Spokane became an important rail and
shipping center because of its location between mining and farming areas. In
the early 1880s, gold and silver were discovered in the Inland Empire; as a
regional shipping center, the city furnished supplies to the miners who passed
through on their way to mine in the Coeur d'Alene, Colville and Kootenay
districts. The area is considered to be one of the most productive mining
districts in North America.
Natural resources have historically been
the foundation of Spokane's economy, with the mining, logging, and
