Eastern Washington
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2010) |
| Eastern Washington | |
| Region | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Washington |
| Part of | Pacific Northwest |
| Borders on | British Columbia, Eastern Oregon, Idaho Panhandle, Cascade Range/Western Washington |
| Parts | Central Washington |
| Rivers | Columbia River, Snake River |
| Coordinates | 47°30′N 119°0′W / 47.5°N 119°W |
  |
|
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.
Contents |
[edit] Statehood
There have been sporadic movements to create a 51st state 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.
[edit] Geography
[edit] Nomenclature
Other terms used for Eastern Washington or large parts of it include:
- Columbia Basin
- Eastside or east side of the state[1][2][3]
- Inland Empire/Inland Northwest (also includes the Idaho Panhandle)
[edit] Cities
The following cities and towns in Eastern Washington have over 10,000 inhabitants.[4]
- Spokane (pop. 208,916)
- Yakima (pop. 91,067)
- Spokane Valley (pop. 89,755)
- Kennewick (pop. 73,917)
- Pasco (pop. 59,781)
- Richland (pop. 48,058)
- Wenatchee (pop. 31,925)
- Walla Walla (pop. 31,731)
- Pullman (pop. 29,799)
- Moses Lake (pop. 20,366)
- Ellensburg (pop. 18,174)
- Sunnyside (pop. 15,858)
- East Wenatchee (pop. 13,190)
- West Richland (pop. 11,811)
- Cheney (pop. 10,590)
[edit] National Parks and other protected areas
- Colville National Forest
- Idaho Panhandle National Forest (partial)
- Kaniksu National Forest (partial)
- Okanogan National Forest
- Umatilla National Forest (partial)
- Wenatchee National Forest
- Hanford Reach National Monument
[edit] Counties
Eastern Washington is composed of Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman, and Yakima Counties.
[edit] Population
Compared to Western Washington, 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.
[edit] Educational institutions
Eastern Washington hosts a number of world-renowned universities including three of the state's five public universities.
[edit] Public institutions
- Central Washington University
- Eastern Washington University
- Washington State University
- A number of local community colleges including:
[edit] Private institutions
[edit] Research institutions
[edit] Images
-
The Palouse Hills of southeastern Washington
-
Dry Falls in the semi-desert Channeled Scablands that dominate much of eastern Washington.
-
Truck transport in the wheat farming region of Eastern Washington
-
Apple orchards in Azwell, Washington surrounding a community of pickers' cabins
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ WSP Eastside Recruiter Returns to Face Recruitment Challenge, Washington State Patrol Government and Media Relations, September 8, 2010, http://www.wsp.wa.gov/information/releases/2010_archive/mr090810.htm, retrieved 2010-12-27
- ^ "Eastside steelheading enters last month". Bellingham Herald. March 4, 2010. http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/03/04/1323457/eastside-steelheading-enters-last.html. Retrieved 2010-12-27.
- ^ "Eastside Earthquakes Get Attention At Conference In Yakima". Oregon Public Broadcasting. October 17, 2007. http://news.opb.org/article/eastside-earthquakes-get-attention-conference-yakima. Retrieved 2010-12-27.
- ^ Population figures are the most recent figures contained in the respective Wikipedia articles, or in the List of cities in Washington.
