781|sqmi|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|17|sqmi||}} (0.9%) are covered by water.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_53.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 16, 2015 |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>  The lowest point in the county is the Spokane River behind [[Long Lake Dam]] (boundary of [[Stevens County, Washington|Stevens County]]) at {{convert|1538|ft|m}} [[Sea level#AMSL|above sea level]]. (Virtually no change in [[elevation]] occurs 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 {{convert|5887|ft|m|abbr=on}}.{{navd88}}<ref name="ngs">{{cite ngs|SV1719|Y}}</ref>

Spokane County has a complex geologic history and varied topography. To the west is the barren landscape of the [[Columbia River Drainage Basin|Columbia Basin]] and to the east are the foothills of the [[Rocky Mountains|Rockies]]—the [[Coeur d'Alene Mountains]], which rise to the east in northern Idaho. Spokane County lies in a transition area between the eastern edge of the basaltic [[Channeled Scablands]] steppe plains to the west and the rugged, timbered Rocky Mountain foothills to the east.<ref name="NWS">{{cite web|title=Station Information Data Sheet – Spokane, Washington |publisher=National Weather Service |date=April 2008 |url=http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/otx/spokane.php |access-date=December 7, 2014}}</ref> The area exhibits signs of the prehistoric geologic events that shaped the area and region such as the [[Missoula Floods]], which ended 12,000 to 15,000 years ago.<ref>{{cite report|last=Breckenridge |first=Roy M. |date=May 1993 |title=Glacial Lake Missoula and the Spokane Floods |url=http://www.idahogeology.org/PDF/GeoNotes_(G)/geonote_26.pdf |publisher=Idaho Geological Survey |series=GeoNotes |volume=26 |access-date=November 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426010742/http://www.idahogeology.org/PDF/GeoNotes_(G)/geonote_26.pdf |archive-date=April 26, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The geography to the southeast, such as the [[Saltese Flats]] and [[Saltese Uplands Conservation Area|Saltese Uplands]] is characterized as a [[shrub–steppe]] landscape with grassy hills and ravines.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spokanecounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/4658/Geology-of-the-Saltese-Uplands-ConservationArea-2015-PDF#:~:text=The%20Saltese%20Uplands%20Conservation%20Area%20(SUCA)%20has%20a%20long%2D,lived%20and%20complex%20geologic%20history.&text=The%20bedrock%20geology%20at%20SUCA,interlayered%20zones%20of%20biotitic%20schist. |title=Geology of the Saltese Uplands Conservation Area |website=www.spokanecounty.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020005353/https://www.spokanecounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/4658/Geology-of-the-Saltese-Uplands-ConservationArea-2015-PDF#:~:text=The%20Saltese%20Uplands%20Conservation%20Area%20(SUCA)%20has%20a%20long%2D,lived%20and%20complex%20geologic%20history.&text=The%20bedrock%20geology%20at%20SUCA,interlayered%20zones%20of%20biotitic%20schist |archive-date=October 20, 2020}}</ref>

In ecology, as with the topography, the county is also in a transition area, roughly split between the [[Columbia Plateau (ecoregion)|Columbia Plateau ecoregion]] in the southwest portion, where it is at the eastern edge of the basaltic [[Channeled Scablands]] steppe plain and the [[North Central Rockies forest|Northern Rockies ecoregion]] in the northwest portion, which is the rugged and forested [[Selkirk Mountains]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/env_topics/ecosystems/veg_mgmt_rpt/vegmgmt_ecoregional_approach.aspx#ecor |title=Ecosystem and Vegetation System Management &#124; Environmental Review Toolkit}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ecoregion Download Files by State - Region 10 |date=March 10, 2016 |publisher=[[U.S. Environmental Protection Agency]] |url=https://www.epa.gov/eco-research/ecoregion-download-files-state-region-10 |access-date=May 25, 2021}}</ref>

===Rivers and streams===
{{div col}}
* [[Spokane River]]
** [[Cable Creek]]
** [[Latah Creek]]
*** [[Marshall Creek (Latah Creek)|Marshall Creek]]
*** [[Garden Springs Creek]]
** [[Little Spokane River]]
** [[Deep Creek (Washington)|Deep Creek]]
*** [[Coulee Creek]]
* [[Saltese Creek]]
{{div col end}}

