Is Spokane part of Idaho?

[elousv]

Originally Posted by TohobitPeak

Does Coeur d'Alene still resist becoming part of the Spokane Metro area because of the perceived negative image of Spoke?

I know I would resist because Spokane is part of WA and the liberal mecca of Seattle!

[Clark Fork Fantast]

Originally Posted by rgb123

Has anyone here read the 'Big Burn' ? I imagine most people from this area are familiar with the story, but I just read the book and it really helps to paint the history of the area and yeah I'd say Spokane was settled as a city long before anywhere in N Idaho (other than maybe a little bit of mining). Geographically speaking, it makes sense why too, Spokane seems the most reasonable place to settle closer to the base of all the mountains.

We had a long discussion about the book and the fire of 1910 over on the Idaho Forum:
"The Big Burn" in NID 100 years ago

Glad to see somebody here is interested in the book! Aside from Egan's political views, which you can agree or disagree with, he tells a fascinating story.

[skinem]

I'll second Egan's book being interesting.

An interesting book on the history of Spokane is one called "This Town of Ours...Spokane" by Jay J. Kalez. It runs from 1804-1974 (written about that time) and subtitled "A Collection of Actual Incidents and Anecdotes Relative to the Pioneer Past of the West's Most Friendly Town". There are a lot of hard to find photos in it, a lot of interesting stories.

I'm a ex-history teacher and was always interested in Spokane history as it will always be home to me. There isn't nearly as much taught in the schools any more about the local history (true everywhere, I think) and it's a shame.

Most everyone knows it's named for the Spokane Indians, but fewer and fewer people seem to know it's meaning (or generally accepted meaning) of "Child(ren) of the Sun". Few people know any more that Spokane County once was larger than the present-day state of Washington, and whaddaya know, northern Idaho was once part of Spokane County, with the county line once going eastward to the continental divide and then south to encompass everything north of the Snake. It was originally a fur trading post just down from a Spokane Indian village (there because the falls made salmon fishing easier) and became a town primarily because of the water power to power mills of the saw and flour-type. It was originally named Spokan Falls, missing the present-day 'e'. Fewer people every day know that Latah Creek was originally named by the white settlers as Hangman Creek (and is still called such by old timers like me) due to Col. Wright's hanging 15 Indians in one day to help end the Spokane Indian War (along with killing over 800 of their horses out in Spokane Valley near the Idaho line). If I remember it was during the 1970's that people started thinking Latah Creek sounded nicer and most said it was the original Indian name.

Sorry to get off topic, but as you can tell, I do enjoy history and especially Spokane's. But, to get back on topic, an argument can be made that there is a reason why northern Idaho can seem a part of the "Inland Empire".

[Clark Fork Fantast]

I love local NW history, too. Check out Tony Bamonte's nonfiction books on Spokane and the NW--he's a great storyteller, and he has a fantastic collection of old photos. I'm sure Auntie's Bookstore has his books.

In a strange twist of themes and history, he is also the key character in Tim Egan's nonfiction book Breaking Blue, about a sheriff who solved a local 50+ year old cold murder case, and found the missing murder weapon, a gun, in the Spokane Falls. That sheriff was Bamonte. If you're going to read The Big Burn, get Breaking Blue at the same time!
Breaking Blue, Timothy Egan, (9781570614293) Paperback - Barnes & Noble

[skinem]

Again, Clark Fork Fantast, I second your reading choices.

[rgb123]

cool, thanks guys, I have some more reading to do!