Inland Northwest | |
---|---|
Left-right from top: Spokane skyline, Grand Coulee Dam and the Columbia River, Palouse Falls, Priest Lake, Palouse farmland, Lake Pend Oreille from Schweitzer Mountain, Cabinet Mountains | |
Composition |
|
Largest metropolitan areas | |
Dialect | Pacific Northwest English |
The Inland Northwest, historically and alternatively known as the Inland Empire, is a region of the American Northwest centered on the Greater Spokane, Washington Area, [1] encompassing all of Eastern Washington and North Idaho. Under broader definitions, Northeastern Oregon and Western Montana may be included in the Inland Northwest. Alternatively, stricter definitions may exclude Central Washington and Idaho County, Idaho.
As of 2016 [update] , the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the combined population of eastern Washington and north Idaho alone to be 2,240,645, comparable to that of New Mexico. Its Canadian counterpart, north of the border, is the British Columbia Interior, which together comprise the inland portion of the broader Pacific Northwest. Significant urban centers include the Spokane–Coeur d'Alene area and the Tri-Cities.
There have been several proposals to politically unite the Inland Northwest. In the mid and late 1860s, there was a proposal centered on Lewiston in northern Idaho for a Columbia Territory to be formed in the region from parts of what is now eastern Washington, northern Idaho and western Montana. [2] In 1901, another proposal was made, this time to combine the Idaho Panhandle with Eastern Washington to create the State of Lincoln. A third proposal was popularized in the late 1920s to consist of eastern Washington, northern Idaho and western Montana to the Continental Divide.
Oregon (often included)
Montana (sometimes included; never included as part of the Inland Empire)
The region is bounded by the Cascade Mountains on the west and the Rocky Mountains (following the spine of the remote and rugged Cabinet Mountains) on the east, the Blue Mountains of Oregon and foothills of the Wallowa Mountains to the south, southeast, and encompasses the Columbia river basin (or Columbia Plateau). Between the three mountain ranges are large, sweeping areas of semi-arid steppe, part of which has been irrigated due to the Columbia Basin Project, resulting in expansive farmland in central Washington. The Palouse, original home of the Appaloosa, is another major agricultural region located in the gently rolling hills of southeastern Washington and extending into Idaho. In northern Idaho, the precipitation from the Pacific Ocean over the North Central Rockies forests, create the North American inland temperate rainforest. [3] The Coeur d'Alene Mountains of this range is noted for its natural resource wealth, particularly the Silver Valley with its mining heritage dating back to the 1880s.
Spokane, the region's largest city, is located near where the arid, and largely unforested Columbia plateau meets the lush forests of the Selkirk Mountains. The urban area stretches east into Idaho along the I-90 corridor through the Spokane River valley. Across the border in Idaho the suburbs stretch into the cities of Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene on the north shore of Lake Coeur d'Alene. The Northeastern Washington and North Idaho portion of the Inland Empire are mountainous and forested, and the crest of the Bitterroot Range of the Rocky Mountains forms part of the eastern boundary of the Inland Empire region, while the Columbia River forms a significant part of its southern boundary.
The Washington side is generally semi-arid, while the Idaho side experiences a mostly dry summer continental climate.
