Eastern Washington
Encyclopedia
Eastern Washington is the portion of the U.S. state
of Washington east of the Cascade Range
. The region contains the city of Spokane
(the second largest city in the state), the Tri-Cities
, the Columbia River
and the Grand Coulee Dam
, the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and the fertile farmlands
of the Yakima Valley
and the Palouse
.
out of Eastern Washington by splitting the current state down the Cascades, but proposals have rarely progressed out of the state legislature's committees. Recent proposals were made in 1996, 1999, and 2005. Proposed names for the new state have included Lincoln, and Columbia, or simply Eastern Washington. Many of these proposals were to include the Idaho Panhandle
. See: State of Lincoln for more information.
The following cities and towns in Eastern Washington have over 10,000 inhabitants.
, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane
, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman
, and Yakima
Counties.
, Eastern Washington has roughly twice the land area and one-third the population. According to the U.S. Census Bureau
the population estimate as of 2004 was 1,371,802. The population growth rate between the two is roughly the same. Of Washington's nine Congressional districts, Eastern Washington exactly encompasses two (the 4th and 5th), aside from a small portion of the 4th in Skamania County.
Eastern Washington hosts a number of world-renowned universities including three of the state's five public universities.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Washington east of the Cascade Range
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
. The region contains the city of Spokane
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
(the second largest city in the state), the Tri-Cities
Tri-Cities, Washington
The Tri-Cities is a mid-sized metropolitan area in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, consisting of three neighboring cities: Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland. The cities are located at the confluence of the Yakima, Snake, and Columbia rivers in the semi-arid region of...
, the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
and the Grand Coulee Dam
Grand Coulee Dam
Grand Coulee Dam is a gravity dam on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington built to produce hydroelectric power and provide irrigation. It was constructed between 1933 and 1942, originally with two power plants. A third power station was completed in 1974 to increase its energy...
, the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and the fertile farmlands
Arable land
In geography and agriculture, arable land is land that can be used for growing crops. It includes all land under temporary crops , temporary meadows for mowing or pasture, land under market and kitchen gardens and land temporarily fallow...
of the Yakima Valley
Yakima Valley
Yakima Valley may refer to:*Yakima River Valley in southeastern Washington*Yakima Valley AVA...
and the Palouse
Palouse
The Palouse is a region of the northwestern United States, encompassing parts of southeastern Washington, north central Idaho and, in some definitions, extending south into northeast Oregon. It is a major agricultural area, primarily producing wheat and legumes...
.
Statehood
There have been sporadic movements to create a 51st state51st state
The 51st state, in United States political discourse, is a phrase that refers to areas either seriously or derisively considered candidates for addition to the 50 states already part of the United States. Before 1959, when Alaska and Hawaii joined the U.S., the term "the 49th state" was used...
out of Eastern Washington by splitting the current state down the Cascades, but proposals have rarely progressed out of the state legislature's committees. Recent proposals were made in 1996, 1999, and 2005. Proposed names for the new state have included Lincoln, and Columbia, or simply Eastern Washington. Many of these proposals were to include the Idaho Panhandle
Idaho Panhandle
The Idaho Panhandle is the northern region of the U.S. State of Idaho that encompasses the ten northernmost counties of Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce, Shoshone. Residents of the panhandle refer to the region as North Idaho...
. See: State of Lincoln for more information.
Nomenclature
Other terms used for Eastern Washington or large parts of it include:- Columbia BasinColumbia BasinThe Columbia Basin, the drainage basin of the Columbia River, occupies a large area–about —of the Pacific Northwest region of North America. In common usage, the term often refers to a smaller area, generally the portion of the drainage basin that lies within eastern Washington.Usage of the term...
- EastsideEast Side-Municipalities:* East Side Township, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, United States* East Side, Pennsylvania, United States- Canada :* Eastside, Ontario, a neighborhood in Sault Ste...
or east side of the state - Inland EmpireInland Empire (Pacific Northwest)thumb|The Inland Empire regionThe Inland Northwest, or Inland Empire, is a region in the Pacific Northwest centered on Spokane, Washington, including the surrounding Columbia River basin and all of North Idaho....
/Inland Northwest (also includes the Idaho PanhandleIdaho PanhandleThe Idaho Panhandle is the northern region of the U.S. State of Idaho that encompasses the ten northernmost counties of Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce, Shoshone. Residents of the panhandle refer to the region as North Idaho...
)
Cities
- SpokaneSpokane, WashingtonSpokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
(pop. 208,916) - YakimaYakima, WashingtonYakima is an American city southeast of Mount Rainier National Park and the county seat of Yakima County, Washington, United States, and the eighth largest city by population in the state itself. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 91,196 and a metropolitan population of...
