Washington

Spokane

539,339
2020 population
1880
first census record
15
census records

About Spokane

Spokane, Washington, first appears in the United States federal census in 1880, when it recorded a population of 4,262. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 539,339.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 24 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Coeur d'Alene War – Battle of Four Lakes, Coeur d'Alene War — Battle of Four Lakes (September 1, 1858), Steptoe Disaster (May 17, 1858), and 159 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020539,339
2010471,221
2000417,939
1990361,364
1980341,835
1970287,487
1960278,333
1950221,561
1940164,652
1930150,477
1920141,289
1910139,404
190057,542
189037,487
18804,262
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Spokane

Military engagements that took place in Spokane, Washington.

Coeur d'Alene War – Battle of Four Lakes
1858
Coeur d'Alene War — Battle of Four Lakes (September 1, 1858)
1858
Steptoe Disaster (May 17, 1858)
1858
Battle of Four Lakes (September 1, 1858)
1858
Battle of Spokane Plains
1858
Spokane Plains Battle 1858
1858
Battle of Spokane Bridge (1858)
1858
Coeur d'Alene War — Battle of Four Lakes
1858
Four Lakes Battle 1858
1858
Battle of Four Lakes – Cavalry Charge Phase
1858
Hanging of Qualchan (Coeur d'Alene War)
1858
Battle of Tohotonimme / Four Lakes
1858
Coeur d'Alene War — Battle of Spokane Plains
1858
Spokane Indian Raids 1858
1858
Battle of Four Lakes (Coeur d'Alene War)
1858
Battle of Spokane Plains (September 5, 1858)
1858
Coeur d'Alene War — Battle of Steptoe
1858
Battle of Four Lakes – Tohotonimme
1858
Battle of Four Lakes
1858
Battle of Spokane Plain
1858
Coeur d'Alene War – Battle of Spokane Plains
1858
Coeur d'Alene War — Battle of Spokane Plains (September 5, 1858)
1858
Coeur d'Alene War — Battle of Spokane Plain
1858
Wright's Punitive Campaign – Palouse Horse Slaughter
1858

Historic places in Spokane

National Register of Historic Places listings in Spokane, Washington.

Spokane Public Library
Spokane
Spokane Flour Mill
Spokane
Spokane County Courthouse
Spokane
Montvale Block
Spokane
Manito Park and Boulevard
Spokane
Spokane Fire Station No. 3
Spokane
Marycliff-Cliff Park Historic District
Spokane
Natatorium Carousel
Spokane
Cheney Odd Fellows Hall
Cheney
Breslin
Spokane
First Congregational Church of Spokane
Spokane
Kemp & Hebert Building
Spokane
Clark Mansion
Spokane
Desmet Avenue Warehouse Historic District
Spokane
Fort George Wright Historic District-Fort George Wright Cemetery (Additional Documentation)
Spokane
Lewis & Clark High School
Spokane
Whitten Block
Spokane
Millwood Historic District
Millwood
Monroe Street Bridge
Spokane
Riverside Avenue Historic District
Spokane
Knickerbocker
Spokane
Frequency Changing Station
Spokane
Davenport Hotel
Spokane
Mount Saint Michael
Spokane
Browse all Washingtonhistoric sites ›

Other counties in Washington

Explore census history and historic records for more Washington counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Spokane County, Washington

This page charts the census history of Spokane County, Washington. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Spokane

When does Spokane first appear in the US census?
Spokane, Washington first appears in the federal census in 1880, with a recorded population of 4,262.
What is the population of Spokane?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Spokane had a recorded population of 539,339.
Were any battles fought in Spokane?
24 documented military engagements took place in Spokane, including Coeur d'Alene War – Battle of Four Lakes, Coeur d'Alene War — Battle of Four Lakes (September 1, 1858), Steptoe Disaster (May 17, 1858).
How many historic places are in Spokane?
159 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Spokane, Washington.
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