Spokane County's population grew by an estimated 7,500 people last year, or about 1.7 percent, giving the county about 443,800 residents. The city of Spokane added 2,900 people or 1.4 percent, to crest the 200,000 mark at 201,600 while the city of Spokane Valley's population rose 2.3 percent to about 87,000. Liberty Lake grew the fastest in the county at 10 percent.
Kootenai County's population growth which needs to be considered since Spokane rests near the state line of Idaho grew to an estimated 131,507 in 2005, up 3 percent from 2004. The big story was Post Falls, where the population soared nearly 16 percent to 23,162 in 2005. Since 1990 Kootenai County's popultion had grown by 88.4 percent, while Spokane County's had grown by 22.8 percent.
Estimated median household income in Spokane County climbed last year by a healthy 6.1 percent to $45,458 although it still lagged far below King County's estimaded median household income of $65,940 and also trailed Pierce and Clark county's levels.
About 91 percent of Spokane County Residents who were 25 or older had at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Reported Crimes here fell roughly 5 percent in 2006 to about 20,400 offenses, though motor vehicle thefts in the city of Spokane shot up about 26 percent to nearly 2,300.
The Population in 2006 is ranked by age in Spokane County as follows:

0-9 56,620
10-14 30,826
15-19 34,559
20-24 35,166
25-29 28,191
30-34 25,852
35-39 29,984
40-44 32,513
45-49 34,585
50-54 32,120
55-59 27,369
60-64 19,815
65+ 56,199

Economy & Employment

Spokane County is on the upswing for economic growth in the job sector, 7,100 jobs were added in 2006 a vigorous 3.4 percent jump, following a robust growth of 5,400 jobs or 2.7 percent in 2005. Taxable retail sales grew sharply while bankruptcy and foreclosures plummeted. Spokane County's three biggest employers, in terms of non farm employment, continue to be wholesale, retail trade, government, and education and health services. The Spokane area's largest employer is Fairchild Air Force Base which had about 4,992 full time employees. Large employers are in the minority here. Just 11 employers have more than 1,000 workers and more than three quarters of employers have fewer than 10 workers. Commute congestion is minor in relation to similar metropolitan areas but could do better in easing commute congestion. Progress to improve the commute is in process with a new interstate connecting north Spokane to Spokane Valley. However, the number of people who work from home in Spokane has grown sharply and have ebbed the ratios for commute time. The average commute is 20.2 minutes (depending of course on where you live in comparison to where you work)

The fastest growing occupations in Spokane are, Office Machine Operators, except computer, Medical Transcriptionists, Crossing guards, Bill & account collectors, Dental Lab techs, Sales and street vendors, Interior design, Architects, Managers and Supervisors, Architectural and Civil Drafters.

Spokane Schools
The Spokane area's 14 public school districts served 72,166 students in the 2005-2006 school year and another 6,473 students attended private schools. Students in the Spokane and Cheney school districts exceeded the national and state averages for verbal and math scores on the scholastic aptitude testm while students in the mead and west valley districts met or exceeded both state and national standards in math only. The state average scores exceeded the federal average scores. The Spokane - Coeur d' Alene area is served by 14 colleges and universities, including public and private four year schools, junior colleges and institutions that offer courses at Fairchild Air Force Base, Community Colleges of Spokane's campuses had fall 2006 enrollment of about 11,900 full time equivelant students.
Notable facts about Spokane Just ranked as number 20 in the nation by Forbes magazine as one of the top areas to live and do business. 2005 ranking was 114 on the list! The air is clean, the commute is small, the cost of a home is reasonable, the recreation is abundant. Spokane is currently seeing a large influx of in migration to the area, surrounded by lakes, trees, and majestic views, Spokane has been noticed. Recently the Host City to the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, boasting the Largest Wifi Hot Zone, Ranked 2nd most friendly of Large Cities and 1 of 7 of the Most Intelligent Communities in the U.S.

Want to know more about the 2006-2007 market... call 509-344-1280 the Spokane Journal of Business and ask for the 2006 Market fact book for 3.95