===Lakes and reservoirs===
{{div col}}
* [[Eloika Lake]]
* [[Liberty Lake, Washington|Liberty Lake]]
* [[Medical Lake]]
* [[West Medical Lake]]
* [[Newman Lake]]
* [[Shelley Lake]]
{{div col end}}

===Notable summits and peaks===
* [[Mount Spokane]]
* [[Mount Kit Carson]]
* [[Mica Peak (Washington)|Mica Peak]]
* [[Krell Hill]]

===Notable parks===
* [[Dishman Hills|Dishman Hills Natural Conservation Area]]
* [[Riverside State Park]]
* [[Riverfront Park (Spokane, Washington)|Riverfront Park]]
* [[Manito Park and Botanical Gardens|Manito Park]]
* [[Mount Spokane State Park]]

===National protected area===
* [[Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge]]

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
* [[Image:I-90.svg|25px]] [[Interstate 90 in Washington|Interstate 90]]
* [[Image:US 2.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 2 in Washington|U.S. Route 2]]
* [[Image:US 195.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 195 in Washington|U.S. Route 195]]
* [[Image:US 395.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 395 in Washington|U.S. Route 395]]
* [[Image:WA-27.svg|25px]] [[Washington State Route 27|State Route 27]]
* [[Image:WA-206.svg|25px]] [[Washington State Route 206|State Route 206]]
* [[Image:WA-290.svg|25px]] [[Washington State Route 290|State Route 290]]
* [[Image:WA-291.svg|25px]] [[Washington State Route 291|State Route 291]]
* [[Image:WA-902.svg|25px]] [[Washington State Route 902|State Route 902]]
* [[Image:WA-904.svg|25px]] [[Washington State Route 904|State Route 904]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
* [[Stevens County, Washington|Stevens County]] – northwest
* [[Pend Oreille County, Washington|Pend Oreille County]] – north
* [[Bonner County, Idaho]] – northeast
* [[Kootenai County, Idaho]] – east
* [[Benewah County, Idaho]] – southeast
* [[Whitman County, Washington|Whitman County]] – south
* [[Lincoln County, Washington|Lincoln County]] – west
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 996
|1870= 2000
|1880= 4262
|1890= 37487
|1900= 57542
|1910= 139404
|1920= 141289
|1930= 150477
|1940= 164652
|1950= 221561
|1960= 278333
|1970= 287487
|1980= 341835
|1990= 361364
|2000= 417939
|2010= 471221
|2020= 539339
|estyear=2024
|estimate=555947
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 17, 2025}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |title=U.S. Decennial Census |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 7, 2014}}</ref><br/>1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |title=Historical Census Browser |publisher=University of Virginia Library |access-date=January 7, 2014}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/wa190090.txt |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 7, 2014}}</ref><br/>1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 7, 2014}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF"/>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Spokane County Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Spokane County, Washington|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Spokane%20County,%20Washington&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}</ref>
!Race
!Number
!Percent
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (NH)
|431,806
|80.1%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (NH)
|10,486
|1.9%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] (NH)
|6,862
|1.3%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]] (NH)
|12,404
|2.3%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|4,202
|0.8%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Some Other]] (NH)
|2,644
|0.5%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]] (NH)
|35,585
|6.6%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|35,350
|6.6%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 539,339 people, 212,470 households, and 132,324 families residing in the county.<ref>{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Spokane%20County,%20Washington%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=May 8, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|305.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}} averaging 2.46 persons per household. There were 224,019 housing units had an average density of {{convert|128.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the county was 82.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.0% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.3% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.8% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.2% from some other races and 9.0% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 6.6% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How many people live in Spokane County, Washington |url=https://data.usatoday.com/census/total-population/total-population-change/spokane-county-washington/050-53063/ |access-date=May 8, 2024 |publisher=USA Today}}</ref> 21.3% of residents were under the age of 18, 5.5% were under 5 years of age, and 17.5% were 65 and older.

