Spokane

Spokane (pop. 173,000), city in Washington state, located on the Spokane River, about 15 mi (24 km) west of the Idaho border. The town site, originally known as Spokane Falls, was first settled in the 1870s and prospered with the advent of the railroad and the growth of local mining industries. The economy of the modern city is diversified. Numerous factories and mills make aluminum products, foodstuffs, paper and other wood products, and cement. The cultural and industrial center of a large, 2-state area, the city is the home of Gonzaga University and Whitworth College.