(pop. 91,067) - Spokane ValleySpokane Valley, WashingtonSpokane Valley is an incorporated city in Spokane County, Washington, United States. It is located east of Spokane and west of Coeur d'Alene. It surrounds the town of Millwood on three sides...
(pop. 89,755) - KennewickKennewick, WashingtonKennewick is a city in Benton County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, near the Hanford nuclear site. It is the most populous of the three cities collectively referred to as the Tri-Cities...
(pop. 73,917) - PascoPasco, WashingtonPasco is a city in and the county seat of Franklin County, Washington, United States.Pasco is one of three cities that make up the Tri-Cities region of the state of Washington...
(pop. 59,781) - RichlandRichland, WashingtonRichland is a city in Benton County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, at the confluence of the Yakima and the Columbia Rivers. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 48,058. April 1, 2011 estimates from the Washington State Office of Financial Management put the...
(pop. 48,058) - WenatcheeWenatchee, WashingtonWenatchee is located in North Central Washington and is the largest city and county seat of Chelan County, Washington, United States. The population within the city limits in 2010 was 31,925...
(pop. 31,925) - Walla WallaWalla Walla, WashingtonWalla Walla is the largest city in and the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. The population was 31,731 at the 2010 census...
(pop. 31,731) - PullmanPullman, WashingtonPullman is the largest city in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,675 at the 2000 census and 29,799 according to the 2010 census...
(pop. 29,799) - Moses LakeMoses Lake, WashingtonMoses Lake is a city in Grant County, Washington, United States. The population was 20,366 as of the 2010 census. Moses Lake is the largest city in Grant County.-Background:...
(pop. 20,366) - EllensburgEllensburg, WashingtonEllensburg is a city in, and the county seat of, Kittitas County, Washington, United States. The population was 18,174 at the 2010 census. The population was 18,250 at 2011 Estimate from Office of Financial Management. Ellensburg is located just east of the Cascade Range on I-90 and is known as the...
(pop. 18,174) - SunnysideSunnyside, WashingtonSunnyside is a city in Yakima County, Washington, United States. As of the 2010 Census the population was 15,858.-History:On September 16, 1902, residents voted 42 to one to incorporate as the town of Sunnyside. By state law a town needed to have 300 citizens in order to legally incorporate...
(pop. 15,858) - East WenatcheeEast Wenatchee, WashingtonEast Wenatchee is a city in Douglas County, Washington, United States along the northern banks of the Columbia River. The population at the 2010 census was 13,190, a 129.1% increase over the 2000 census....
(pop. 13,190) - West RichlandWest Richland, WashingtonWest Richland is a city in Benton County, Washington, United States, served by three elementary schools and a middle school , with an annual budget of about 30 million dollars. The population was 11,811 at the 2010 census...
(pop. 11,811) - CheneyCheney, WashingtonCheney is a city in Spokane County, Washington, United States. The full time resident population was 10,590 as of 2010 census. Eastern Washington University is located in Cheney, and its population grows to approximately 17,600 people on a temporary basis when classes at Eastern Washington...
(pop. 10,590)
National Parks and other protected areas
- Colville National ForestColville National ForestThe Colville National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in northeastern Washington state. It is bordered on the west by the Okanogan National Forest and the Kaniksu National Forest to the east...
- Idaho Panhandle National ForestIdaho Panhandle National ForestIdaho Panhandle National Forest is a national forest located in the U.S. state of Idaho. Approximately 22.4% of the forest extends into the states of Montana and Washington . The forest was combined in 2000 from three previous separate National Forests which continue to manage themselves somewhat...
(partial) - Kaniksu National ForestKaniksu National ForestThe Kaniksu National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in northeastern Washington, the Idaho panhandle, and northwestern Montana. The Idaho portion is one of three forests that are aggregated into the Idaho Panhandle National Forest, along with the Coeur d'Alene National Forest and St. Joe...
(partial) - Okanogan National ForestOkanogan National ForestThe Okanogan National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in northern and western Okanogan County in north-central Washington State, United States...
- Umatilla National ForestUmatilla National ForestThe Umatilla National Forest, in the Blue Mountains of northeast Oregon and southeast Washington, covers an area of 1.4 million acres . In descending order of land area the forest is located in parts of Umatilla, Grant, Columbia, Morrow, Wallowa, Union, Garfield, Asotin, Wheeler, and Walla Walla...
(partial) - Wenatchee National ForestWenatchee National ForestWenatchee National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in Washington. With an area of 1,735,394 acres , it extends about 137 miles along the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range of Washington, USA from Okanogan National Forest to Gifford Pinchot National Forest...
- Hanford Reach National MonumentHanford Reach National MonumentThe Hanford Reach National Monument is a national monument in the U.S. State of Washington. It was created in 2000, mostly from the former security buffer surrounding the Hanford Nuclear Reservation...