Females consisted of 50.1% of the county. 5.3% of the county consist of foreign born persons.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=January 12, 2023 |title=QuickFacts: Spokane County, Washington |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/spokanecountywashington/PST045223 |website=Census |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

Of those 25 years or older, 94.2% people in the county hold a [[high school diploma]], [[General Educational Development|GED]], or higher; and 31.5% obtaining a [[bachelor's degree]] or higher. Of those below the age of 65 years, 10.% have a disability and 6.3% are without health insurance. The median household income was $64,079 (in 2021 dollars) and 11.2% of the county are living in poverty.<ref name=":1" />

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 471,221 people, 187,167 households, and 118,212 families were residing in the county.<ref name=dp1>{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US53063| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data| access-date=March 6, 2016| publisher=United States Census Bureau| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213033654/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US53063| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|267.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. The 201,434 housing units had an average density of {{convert|114.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US53063| access-date=March 6, 2016| title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County| publisher=United States Census Bureau| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213233343/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US53063| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 89.2% White, 2.1% Asian, 1.7% African American, 1.5% American Indian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from other races, and 3.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.5% of the population.<ref name=dp1/> In terms of ancestry, 27.0% were German, 15.4% were Irish, 13.5% were English, 6.9% were Norwegian, and 4.4% were [[Americans|American]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US53063| title=Selected Social Characteristics in the United States - 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates| access-date=March 6, 2016| publisher=United States Census Bureau| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213020443/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US53063| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref>

Of the 187,167 households, 30.9% had children under 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were not families; 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44, and the average family size was 2.99. The median age was 36.8 years.<ref name=dp1/>

The median income for a household in the county was $47,250 and for a family was $59,999. Males had a median income of $44,000 versus $33,878 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,127. About 9.1% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 17.0% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US53063| title=Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates| access-date=March 6, 2016| publisher=United States Census Bureau| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213022433/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US53063| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 417,939 people, 163,611 households, and 106,019 families were in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|237|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. The 175,005 housing units had an average density of {{convert|99|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the county was 88.62% White, 2.00% African American, 1.40% Native American, 1.88% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 0.82% from other races, and 2.76% from two or more races; 2.77% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. About 22.0% were of [[German people|German]], 10.7% [[Irish people|Irish]], 9.9% [[English people|English]], 7.6% American, and 6.4% [[Norwegian people|Norwegian]] ancestry.

Of the 163,611 households, 32.4% had children under 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were not families. About 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.46, and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the age distribution was 25.7% under 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females. there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,308, and for a family was $46,463. Males had a median income of $35,097 versus $25,526 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $19,233. About 8.30% of families and 12.30% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 14.20% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.

==Law and government==
[[File:4th Legislative District Caucus (25894614794).jpg|thumb|A Washington state 4th Legislative District Caucus]]

Spokane County is governed by a [[Partisan (political)|partisan]] board of county commissioners, one from each of five districts. They run in a partisan [[Partisan primary|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 (property)|assessor]], [[treasurer]], and [[prosecutor]], which are also partisan offices. Spokane County has an appointed [[medical examiner]]. In 2023, Spokane County expanded the number of County Commissioner seats from 3 to 5.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wohlfeil |first=Samantha |title=As a unique election expands the Spokane County Commission to five, political disagreement is likely to return |url=https://www.inlander.com/spokane/as-a-unique-election-expands-the-spokane-county-commission-to-five-political-disagreement-is-likely-to-return/Content?oid=24771134 |access-date=January 13, 2023 |website=Inlander |language=en}}</ref> As of January 2023, the current commissioners for Spokane County are Chris Jordan ([[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]), Amber Waldref ([[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]), Josh Kerns ([[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]), Mary Kuney ([[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]), and Al French ([[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]), from the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth county districts, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |title=County Commissioners {{!}} Spokane County, WA |url=https://www.spokanecounty.org/1123/County-Commissioners |access-date=January 13, 2023 |website=www.spokanecounty.org}}</ref> The previous [[Sheriff]] was [[Ozzie Knezovich|Ozzie D. Knezovich]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sheriff Ozzie D. Knezovich|url=http://www.spokanecounty.org/sheriff/content.aspx?c=2820|accessdate=October 4, 2012}}</ref> who was appointed on April 11, 2006, and retired on December 31, 2022.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.spokanecounty.org/1416/Sheriff-Ozzie-Knezovich|title=Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich|website=Spokane County, WA|access-date=March 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 5, 2023 |title='I did what I thought was right' {{!}} Ozzie Knezovich signs off as Spokane County Sheriff |url=https://www.krem.com/article/life/people/ozzie-knezovich-signs-off-spokane-county-sheriff/293-66ab3aa5-9b0c-4c28-ad6d-534e48a72b90 |access-date=January 12, 2023 |website=krem.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The current elected Sheriff of Spokane County is John Nowels, whose term began on January 1, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sheriff John Nowels {{!}} Spokane County, WA |url=https://www.spokanecounty.org/3028/Sheriff-John-Nowels |access-date=January 13, 2023 |website=www.spokanecounty.org}}</ref>

