Communities
Spokane has a variety of both urban and suburban communities for residents. The city’s in-town neighborhoods are separated into five sections, each with a distinct character. East Central Spokane was developed from an industrial base, with hundreds of homes developed in the 1950’s as affordable housing on small lots. The community’s cohesion was disrupted by the construction of highway 90, which runs through the center of East Central. City Planners are working to bring back the neighborhood’s former community spirit.
One of Washington State’s oldest neighborhoods, Browne’s Addition, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historic District. Just west of city center, the neighborhood was established in the 1880’s as an enclave of homes for the wealthy. Historic mansions line the streets as single-family homes, apartment buildings, and newly created condos. Residents are young professionals and the city’s oldest park is here. Locals enjoy a neighborhood pub and coffee shop.
North Hill neighborhood enjoys a view over the city and some of Spokane’s hip businesses. Booksellers, theaters, and the city’s famous Milk Bottle café are all located here. Diversity abounds and residents from all over Spokane come to North Hill for its eclectic and small town atmosphere. Bordered by the river, Peaceful Valley is an early 1900’s neighborhood built with tight streets and a unique, intimate atmosphere. There is a nice combination of older bungalows on small lots and larger two story homes with large yards. The river is readily accessible to residents and the neighborhood is pedestrian friendly.
West Central is a mixed neighborhood making a comeback. Renters occupy most homes and there is a dramatic diversity in the houses here. Restored Victorians are interspersed with decaying bungalows. The neighborhood is typical of an urban residential area on the verge of restoration. Yet to be established are small, unique businesses that make an urban neighborhood attractive.
On the outskirts of Spokane in every direction are residential communities like Opportunity, Airway Heights, Dishman, Marshall, Mead, Mica and Millwood. These suburban areas offer modern homes, larger tracts of land and a commuting lifestyle within a short drive of all of Spokane’s attractions. Various lake communities are established along the banks of the region’s numerous lakes.
Fast Facts:
- Location: Spokane is 18 miles west of the Idaho border and 110 miles south of the Canadian border.
- Population: 195,629
- Median household income: $32,273.
- Average home value: $97,000.
- Average annual rainfall: 16.5 inches
- Average temperatures: 68°F in summer