Counties
Eastern Washington is composed of Adams, Asotin, BentonBenton County, Washington
Benton County is a county located in the south-central portion of the U.S. state of Washington. The Columbia River makes up the north, south, and east boundaries of the county. In 2010, its population was 175,177. The county seat is Prosser, and its largest city is Kennewick...
, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane
Spokane County, Washington
Spokane County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington, named after the Spokane tribe. As of the 2010 census the population was 471,221, making it the fourth most populous county in Washington state. The largest city and county seat is Spokane, the second largest city in the state,...
, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman
Whitman County, Washington
Whitman County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2010 census, the population was 44,776, with the majority living in its largest city, Pullman, home to Washington State University, the state's land-grant university. The county seat is at Colfax.Whitman County was...
, and Yakima
Yakima County, Washington
Yakima County is the second largest county by area in the U.S. state of Washington. It is named after the Yakama tribe of Native Americans. In the 2010 census, its population was 243,231...
Counties.
Population
Compared to Western WashingtonWestern Washington
Western Washington is a region of the United States defined as that part of Washington west of the Cascade Mountains.It is known as being far wetter in climate than the eastern portion of the state, which...
, Eastern Washington has roughly twice the land area and one-third the population. According to the U.S. Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
the population estimate as of 2004 was 1,371,802. The population growth rate between the two is roughly the same. Of Washington's nine Congressional districts, Eastern Washington exactly encompasses two (the 4th and 5th), aside from a small portion of the 4th in Skamania County.
Educational institutions
Public institutions
- Central Washington UniversityCentral Washington UniversityCentral Washington University, often abbreviated CWU, is a public university in Ellensburg, Washington in the United States.This location was selected by the state legislature as a consolation prize after Ellensburg lost its bid to be state capital...
- Eastern Washington UniversityEastern Washington UniversityEastern Washington University is an American public, coeducational university located in Cheney, Washington.Founded in 1882, the university is academically divided into four colleges: Arts and Letters; Business and Public Administration; Science, Health and Engineering; and Social & Behavioral...
- Washington State UniversityWashington State UniversityWashington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
- A number of local community colleges including:
- Big Bend Community CollegeBig Bend Community CollegeBig Bend Community College is a two-year college in Moses Lake, Washington. It offers several associate's degrees in academic and vocational fields.- History :...
- Columbia Basin CollegeColumbia Basin CollegeColumbia Basin College is a community college based in Pasco, Washington. The College offers many associate degrees and one baccalaureate business degree in applied management....
- Spokane Community CollegeSpokane Community CollegeEstablished in 1963, Spokane Community College is part of Community Colleges of Spokane.It is a comprehensive educational institution, offering liberal arts-transfer degrees and a wide array of career-technical degree and certificate options in the fields of manufacturing, transportation,...
- Spokane Falls Community CollegeSpokane Falls Community CollegeSpokane Falls Community College is part of the Community Colleges of Spokane.The college, also known as The Falls, opened in 1967 in west Spokane, south of Riverside State Park, on a campus....
- Wenatchee Valley CollegeWenatchee Valley CollegeWenatchee Valley College, or WVC, is a two-year Community College located in Wenatchee, Washington. The college provides students with adult education classes, certifications, and 2-year Associates Degree. WVC's primary service district is one of the largest in the state, serving an area larger...
- Yakima Valley Community CollegeYakima Valley Community CollegeYakima Valley Community College is one of the oldest community colleges in Washington, having been founded in 1928.-Overview:YVCC serves over 10,000 students a year through two campuses located in Yakima and Grandview, as well as learning centers located in Ellensburg, Toppenish, and Goldendale...
- Big Bend Community College
Private institutions
- Gonzaga UniversityGonzaga UniversityGonzaga University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Spokane, Washington, United States. Founded in 1887 by the Society of Jesus, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is named after the young Jesuit saint, Aloysius Gonzaga...
- Heritage UniversityHeritage UniversityHeritage University, located in Toppenish, Washington on the Yakama Indian Reservation, offers associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees in a number of academic disciplines, including:*English*business administration*mathematics*computer science...
- Whitman CollegeWhitman CollegeWhitman College is a private, co-educational, non-sectarian, residential undergraduate liberal arts college located in Walla Walla, Washington. Initially founded as a seminary by a territorial legislative charter in 1859, the school became a four year degree granting institution in 1883...
- Whitworth UniversityWhitworth UniversityWhitworth University is a private Christian liberal arts college located in Spokane, Washington, United States, that offers Bachelor's and Master's degrees in a variety of academic disciplines. It is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church...
Research institutions
- Pacific Northwest National LaboratoryPacific Northwest National LaboratoryPacific Northwest National Laboratory is one of the United States Department of Energy National Laboratories, managed by the Department of Energy's Office of Science. The main campus of the laboratory is in Richland, Washington....
- Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute