Once, the world of Spokane was a convergence of paths, a fur trading post where local tribes and ambitious Europeans gathered to establish trade. But by 1889, one-third of the young city had been wiped out in the Great Fire.
Despite this setback, citizens quickly began rebuilding their community based on increased demand for railroads and transportation systems – setting it on its path toward modern metropolis status today.
As one of the fastest-growing cities in Washington state over the past century, Spokane has experienced an immense transformation from its humble beginnings as a fur trading post to a vibrant city with thriving arts, culture, and job opportunities. Let’s take a look back at how it all began!
1886
Thanks to the power of the falls, Spokane valley using the north-west company, was an early producer of electricity and various other products like lumber, grain, and gold.
By 1886, Spokane had already accomplished an extraordinary feat; it was among the first urban areas to embrace and utilize electric streetlights to illuminate its roads and boulevards. This pioneering move represented a significant advancement for the area, providing greater safety and an increased sense of progressiveness and modernity.
This exciting advancement enticed much growth and development, leading to a population boom – in only four years, the city had grown to roughly 9,000 people. Unfortunately, the town, having been developed mostly of two-story wooden structures, provided a platform for an overwhelmingly destructive event unique to Spokane’s history.
Great Fire Of 1889
On August 4th, 1889, the most devastating fire in Seattle’s history occurred, brought on by an unusually hot and dry summer season. The Great Fire tragically destroyed around 32 blocks of the downtown area, almost completely obliterating it from existence. Its destruction was total and irreversible.
Outlying neighborhoods were fortunately spared, but the destruction that occurred was catastrophic for many owners, as they lost all their possessions; the city itself had been leveled.
To keep open its business activity, downtown had to be transformed into a temporary ‘tent city,’ so numerous tents were erected in the area. This ‘tent-city’ operated in the same space for around a year.
The aftermath of The Great Fire saw a remarkable resurgence in the downtown area of Spokane, with new and resilient materials such as brick and terra cotta utilized to construct various buildings. A substantial portion – roughly 50% – of the current structures housed within the downtown region were built during this period. This is an impressive testament to residents’ strength of will and determination after this devastating event.
Railroad
Established in 1892 and built around the Great Northern Pacific Railway, Hillyard was the railroad system’s solution to meeting increasing requirements in Spokane county for train manufacturing and repair. James J. Hill was the one who gave this area its start.
The yard was established as an entity free from municipal taxes by not being incorporated as a town. It was home to railroad workers and their families, giving them a locality. The neighborhood of Hillyard suffered a major blow in 1924 when the closure of the Great Northern Railroad operations led to its annexment to Spokane – something that wasn’t common before 1916 with the passing of Hill as there had previously been pressure standing against it. Thus, Hillyard has not fully recovered ever since.
1864 Spokane Falls Becomes A Hub For N. Pacific Railway
In 1864, the federal government provided a large land grant to initiate the construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Starting in Duluth, Minnesota, workers began their arduous clearing and preparing the land for tracks to be laid across. They worked diligently, and with great effort, they started laying rails in the pacific northwest along their route. This project marked one of the most ambitious infrastructure endeavors in U.S. history at that time and was an enormous undertaking for its day.
Other projects connected Portland, Oregon, to Seattle, eastern Washington, and – via the Cascade Range – ultimately to Spokane Falls. Along this established route, travelers could more easily traverse between these locations.
By 1883, transportation via train allowed residents living in the Western and Midwestern regions of the United States to quickly and reliably resupply communities in more isolated locations through improved trading methods.
The railway, quickly employed after its construction, acted as a booster for various businesses involved in the trade of minerals, timber, and farm produce. The influx of European settlers impacted the area’s wealth due to the considerable population increase. Consequently, this resulted in new economic possibilities, compelling individuals to pursue new fortunes in the region. Ultimately, these changes reshaped the local economy drastically.
1900
The 1890s saw an influx of population in the outskirts of Spokane, coinciding with the introduction of the streetcar. This created a new transportation option allowing citizens to live farther away from downtown Spokane yet still commute in.
In the early twentieth century, Spokane began to experience a dramatic population growth to reach 100,000 inhabitants, making it the most populous city located west of Minneapolis. It was also home to an impressive waterpower resource from the Spokane River, which contributes to Spokane Falls, far exceeding any other waterpower available in the region west of Niagara Falls which contains the major Spokane rivers.
1920
At the start of the 20th century, Spokane was growing rapidly and making great strides in terms. Still, unfortunately, by the 1920s, the mines that had played a critical role in establishing Spokane were running low on resources.
Timber production in Spokane proved uneconomical due to the prohibitive costs associated with shipping out of the city. It was more cost-effective to ship timber from Minneapolis to Seattle and then onward rather than directly to its final destination in Spokane. Despite having to pass through Spokane first on the journey to Seattle, the goods still did not take that route.
Producing wheat and dairy products, Spokane faced a period of stagnation and the loss of industry during the Great Depression era.
1930
The 1930s saw an influx of civil workers attracted by the opportunities created through the Civilian Conservation Corps, which was part of Roosevelt’s New Deal, and the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam, positively providing a much-needed boost to the economy.
In 1942, Spokane received a new military installation called the Spokane Army Air Depot. The establishment of this air base saw an influx of soldiers and their families coming to the area during the early days of World War II. Fairchild Air Force Base, named in honor of the legendary World War I aviator, General Muir S. Fairchild, is the current home of the Air Force base.
1960
After World War II, Spokane experienced a steady diminishing in popularity; its citizens relocated to suburban areas. Consequently, the downtown area became less popular, and North Spokane saw the opening of a shopping mall – signifying this move outwards. In response to the trend of alienation of customers from department store shopping, Sears chose to relocate their downtown location to the Northtown Mall.
The downtown business scene during this time experienced many tangible difficulties. Remarkably, the fact that construction of newer buildings virtually halted is what led to so much of Spokane’s current heritage status since it was not cost-effective to construct new ones when times were hard.
Conclusion
Since its humble beginnings as a fur-trading post, Spokane has come a long way even to have parks like the riverfront park, magnificent lakes, and forests in northern Idaho, among others. The city has transformed into a modern metropolis while still retaining its small-town charm. Spokane has much to explore, from its rich history to its vibrant present. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, take some time to appreciate all this city offers.