Climate data for Spokane (Spokane Int'l), 1991–2020 normals, [i] extremes 1881–present [ii] | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 62 (17) | 63 (17) | 74 (23) | 90 (32) | 97 (36) | 109 (43) | 108 (42) | 108 (42) | 98 (37) | 87 (31) | 70 (21) | 60 (16) | 109 (43) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 48.2 (9.0) | 51.1 (10.6) | 63.0 (17.2) | 73.9 (23.3) | 84.0 (28.9) | 90.5 (32.5) | 97.5 (36.4) | 97.0 (36.1) | 89.2 (31.8) | 74.6 (23.7) | 56.4 (13.6) | 48.0 (8.9) | 99.1 (37.3) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 34.5 (1.4) | 39.5 (4.2) | 48.6 (9.2) | 56.9 (13.8) | 67.1 (19.5) | 73.7 (23.2) | 84.4 (29.1) | 83.8 (28.8) | 73.6 (23.1) | 57.7 (14.3) | 42.3 (5.7) | 33.8 (1.0) | 58.0 (14.4) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 29.6 (−1.3) | 32.9 (0.5) | 40.0 (4.4) | 47.0 (8.3) | 56.0 (13.3) | 62.3 (16.8) | 71.0 (21.7) | 70.3 (21.3) | 61.1 (16.2) | 47.9 (8.8) | 36.3 (2.4) | 29.1 (−1.6) | 48.6 (9.2) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 24.7 (−4.1) | 26.3 (−3.2) | 31.5 (−0.3) | 37.0 (2.8) | 44.9 (7.2) | 50.8 (10.4) | 57.6 (14.2) | 56.7 (13.7) | 48.6 (9.2) | 38.0 (3.3) | 30.3 (−0.9) | 24.3 (−4.3) | 39.2 (4.0) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | 4.4 (−15.3) | 9.8 (−12.3) | 18.5 (−7.5) | 26.4 (−3.1) | 32.7 (0.4) | 40.2 (4.6) | 45.9 (7.7) | 45.6 (7.6) | 35.4 (1.9) | 23.2 (−4.9) | 14.1 (−9.9) | 7.1 (−13.8) | −3.0 (−19.4) |
Record low °F (°C) | −30 (−34) | −24 (−31) | −10 (−23) | 14 (−10) | 24 (−4) | 33 (1) | 37 (3) | 35 (2) | 22 (−6) | 7 (−14) | −21 (−29) | −25 (−32) | −30 (−34) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.97 (50) | 1.44 (37) | 1.83 (46) | 1.25 (32) | 1.55 (39) | 1.17 (30) | 0.42 (11) | 0.47 (12) | 0.58 (15) | 1.37 (35) | 2.06 (52) | 2.34 (59) | 16.45 (418) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 12.3 (31) | 7.8 (20) | 3.9 (9.9) | 0.7 (1.8) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.5 (1.3) | 6.2 (16) | 13.8 (35) | 45.4 (115) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 14.2 | 10.9 | 11.8 | 10.3 | 9.7 | 7.8 | 4.0 | 3.2 | 4.7 | 8.9 | 13.4 | 13.8 | 112.7 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 9.5 | 5.7 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 4.3 | 9.5 | 34.7 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 82.5 | 79.1 | 70.3 | 61.0 | 58.2 | 53.9 | 44.0 | 45.0 | 53.9 | 66.6 | 82.7 | 85.5 | 65.2 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 78.3 | 118.0 | 199.3 | 242.3 | 296.7 | 322.8 | 382.4 | 340.4 | 271.2 | 191.0 | 73.8 | 59.1 | 2,575.3 |
Percent possible sunshine | 28 | 41 | 54 | 59 | 63 | 68 | 79 | 77 | 72 | 57 | 26 | 22 | 54 |
Source: NOAA (relative humidity and sun 1961–1990) [5] [6] [7] |
Climate data for Kennewick, Washington, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1894–present | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 74 (23) | 74 (23) | 87 (31) | 95 (35) | 104 (40) | 114 (46) | 115 (46) | 115 (46) | 100 (38) | 89 (32) | 79 (26) | 72 (22) | 115 (46) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 59.5 (15.3) | 61.8 (16.6) | 70.8 (21.6) | 81.5 (27.5) | 91.4 (33.0) | 97.9 (36.6) | 103.4 (39.7) | 102.1 (38.9) | 92.9 (33.8) | 80.1 (26.7) | 68.1 (20.1) | 59.8 (15.4) | 104.4 (40.2) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 41.7 (5.4) | 48.1 (8.9) | 58.1 (14.5) | 66.3 (19.1) | 75.3 (24.1) | 82.0 (27.8) | 91.3 (32.9) | 90.3 (32.4) | 80.5 (26.9) | 65.9 (18.8) | 50.9 (10.5) | 41.5 (5.3) | 66.0 (18.9) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 35.5 (1.9) | 39.5 (4.2) | 47.0 (8.3) | 54.3 (12.4) | 62.7 (17.1) | 69.2 (20.7) | 76.8 (24.9) | 75.8 (24.3) | 66.8 (19.3) | 54.5 (12.5) | 42.9 (6.1) | 35.6 (2.0) | 55.1 (12.8) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 29.6 (−1.3) | 31.0 (−0.6) | 36.2 (2.3) | 42.5 (5.8) | 50.4 (10.2) | 56.7 (13.7) | 62.7 (17.1) | 61.6 (16.4) | 53.5 (11.9) | 43.4 (6.3) | 35.2 (1.8) | 30.0 (−1.1) | 44.4 (6.9) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | 15.3 (−9.3) | 18.8 (−7.3) | 26.1 (−3.3) | 33.5 (0.8) | 40.1 (4.5) | 48.4 (9.1) | 54.5 (12.5) | 53.3 (11.8) | 43.8 (6.6) | 30.7 (−0.7) | 22.5 (−5.3) | 16.8 (−8.4) | 10.0 (−12.2) |
Record low °F (°C) | −27 (−33) | −23 (−31) | 8 (−13) | 18 (−8) | 26 (−3) | 35 (2) | 38 (3) | 37 (3) | 21 (−6) | 14 (−10) | −8 (−22) | −29 (−34) | −29 (−34) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.13 (29) | 0.79 (20) | 0.66 (17) | 0.61 (15) | 0.81 (21) | 0.59 (15) | 0.20 (5.1) | 0.17 (4.3) | 0.26 (6.6) | 0.66 (17) | 0.86 (22) | 1.13 (29) | 7.87 (201) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 1.3 (3.3) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.4 (1.0) | 0.4 (1.0) | 2.2 (5.55) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 11.1 | 8.1 | 7.8 | 6.9 | 6.3 | 4.7 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 6.3 | 8.9 | 10.5 | 77.2 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 1.8 |
Source 1: NOAA [8] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: National Weather Service [9] |
Climate data for Yakima Airport, Washington (1991–2020 normals, [a] extremes 1946–present) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 68 (20) | 69 (21) | 80 (27) | 92 (33) | 102 (39) | 115 (46) | 109 (43) | 110 (43) | 100 (38) | 91 (33) | 73 (23) | 72 (22) | 115 (46) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 54.6 (12.6) | 59.2 (15.1) | 68.9 (20.5) | 79.6 (26.4) | 89.9 (32.2) | 95.0 (35.0) | 100.2 (37.9) | 99.1 (37.3) | 91.2 (32.9) | 78.0 (25.6) | 64.0 (17.8) | 52.3 (11.3) | 101.8 (38.8) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 39.5 (4.2) | 47.2 (8.4) | 56.6 (13.7) | 64.7 (18.2) | 74.1 (23.4) | 80.7 (27.1) | 89.9 (32.2) | 88.5 (31.4) | 79.4 (26.3) | 64.4 (18.0) | 48.9 (9.4) | 38.2 (3.4) | 64.3 (17.9) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 24.0 (−4.4) | 26.1 (−3.3) | 30.2 (−1.0) | 35.2 (1.8) | 43.5 (6.4) | 49.5 (9.7) | 55.0 (12.8) | 53.3 (11.8) | 44.9 (7.2) | 35.3 (1.8) | 27.2 (−2.7) | 23.1 (−4.9) | 37.3 (2.9) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | 7.5 (−13.6) | 11.0 (−11.7) | 20.2 (−6.6) | 23.5 (−4.7) | 29.3 (−1.5) | 36.3 (2.4) | 41.9 (5.5) | 41.3 (5.2) | 32.5 (0.3) | 20.9 (−6.2) | 12.9 (−10.6) | 5.1 (−14.9) | −1.6 (−18.7) |
Record low °F (°C) | −21 (−29) | −25 (−32) | −1 (−18) | 18 (−8) | 25 (−4) | 30 (−1) | 34 (1) | 35 (2) | 24 (−4) | 4 (−16) | −13 (−25) | −17 (−27) | −25 (−32) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.19 (30) | 0.81 (21) | 0.64 (16) | 0.55 (14) | 0.74 (19) | 0.50 (13) | 0.20 (5.1) | 0.21 (5.3) | 0.23 (5.8) | 0.64 (16) | 0.86 (22) | 1.44 (37) | 8.01 (203) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 6.2 (16) | 2.7 (6.9) | 0.6 (1.5) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 3.0 (7.6) | 7.7 (20) | 20.3 (52) |
Average precipitation days | 9.4 | 7.5 | 6.4 | 5.8 | 6.2 | 5.2 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 4.7 | 8.6 | 10.1 | 71.8 |
Average snowy days | 4.3 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 1.8 | 6.2 | 15.4 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 64 | 113 | 186 | 210 | 279 | 300 | 341 | 310 | 240 | 186 | 60 | 62 | 2,351 |
Mean daily sunshine hours | 2 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