Transportation planning within the county is handled by the Spokane Regional Transportation Council, a [[metropolitan planning organization]] that was created in 1962. It distributes federal and state funds for transportation projects and updates the long-range transportation plan for Spokane County.<ref>{{cite news | last=Deshais |first=Nicholas |date=June 12, 2019 |title=Spokane Tribe will get a voice in transportation planning, a move that sparked controversy among Spokane officials |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/jun/12/spokane-tribe-will-get-a-voice-in-transportation-p/ |work=Spokesman-Review |access-date=December 7, 2019}}</ref>
==Politics==
Spokane County is rather conservative for an urban county, voting Republican for president all but three times since 1948. Democratic strength is concentrated in Spokane itself and in Cheney, which is home to [[Eastern Washington University]], while the suburban areas are heavily Republican.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Camden |first=Jim |date=June 4, 2016 |title=Mapping the vote: Red v. Blue in Spokane County |url=https://www.spokesman.com/blogs/spincontrol/2016/jun/04/mapping-vote-red-v-blue-spokane-county/ |access-date=February 28, 2024 |work=The Spokesman-Review}}</ref> The Republican edge has narrowed somewhat since the turn of the century. In the last five elections, the margin has been under 9% each time.

The county was one of two in [[Eastern Washington]] to vote for [[2018 Washington Initiative 1639]], which strengthened gun laws, along with neighboring [[Whitman County, Washington|Whitman County]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20181106/State-Measures-Initiative-Measure-No-1639-Initiative-Measure-No-1639-concerns-firearms_ByCounty.html | title=November 6, 2018 General Election Results - Initiative Measure No. 1639 Initiative Measure No. 1639 concerns firearms. County Breakdown }}</ref>

{{PresHead|place=Spokane County, Washington|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 10, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|145,338|131,163|10,581|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|148,576|135,765|11,089|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|113,435|93,767|28,848|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|115,285|102,295|8,174|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|108,314|105,786|6,907|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|111,606|87,490|3,491|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|89,299|74,604|8,209|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|66,628|71,727|20,877|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|59,984|69,526|39,622|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|68,787|68,520|1,843|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|88,043|59,620|1,673|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|78,096|49,263|13,326|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|68,290|55,660|4,004|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|74,320|44,337|6,528|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|52,650|49,423|8,521|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|49,387|62,092|102|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|59,557|55,553|259|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|60,335|48,833|119|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|56,958|45,827|451|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|37,086|49,649|2,253|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|36,359|45,491|456|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|33,228|44,852|713|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|19,951|48,117|2,057|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|24,848|36,953|3,324|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|35,858|18,527|373|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|23,403|6,036|18,034|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|26,219|13,412|3,670|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|19,503|21,339|2,278|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|4,205|10,845|20,218|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|11,719|6,557|1,694|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|10,258|2,602|1,445|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|5,515|5,125|425|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|2,701|5,829|122|Washington}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|3,367|2,247|1,794|Washington}}

