Spokane is a city in eastern Washington and the seat of Spokane County, serving as the economic, cultural and transportation hub of a region widely known as the Inland Northwest. With roughly 230,000 residents, it is the state's second-largest city, yet it sits far from the Seattle metropolitan area on the western side of the state. This separation gives Spokane a distinct identity shaped by the dry, pine-covered hills of the Columbia Plateau and the nearby mountains of eastern Washington and northern Idaho. The Spokane River runs through the heart of the city, cresting at Spokane Falls in downtown, where Riverfront Park provides a signature green space that anchors civic life. The city's economy and character are anchored by education and healthcare. Gonzaga University, established in 1887, sits along the river just east of downtown and is nationally recognized, particularly for its men's basketball program. Spokane's University District also hosts presences from Washington State University, the University of Washington, Whitworth University and Eastern Washington University, along with community colleges, making higher education a defining feature of the community. That institutional base supports a steady population of students, faculty, researchers and healthcare professionals who shape the city's neighborhoods and culture. Spokane's residential fabric is varied. Browne's Addition is among the city's oldest neighborhoods, with historic homes near downtown, while Kendall Yards represents newer, walkable riverfront-oriented development. The South Hill, with its Manito and Cannon Hill areas, is known for Craftsman bungalows and park boulevards, and Peaceful Valley descends into the river gorge west of downtown. These districts, along with Emerson/Garfield and West Central, give the city a layered mix of housing types and neighborhood characters rather than a single uniform suburban pattern. Outdoor recreation is woven into everyday life. Riverside State Park lies adjacent to downtown, and the surrounding region contains dozens of lakes for boating, fishing and swimming, while the mountains to the north and east support skiing, hiking and camping. For residents, Spokane offers the amenities of a regional city — a downtown, a riverfront, universities and distinct neighborhoods — combined with comparatively accessible costs and quick access to the outdoors that define life in the Inland Northwest.