Percent possible sunshine | 22 | 38 | 50 | 51 | 60 | 63 | 71 | 71 | 64 | 55 | 21 | 23 | 49 |
Average ultraviolet index | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
Source 1: NOAA [10] [11] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Weather Atlas (sun and uv) [12] |
Climate data for Wenatchee, (1971-2000 normals) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 65 (18) | 66 (19) | 78 (26) | 93 (34) | 104 (40) | 114 (46) | 110 (43) | 106 (41) | 101 (38) | 90 (32) | 76 (24) | 67 (19) | 114 (46) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 35.1 (1.7) | 42.8 (6.0) | 54.9 (12.7) | 64.6 (18.1) | 73.1 (22.8) | 80.1 (26.7) | 88.0 (31.1) | 88.0 (31.1) | 77.7 (25.4) | 63.7 (17.6) | 46.0 (7.8) | 35.7 (2.1) | 62.5 (16.9) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 29.2 (−1.6) | 35.1 (1.7) | 44.4 (6.9) | 52.7 (11.5) | 60.9 (16.1) | 67.8 (19.9) | 74.4 (23.6) | 73.7 (23.2) | 64.5 (18.1) | 52.3 (11.3) | 39.1 (3.9) | 30.5 (−0.8) | 52.1 (11.2) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 23.2 (−4.9) | 27.4 (−2.6) | 33.9 (1.1) | 40.8 (4.9) | 48.6 (9.2) | 55.5 (13.1) | 61.0 (16.1) | 60.2 (15.7) | 51.2 (10.7) | 40.8 (4.9) | 32.2 (0.1) | 25.2 (−3.8) | 41.7 (5.4) |
Record low °F (°C) | −17 (−27) | −18 (−28) | 5 (−15) | 20 (−7) | 27 (−3) | 39 (4) | 40 (4) | 41 (5) | 21 (−6) | 19 (−7) | 0 (−18) | −19 (−28) | −19 (−28) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.35 (34) | 0.94 (24) | 0.64 (16) | 0.51 (13) | 0.51 (13) | 0.69 (18) | 0.30 (7.6) | 0.41 (10) | 0.40 (10) | 0.49 (12) | 1.36 (35) | 1.52 (39) | 9.12 (231.6) |
Source: NOAA (normals, 1971−2000) [13] [14] |
Climate data for Missoula, Montana (Missoula Airport) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 60 (16) | 66 (19) | 78 (26) | 90 (32) | 95 (35) | 102 (39) | 107 (42) | 105 (41) | 99 (37) | 85 (29) | 73 (23) | 60 (16) | 107 (42) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 33.2 (0.7) | 38.8 (3.8) | 49.8 (9.9) | 58.5 (14.7) | 67.3 (19.6) | 75.2 (24.0) | 85.9 (29.9) | 84.9 (29.4) | 73.1 (22.8) | 57.8 (14.3) | 41.5 (5.3) | 31.0 (−0.6) | 58.2 (14.6) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 18.3 (−7.6) | 21.2 (−6.0) | 27.7 (−2.4) | 32.8 (0.4) | 39.8 (4.3) | 46.6 (8.1) | 51.4 (10.8) | 50.1 (10.1) | 41.8 (5.4) | 32.4 (0.2) | 24.9 (−3.9) | 16.7 (−8.5) | 33.7 (0.9) |
Record low °F (°C) | −33 (−36) | −28 (−33) | −13 (−25) | 2 (−17) | 21 (−6) | 26 (−3) | 31 (−1) | 29 (−2) | 15 (−9) | −4 (−20) | −23 (−31) | −30 (−34) | −33 (−36) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.85 (22) | 0.70 (18) | 1.00 (25) | 1.22 (31) | 2.01 (51) | 2.07 (53) | 0.99 (25) | 1.19 (30) | 1.17 (30) | 0.88 (22) | 1.01 (26) | 1.04 (26) | 14.13 (359) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 8.3 (21) | 6.1 (15) | 5.1 (13) | 1.2 (3.0) | 0.2 (0.51) | — | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | — | 0.6 (1.5) | 5.4 (14) | 11.0 (28) | 37.9 (96) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 11.8 | 9.4 | 11.4 | 11.1 | 12.3 | 12.1 | 7.1 | 7.5 | 8.2 | 8.4 | 11.1 | 12.3 | 122.7 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 9.4 | 6.8 | 5.1 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 5.4 | 9.8 | 39.4 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 81.3 | 78.1 | 70.3 | 61.2 | 61.7 | 61.1 | 51.7 | 52.5 | 62.8 | 70.8 | 80.2 | 83.5 | 67.9 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 95.8 | 133.0 | 209.3 | 245.0 | 280.5 | 311.1 | 389.3 | 334.8 | 264.7 | 194.3 | 99.5 | 82.9 | 2,640.2 |
Percent possible sunshine | 34 | 46 | 57 | 60 | 60 | 66 | 81 | 76 | 70 | 58 | 35 | 31 | 59 |
Source: NOAA (normals 1981−2010, relative humidity and sun 1961–1990) [15] [16] [17] |