===Flag and symbols===
{{stack|[[File:Flag of Spokane County, Washington.svg|thumb|The 1988 County flag, no longer in use.]]}}
The county government adopted an official flag in 1988 following a public design contest sponsored by the Spokane County Centennial Commission. The winning entry from Stephanie Bumgarner-Ott, the daughter of state legislator [[Gary Bumgarner]], depicts the ceremonial [[headdress]] of the [[Spokane people]] against a yellow sun; the background is green with a diagonal blue stripe to represent the Spokane River.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 19, 1988 |title=Spokane's new flag depicts Indian, sun |page=A5 |work=Spokane Chronicle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/spokane-chronicle-spokanes-new-flag-dep/143392585/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=March 14, 2024}}</ref> The flag was sent for display at the [[Washington State Capitol]] for the state centennial in 1989 and 25 copies were made at a cost of $1,751.75; it was used for official events, including the funeral of a county commissioner, but was not on permanent display in Spokane County buildings.<ref name="Spokesman-Flag1995">{{cite news |last=Hansen |first=Dan |date=May 12, 1995 |title=Hasson says county flag doesn't fly |page=A1 |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/may/12/hasson-says-county-flag-doesnt-fly-banner/ |work=The Spokesman-Review |accessdate=March 14, 2024}}</ref> One copy of the flag was stored in a vault in the county courthouse until 1995 and later lost again.<ref name="Spokesman-Flag1995"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Camden |first=Jim |date=April 1, 2002 |title=Not such a grand old flag |page=A6 |work=The Spokesman-Review |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-not-such-a-grand-ol/143392910/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=March 14, 2024}}</ref> The county government announced plans to decommission the design in 2002 and hold a new public contest due to the original flag's appearance, which was deemed potentially offensive to Native Americans.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 8, 2002 |title=Our flag was still there! |page=A6 |work=The Spokesman-Review |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-our-flag-was-still/143392848/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=March 14, 2024}}</ref> A new county seal was adopted in 2005 that depicts the county courthouse.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cannata |first=Amy |date=March 7, 2005 |title=County says it will choose a single logo |page=A5 |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2005/mar/07/county-says-it-will-choose-a-single-logo/ |work=The Spokesman-Review |accessdate=March 14, 2024}}</ref>

==Communities==

===Cities===
{{div col}}
* [[Airway Heights, Washington|Airway Heights]]
* [[Cheney, Washington|Cheney]]
* [[Deer Park, Washington|Deer Park]]
* [[Liberty Lake, Washington|Liberty Lake]]
* [[Medical Lake, Washington|Medical Lake]]
* [[Millwood, Washington|Millwood]]
* [[Spangle, Washington|Spangle]]
* [[Spokane, Washington|Spokane]] (county seat)
* [[Spokane Valley, Washington|Spokane Valley]]
{{div col end}}

===Towns===
* [[Fairfield, Washington|Fairfield]]
* [[Latah, Washington|Latah]]
* [[Rockford, Washington|Rockford]]
* [[Waverly, Washington|Waverly]]

===Census-designated places===
{{div col}}
* [[Country Homes, Washington|Country Homes]]
* [[Fairchild Air Force Base]]
* [[Fairwood, Spokane County, Washington|Fairwood]]
* [[Four Lakes, Washington|Four Lakes]]
* [[Mead, Washington|Mead]]
* [[Otis Orchards-East Farms, Washington|Otis Orchards-East Farms]]
* [[Town and Country, Washington|Town and Country]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Amber, Washington|Amber]]
* [[Buckeye, Washington|Buckeye]]
* [[Chattaroy, Washington|Chattaroy]]
* [[Colbert, Washington|Colbert]]
* [[Deep Creek, Washington|Deep Creek]]
* [[Denison, Washington|Denison]]
* [[Duncan, Washington|Duncan]]
* [[Dynamite, Washington|Dynamite]]
* [[Elk, Washington|Elk]]
* [[Espanola, Washington|Espanola]]
* [[Freeman, Washington|Freeman]]
* [[Garden Springs, Washington|Garden Springs]]
* [[Geiger Heights, Washington|Geiger Heights]]
* [[Glenrose, Washington|Glenrose]]
* [[Greenacres, Washington|Greenacres]]
* [[Green Bluff, Washington|Green Bluff]]
* [[Hazard, Washington|Hazard]]
* [[Highland, Spokane County, Washington|Highland]]
* [[Manito, Washington|Manito]]
* [[Marshall, Washington|Marshall]]
* [[Mica, Washington|Mica]]
* [[Milan, Washington|Milan]]
* [[Moab, Washington|Moab]]
* [[Mount Hope, Washington|Mount Hope]]
* [[Newman Lake, Washington|Newman Lake]]
* [[Nine Mile Falls, Washington|Nine Mile Falls]]
* [[Orchard Prairie, Washington|Orchard Prairie]]
* [[Peone, Washington|Peone]]
* [[Plaza, Washington|Plaza]]
* [[Riverside, Spokane County, Washington|Riverside]]
* [[Seven Mile, Washington|Seven Mile]]
* [[Silver Lake, Spokane County, Washington|Silver Lake]]
* [[Spokane Bridge, Washington|Spokane Bridge]]
* [[Spring Valley, Washington|Spring Valley]]
* [[Stringtown, Washington|Stringtown]]
* [[Tyler, Washington|Tyler]]
* [[Valleyford, Washington|Valleyford]]
* [[Veradale, Washington|Veradale]]{{div col end}}

