Location Fairchild Air Force Base is in the eastern part of Washington state, in Spokane County. The base is 12 miles west of Spokane, 279 miles east of Seattle and 45 miles west of Coeur D’Alene, Idaho. The closest communities to the base are Airway Heights, Cheney and Medical

  Near the eastern border of Washington, Spokane County is 18 miles west of the Idaho border and 110 miles south of the Canadian border. Adjacent counties include Whitman County to the south, Lincoln County to the west, and Stevens and Pend Oreille counties to the north. The largest city

  The business and cultural hub of the Inland Northwest, Spokane County is well-connected within the state and the rest of the United States. Major roadways include Interstate 90; U.S. routes 2, 195 and 395; and state routes 27, 206, 290, 291, 902 and 904. The new North Spokane Corridor

  An outdoor lover’s paradise, the county of Spokane offers beautiful scenic views and numerous recreational opportunities to its residents. From the bustling, metropolitan city of Spokane to the small-town feel of the charming city of Cheney, Spokane County’s communities are diverse. In 2015, an estimated 490,000 people called the

  Eastern Washington’s population and economic center is Spokane County. Spokane’s economy survived the Great Recession and emerged more diversified. Spokane’s recovery is being led by five industries: advanced manufacturing, health services, finance/insurance, transportation/warehousing and education. Without the advantage of mega employers, these five industries have medium-sized employers that are

  There are many health care services in Spokane County for military, civilians and veterans, though implementation of the Affordable Care Act has changed established insurance options. Visit www.healthcare.gov for information on open enrollment for health care coverage under the national Affordable Care Act. Washington health plans are detailed at

  Picking up from one place and moving to another is always a hassle, especially when kids and pets are involved. Knowing whom to call or where to find information can help make the transition easier. Local government websites are valuable resources for newcomers to Spokane County because they provide

  For those moving to a new location, it’s important to know what educational options are available. This chapter outlines the public schools system in Spokane County, along with information about local libraries and higher education. There are private schools, charter schools and home schooling available to children in the

  Music, sports, theater, museums, parks and shopping — Spokane County has it all. Hand-feed a tiger at Cat Tales, or shred the slopes at Mount Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park. Be sure to catch the Spokane Lilac Festival’s Armed Forces Torchlight Parade, and thank a member of the military

Story by A1C Mackenzie Richardson on 10/06/2016 "Fairchild Airmen volunteers have a lot of skills and experiences we don't typically see in our civilian volunteers," said Lt. Brett Anderson, Spokane County Fire District 10 fire prevention specialist. "They understand chain of command, the importance of physical conditioning and the value

Story by A1C Mackenzie Richardson on 10/06/2016 Bellevue University is a private, regionally accredited, non-profit school nationally recognized as a military-friendly institution. Col. Ryan Samuelson, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, was joined by Dr. Mary Hawkins, Bellevue University president, during the ribbon cutting. "We were started by a war hero