The Inland Northwest is home to seven Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA), eight if Western Montana is included, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. The two largest centers of population are formed out of multiple neighboring MSAs that are classified as Combined Statistical Areas. [18] The largest in the region is the conurbation formed by the Spokane and Coeur d'Alene MSAs, the Spokane-Coeur d'Alene combined statistical area, which ranks 70th in the nation. The second largest center is the Kennewick-Richland-Walla Walla combined statistical area, which is made up of the Tri-Cities and Walla Walla and ranks as the 103rd largest in the nation. [19]
*Sometimes considered to be in the region
Agriculture dominates the economy across large swaths of the region. [54] The Palouse is a major producer of wheat and lentils. [55] The Columbia Basin Project opened up 670,000 acres of the Columbia Plateau to irrigated farming. [56] The Yakima Valley is the nation's leading grower of hops as well as a major wine producing region. [57] Washington is second to only California nationally in terms of wine production, [58] with Eastern Washington being home to 19 of the state's 20 recognized American Viticultural Areas. [59]
In Spokane, the Davenport Arts District has the largest concentration of art galleries and is home to many of Spokane's main performing arts venues, including the Knitting Factory, Fox Theater, and Bing Crosby Theater. The Knitting Factory is a concert house that serves as a setting for many mainstream touring musicians and acts. The Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox, restored to its original 1931 Art Deco state after years of being derelict, [60] is home to the Spokane Symphony Orchestra. The Metropolitan Performing Arts Center was restored in 1988 and renamed the Bing Crosby Theater in 2006 to honor the former Spokanite. [61] Touring stand-up comedians are hosted by the Spokane Comedy Club. [62] Theater is provided by Spokane's only resident professional company, The Modern Theater, [63] though there are also the Spokane Civic Theatre and several other amateur community theaters and smaller groups. The First Interstate Center for the Arts often hosts large traveling exhibitions, shows, and tours.
In the Tri-Cities, the Richland Players Theater has offered live performances annually for over 70 years.[ citation needed ] Originally known as The Village Players, the theater group was created in 1944 to bring music, comedy, and cultural opportunities to the local community.[ citation needed ] [64] Today, the theater has more than 7,500 attendees annually attracting audiences from across the region such as Spokane, Yakima, and Walla Walla.[ citation needed ] The theater also serves the local community by bringing local retirees to shows and accommodating the visually and hearing impaired (with the participation of non-profit United Blind). [65]
The Inland Northwest is home to the Spokane Indians and Tri-City Dust Devils, professional teams in Minor League Baseball's Northwest League; the Western Hockey League's Spokane Chiefs and Tri-City Americans; and the Spokane Velocity and Spokane Zephyr teams in soccer.
The Spokane area is served by The Spokesman-Review, a daily newspaper, as well as the Inlander, an alternative weekly, and the bi-weekly Spokane Journal of Business. Spokane is the 73rd largest TV market in the nation according to Nielsen. [66] KREM carries CBS on channel 2, KXLY carries ABC on channel 4, KHQ carries NBC on channel 6 and KAYU carries FOX on channel 28.