====Ghost towns/neighborhoods====
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Babb, Washington|Babb]]
* [[Coey, Washington|Coey]]
* [[Darknell, Washington|Darknell]]
* [[Dragoon, Washington|Dragoon]]
* [[Freedom, Washington|Freedom]]
* [[Geib, Washington|Geib]]
* [[Hite, Washington|Hite]]
* [[Lyons, Washington|Lyons]]
* [[Mock, Washington|Mock]]
* [[North Pine, Washington|North Pine]]
* [[Rahm, Washington|Rahm]]
* [[Rodna, Washington|Rodna]]
* [[Saxby, Washington|Saxby]]
* [[Scribner, Washington|Scribner]]
* [[Wallner, Washington|Wallner]]
{{div col end}}

==Education==
School districts in the county include:<ref>{{cite map|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st53_wa/schooldistrict_maps/c53063_spokane/DC20SD_C53063.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729043510/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st53_wa/schooldistrict_maps/c53063_spokane/DC20SD_C53063.pdf |archive-date=July 29, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 Census – School District Reference Map: Spokane County, WA|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 29, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st53_wa/schooldistrict_maps/c53063_spokane/DC20SD_C53063_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Central Valley School District (Washington)|Central Valley School District]]
* [[Cheney School District]]
* [[Deer Park School District (Washington)|Deer Park School District]]
* [[East Valley School District (Spokane)]]
* [[Freeman School District]]
* [[Great Northern School District]]
* [[Liberty School District]]
* [[Mead School District]]
* [[Medical Lake School District]]
* [[Newport School District (Washington)|Newport School District]]
* [[Nine Mile Falls School District]]
* [[Orchard Prairie School District]]
* [[Reardan-Edwall School District]]
* [[Riverside School District (Washington)|Riverside School District]]
* [[Rosalia School District]]
* [[Spokane Public Schools]]
* [[St. John School District]]
* [[Tekoa School District]]
* [[West Valley School District (Spokane)]]
{{div col end}}Community colleges include:

* [[Spokane Community College]]
* [[Spokane Falls Community College]]

Universities include:

* [[Eastern Washington University]]
* [[Gonzaga University]]
* [[Washington State University]]
* [[Whitworth University]]
* [[University of Washington]]

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Spokane County, Washington]]
* [[List of counties in Washington]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|https://www.spokanecounty.org/}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Spokane County, Washington
|North     = [[Pend Oreille County, Washington|Pend Oreille County]]
|Northeast = [[Bonner County, Idaho]]
|East      = [[Kootenai County, Idaho]]
|Southeast = [[Benewah County, Idaho]]
|South     = [[Whitman County, Washington|Whitman County]]
|West      = [[Lincoln County, Washington|Lincoln County]]
|Northwest = [[Stevens County, Washington|Stevens County]]
}}

{{Spokane County, Washington}}
{{Washington}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|47.62|-117.40|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-WA_source:UScensus1990}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spokane, Washington}}
[[Category:Spokane County, Washington| ]]
[[Category:1858 establishments in Washington Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1858]]
[[Category:Eastern Washington]]
[[Category:Washington (state) placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:Flags designed by children and students|Spokane County]]