Inland Northwest
Region
Left-right from top:Spokane skyline,Grand Coulee Dam and theColumbia River,Palouse Falls,Priest Lake,Palouse farmland,Lake Pend Oreille fromSchweitzer Mountain,Cabinet Mountains
Map of the Inland Northwest. Counties highlighted in red are always included, while counties highlighted in pink are sometimes included.
Composition	Eastern Washington andNorth Idaho sometimes: parts ofEastern Oregon andWestern Montana
Largest metropolitan areas	Spokane-Coeur d'Alene Tri-Cities Yakima
Dialect	Pacific Northwest English

TheInland Northwest, historically and alternatively known as theInland Empire, is a region of theNorthwestern United States centered on theGreater Spokane, Washington Area,^[1] encompassing all ofEastern Washington andNorthern Idaho. Under broader definitions, NortheasternOregon andWestern Montana may be included in the Inland Northwest. Alternatively, stricter definitions may excludeCentral Washington andIdaho County, Idaho.

The phrase Inland Empire was first used by the Spokane Falls Review newspaper of Spokane Falls, Washington Territory (today’s Spokane, Washington) in its first issue on May 19, 1883.

As of 2016^[update], theU.S. Census Bureau estimated the combined population of eastern Washington and northern Idaho alone to be 2,240,645, comparable to that ofNew Mexico. Its Canadian counterpart, north of the border, is theBritish Columbia Interior, which together comprise the inland portion of the broaderPacific Northwest. Significant urban centers include theSpokane–Coeur d'Alene area and theTri-Cities.

There have been several proposals to politically unite the Inland Northwest. In the mid and late 1860s, there was a proposal centered onLewiston in northern Idaho for aColumbia Territory to be formed in the region from parts of what is now eastern Washington, northern Idaho and western Montana.^[2] In 1901, another proposal was made, this time to combine the Idaho Panhandle with Eastern Washington to create theState of Lincoln. A third proposal was popularized in the late 1920s to consist of eastern Washington, northern Idaho andwestern Montana to the Continental Divide.

Washington

Adams,Asotin,Benton,Chelan,Columbia,Douglas,Ferry,Franklin,Garfield,Grant,Kittitas,Klickitat,Lincoln,Okanogan,Pend Oreille,Spokane,Stevens,Walla Walla,Whitman, andYakima

Idaho

Benewah,Bonner,Boundary,Clearwater,Idaho,Kootenai,Latah,Lewis,Nez Perce, andShoshone

Oregon (sometimes included)

Morrow,Umatilla,Union, andWallowa

Montana (sometimes included)

Flathead,Lake,Lincoln,Mineral,Missoula,Ravalli, andSanders

The region is bounded by theCascade Mountains on the west and theRocky Mountains (following the spine of the remote and ruggedCabinet Mountains) on the east, theBlue Mountains of Oregon and foothills of theWallowa Mountains to the south, southeast, and encompasses the Columbia river basin (orColumbia Plateau). Between the three mountain ranges are large, sweeping areas ofsemi-aridsteppe, part of which has been irrigated due to theColumbia Basin Project, resulting in expansive farmland in central Washington. ThePalouse, original home of theAppaloosa, is another major agricultural region located in the gently rolling hills of southeastern Washington and extending into Idaho. In northern Idaho, the precipitation from the Pacific Ocean over theNorth Central Rockies forests, create theNorth American inland temperate rainforest.^[3] TheCoeur d'Alene Mountains of this range is noted for its natural resource wealth, particularly theSilver Valley with its mining heritage dating back to the 1880s.

Spokane, the region's largest city, is located near where the arid, and largely unforested Columbia plateau meets the lush forests of theSelkirk Mountains. The urban area stretches east into Idaho along theI-90 corridor through theSpokane River valley. Across the border in Idaho the suburbs stretch into the cities ofPost Falls andCoeur d'Alene on the north shore ofLake Coeur d'Alene. The Northeastern Washington andNorth Idaho portion of the Inland Empire are mountainous and forested, and the crest of theBitterroot Range of the Rocky Mountains forms part of the eastern boundary of the Inland Empire region, while the Columbia River forms a significant part of its southern boundary.

TheWashington side is generallysemi-arid, while theIdaho side experiences a mostlydry summer continental climate.

The Inland Northwest is home to seven Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA), eight if Western Montana is included, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. The two largest centers of population are formed out of multiple neighboring MSAs that are classified asCombined Statistical Areas.^[18] The largest in the region is the conurbation formed by the Spokane and Coeur d'Alene MSAs, the Spokane-Coeur d'Alene combined statistical area, which ranks 70th in the nation. The second largest center is the Kennewick-Richland-Walla Walla combined statistical area, which is made up of the Tri-Cities and Walla Walla and ranks as the 103rd largest in the nation.^[19]

• Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene CSA (pop. 793,285)^[20][18]
  • Spokane-Spokane Valley MSA (pop. 604,962)^[20]
  • Coeur d'Alene MSA (pop. 188,323)^[20]

• Kennewick-Richland-Walla Walla CSA (pop. 370,395)^[21]
  • Kennewick-Richland MSA (pop. 308,293)^[21]
  • Walla Walla MSA (pop. 62,682)^[21]

• Yakima MSA (pop. 256,035)^[18][22]

• Wenatchee-East Wenatchee MSA (pop. 123,342)^[18][23]

• *Missoula MSA (pop. 119,533)^[18][24]

• Lewiston MSA (pop. 64,851)^[18][25]