The Tri-Cities is served by the Tri-City Herald, a daily newspaper. Yakima is served by the Yakima Herald-Republic, a daily newspaper. The Tri-Cities and Yakima are considered one media market by Nielsen, the 122nd largest in the country. [66] KNDU carries NBC, KVEW carries ABC, KEPR carries CBS and KFFX carries Fox.
Richland is a city in Benton County, Washington, United States. It is located in southeastern Washington at the confluence of the Yakima and the Columbia Rivers. As of the 2020 census, the city's population was 60,560. Along with the nearby cities of Pasco and Kennewick, Richland forms the Tri-Cities metropolitan area.
Kootenai County is located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 census, its population was 171,362, making it the third-most populous county in Idaho and the largest in North Idaho, the county accounting for 45.4% of the region's total population. The county seat and largest city is Coeur d'Alene. The county was established in 1864 and named after the Kootenai tribe. Kootenai County is coterminous with the Coeur d'Alene metropolitan area, which along with the Spokane metropolitan area comprises the Spokane–Coeur d'Alene combined statistical area.
Scouting in the US state of Washington officially began in the 1910s.
Coeur d'Alene is a city and the county seat of Kootenai County, Idaho, United States. It is the most populous city in North Idaho and the principal city of the Coeur d'Alene Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 54,628 at the 2020 census. Coeur d'Alene is a satellite city of Spokane, which is located about thirty miles (50 km) to the west in the state of Washington. The two cities are the key components of the Spokane–Coeur d'Alene Combined Statistical Area, of which Coeur d'Alene is the third-largest city. The city is situated on the north shore of the 25-mile (40 km) long Lake Coeur d'Alene and to the west of the Coeur d'Alene Mountains. Locally, Coeur d'Alene is known as the "Lake City", or simply called by its initials, "CDA".
Stateline, officially the City of State Line, and historically known as State Line Village, is a city in Kootenai County, Idaho, United States, and is both the easternmost suburb of Spokane, Washington and the westernmost suburb of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The population was 39 at the 2020 census. The city is known for the adult services it provides which attract business from nearby Spokane and Coeur d'Alene. The unincorporated community of Spokane Bridge, Washington is located across the Spokane River to the southwest.
Mullan is a city in the northwest United States, located in the Silver Valley mining district of northern Idaho. The population was 646 at the 2020 census and 692 at the 2010 census, and 840 in 2000.
Spokane is the most populous city in and the county seat of Spokane County, Washington, United States. It is in eastern Washington, along the Spokane River, adjacent to the Selkirk Mountains, and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills, 92 miles (148 km) south of the Canadian border, 18.5 miles (30 km) west of the Washington–Idaho border, and 279 miles (449 km) east of Seattle, along Interstate 90.
Eastern Washington is the region of the U.S. state of Washington located east of the Cascade Range. It contains the city of Spokane, the Tri-Cities, the Columbia River and the Grand Coulee Dam, the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and the fertile farmlands of the Yakima Valley and the Palouse. Unlike in Western Washington, the climate is dry, including some desert environments.
North Central Idaho is an area which spans the central part of the state of Idaho and borders Oregon, Montana, and Washington. It is the southern half of the state's Panhandle region and is rich in agriculture and natural resources. Lewis and Clark traveled through this area on their journey to the Pacific Ocean in September 1805, crossing Lolo Pass and continuing westward in canoes on the Clearwater River. They returned the following spring on their way eastward.
The Coeur d'Alene Reservation is a Native American reservation in northwestern Idaho, United States. It is home to the federally recognized Coeur d'Alene, one of the five federally recognized tribes in the state.
The Idaho panhandle—locally known as North Idaho, Northern Idaho, or simply the Panhandle—is a salient region of the U.S. state of Idaho encompassing the state's 10 northernmost counties: Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce, and Shoshone. The panhandle is bordered by the state of Washington to the west, Montana to the east, and the Canadian province of British Columbia to the north. The Idaho panhandle, along with Eastern Washington, makes up the region known as the Inland Northwest, headed by its largest city, Spokane, Washington.
The Battle of Four Lakes was a battle during the Coeur d'Alene War of 1858 in the Washington Territory in the United States. The Coeur d'Alene War was part of the Yakima War, which began in 1855. The battle was fought near present-day Four Lakes, Washington, between elements of the United States Army and a coalition of Native American tribes consisting of Schitsu'umsh, Palus, Spokan, and Yakama warriors.
Mullan Road was the first wagon road to cross the Rocky Mountains to the Inland of the Pacific Northwest. It was built by U.S. Army troops under the command of Lt. John Mullan, between the spring of 1859 and summer 1860. It led from Fort Benton, which at the time was in the Dakota Territory, then Idaho Territory from July 1863, and into Montana Territory beginning in May 1864. The road eventually stretched all the way from Fort Walla Walla, Washington Territory, near the Columbia River to the navigational head of the Missouri River, which at the time was the farthest inland port in the world). The road previewed the route approximately followed by modern-day Interstate 15 and Interstate 90 through present-day Montana, Idaho, and Washington.
The Coeur d'Alene War of 1858, also known as the Spokane-Coeur d'Alene-Pend d'oreille-Paloos War, was the second phase of the Yakima War, involving a series of encounters between the allied Native American tribes of the Skitswish, Kalispell, Spokane, Palouse and Northern Paiute against United States Army forces in Washington and Idaho.
Four Lakes is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Spokane County, Washington, United States, just southwest of the city of Spokane, and north of Cheney. As of the 2010 census, its population was 512. Both Interstate 90 and SR 904 run through Four Lakes and the junction of the two is located near the center of town. Four Lakes was founded in 1879 by G.H. Morgan. The community was so named on account of there being four lakes near the original town site. It is speculated the fourth lake, is now a marsh south of Meadow Lake, which was drained by the ditch, blasted through basalt, which Minnie Creek flows through, under SR 904, south of the rodeo grounds.
Interstate 90 (I-90) is a transcontinental Interstate Highway that runs east–west across the northern United States. Within the state of Idaho, the freeway travels for 74 miles (119 km) from the Washington border near Spokane to Coeur d'Alene and the panhandle region at the north end of the state. After traveling through the Silver Valley along the Coeur d'Alene River in the Bitterroot Range, I-90 crosses into Montana at Lookout Pass.
The economy of the Spokane metropolitan area plays a vital role as the hub for the commercial, manufacturing, and transportation center as well as the medical, shopping, and entertainment hub of the 80,000 square miles (210,000 km2) Inland Northwest region. Although the two have opted not to merge into a single Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) yet, the Coeur d'Alene MSA has been combined by the Census Bureau into the Spokane–Coeur d'Alene combined statistical area (CSA). The CSA comprises the Spokane metropolitan area and the Coeur d'Alene metropolitan area anchored by Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Spokane metropolitan area has a workforce of about 287,000 people and an unemployment rate of 5.3 percent as of February 2020; the largest sectors for non–farm employment are education and health services, trade, transportation, and utilities, and government. The Coeur d'Alene metropolitan area has a workforce of 80,000 people and an unemployment rate of 6.8% as of June 2020; the largest sectors for non-farm employment are trade, transportation, and utilities, government, and education and health services as well as leisure and hospitality. In 2017, the Spokane–Spokane Valley metropolitan area had a gross metropolitan product of $25.5 billion while the Coeur d'Alene metropolitan area was $5.93 billion.
The Spokane–Spokane Valley Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of Spokane and Stevens counties in Washington state, anchored by the city of Spokane and its largest suburb, Spokane Valley. As of July 1, 2021, the MSA had an estimated population of 593,466. The Spokane Metropolitan Area and the neighboring Coeur d'Alene metropolitan area, make up the larger Spokane–Coeur d'Alene combined statistical area. The urban areas of the two MSAs largely follow the path of Interstate 90 between Spokane and Coeur d'Alene. In 2010, the Spokane–Spokane Valley MSA had a gross metropolitan product of $20.413 billion.
The Kennewick–Pasco–Richland metropolitan area—colloquially referred to as the Tri-Cities metropolitan area, and officially known as the Kennewick–Richland, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area—is a metropolitan area consisting of Benton and Franklin counties in Washington state, anchored by the cities of Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland. As of July 1, 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates the population of the metropolitan area to be 311,469, making it the third-largest metropolitan area located entirely in Washington, after the Seattle metropolitan area and the Spokane metropolitan area. Although it is located outside of the metropolitan area, the CDP of Burbank is part of the Tri-Cities urban area.