History

          The Rocky Mountain Gateway became a region in 1858 when an act was passed by the Territorial Assembly, and the first actual Spokane County government was organized in 1860. 

           In 1863 the Idaho Territory was created, and cut out two-thirds of the Rocky Mountain Gateway, and in 1864 Stevens County and Spokane County were put together, and called Stevens County, until 1879, when J.N. Glover (known as “the father of Spokane”) changed it back. (J.N. Glover was known for saying, “Spokane is grand, forever let it stand!”)

            In the years 1885-1899 Spokane County was really chiseled out, when twenty-two counties, some in Washington, some in Montana and some in Idaho were all dispersed from the original Spokane County. During this time, in 1889, a huge fire almost destroyed the entire town of Spokane. Spokane recovered quickly, however, and much later held a world’s fair called Expo ’74 in 1974. Spokane was the smallest city ever to hold a world’s fair.

       In the northeast corner of Washington this lightly wooded, hilly region is bordered by the Cascade Mountains to the west and the Columbia and Spokane rivers to the south.

Population – about 725,000 people

Per Capita Income – about $39,000 per household

Primary Industries – Agriculture, Manufacturing and Forestry

“Spokane.” World Book Encyclopedia. 2000 ed.

  Pelz, Ruth. Discovering Washington. Salt Lake City: Peregrine Smith Books, 1997.

  Fradin, Dennis B. Washington, In Words and Pictures. Chicago: Children’s Press.

  “Rocky Mountain Gateway.” [Online]. Available: www.experiencewashington.com. (3 June 2003).