• Spokane, Washington (pop. 228,989)^[26]
• Spokane Valley, Washington (pop. 102,976)^[27]
• Yakima, Washington (pop. 96,968)^[28]
• Kennewick, Washington (pop. 83,921)^[29]
• Pasco, Washington (pop. 77,108)^[30]
• *Missoula, Montana (pop. 73,489)^[31]
• Richland, Washington (pop. 60,560)^[32]
• Coeur d'Alene, Idaho (pop. 54,628)^[33]
• Post Falls, Idaho (pop. 38,485)^[34]
• Wenatchee, Washington (pop. 35,508)^[35]
• Lewiston, Idaho (pop. 34,203)^[36]
• Walla Walla, Washington (pop. 34,060)^[37]
• Pullman, Washington (pop. 32,901)^[38]
• Moscow, Idaho (pop. 25,435)^[39]
• Moses Lake, Washington (pop. 25,146)^[40]
• *Kalispell, Montana (pop. 24,558)^[41]
• *Hermiston, Oregon (pop. 19,354)^[42]
• Ellensburg, Washington (pop. 18,666)^[43]
• *Pendleton, Oregon (pop. 17,107)^[44]
• Sunnyside, Washington (pop. 16,375)^[45]
• West Richland, Washington (pop. 16,295)^[46]
• Hayden, Idaho (pop. 15,570)^[47]
• East Wenatchee, Washington (pop. 14,158)^[48]
• Cheney, Washington (pop. 13,255)^[49]
• *La Grande, Oregon (pop. 13,026)^[50]
• Liberty Lake, Washington (pop. 12,003)^[51]
• Grandview, Washington (pop. 10,907)^[52]
• Airway Heights, Washington (pop. 10,757)^[53]

*Sometimes considered to be in the region

Agriculture dominates the economy across large swaths of the region.^[54] The Palouse is a major producer of wheat and lentils.^[55] TheColumbia Basin Project opened up 670,000 acres of theColumbia Plateau to irrigated farming.^[56] TheYakima Valley is the nation's leading grower ofhops as well as a major wine producing region.^[57]Washington is second to onlyCalifornia nationally in terms of wine production,^[58] with Eastern Washington being home to 19 of the state's 20 recognizedAmerican Viticultural Areas.^[59]

In Spokane, the Davenport Arts District has the largest concentration of art galleries and is home to many of Spokane's main performing arts venues, including theKnitting Factory,Fox Theater, andBing Crosby Theater. The Knitting Factory is a concert house that serves as a setting for many mainstream touring musicians and acts. TheMartin Woldson Theater at the Fox, restored to its original 1931 Art Deco state after years of being derelict,^[60] is home to theSpokane Symphony Orchestra. The Metropolitan Performing Arts Center was restored in 1988 and renamed the Bing Crosby Theater in 2006 to honor the former Spokanite.^[61] Touring stand-up comedians are hosted by the Spokane Comedy Club.^[62] Theater is provided by Spokane's only resident professional company, The Modern Theater,^[63] though there are also theSpokane Civic Theatre and several other amateur community theaters and smaller groups. TheFirst Interstate Center for the Arts often hosts large traveling exhibitions, shows, and tours.

In the Tri-Cities, the Richland Players Theater has offered live performances annually for over 70 years.^{[citation needed]} Originally known as The Village Players, the theater group was created in 1944 to bring music, comedy, and cultural opportunities to the local community.^{[citation needed][64]} Today, the theater has more than 7,500 attendees annually attracting audiences from across the region such as Spokane, Yakima, and Walla Walla.^{[citation needed]} The theater also serves the local community by bringing local retirees to shows and accommodating the visually and hearing impaired (with the participation of non-profit United Blind).^[65]

The Inland Northwest is home to theSpokane Indians andTri-City Dust Devils, professional teams inMinor League Baseball'sNorthwest League; theWestern Hockey League'sSpokane Chiefs andTri-City Americans; and theSpokane Velocity andSpokane Zephyr teams insoccer.

The Spokane area is served byThe Spokesman-Review, a daily newspaper, as well as theInlander, analternative weekly, and the bi-weeklySpokane Journal of Business. Spokane is the 73rd largest TV market in the nation according toNielsen.^[66]KREM carriesCBS on channel 2,KXLY carriesABC on channel 4,KHQ carriesNBC on channel 6 andKAYU carriesFOX on channel 28.

The Tri-Cities is served by theTri-City Herald, a daily newspaper. Yakima is served by theYakima Herald-Republic, a daily newspaper. The Tri-Cities and Yakima are considered one media market by Nielsen, the 122nd largest in the country.^[66]KNDU carries NBC,KVEW carries ABC,KEPR carries CBS andKFFX carries Fox.

• 
  Hills nearWest Richland, Washington
• 
  Coeur d'Alene
• 
  Latah Creek, a historical site
• 
  Lake Pend Oreille,1,150 ft (350 m) deep
• 
  View from north ofLewiston, Idaho andClarkston, Washington
• 
  Oregon Butte in theWenaha–Tucannon Wilderness
• 
  Palouse Canyon
• 
  Palouse Falls
• 
  Spokane Falls
• 
  Priest Lake
• 
  The Palouse fromSteptoe Butte
• 
  Selway–Bitterroot Wilderness, Idaho

• Palouse
• Columbia Plateau (ecoregion)
• Inland Empire Highway
• Silver Valley, Idaho
• Lincoln (proposed Northwestern state)
• Appaloosa
• Okanagan Country

47°00′N118°00′W / 47.0°N 118.0°W /47.0; -118.0 (Inland Northwest)

• Geography of Idaho
• Regions of Washington (state)
• Regions of the United States

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