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Airway Heights, Washington facts for kids

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Airway Heights, Washington
Welcome to Airway Heights sign on U.S. Route 2
Welcome to Airway Heights sign on U.S. Route 2
Flag of Airway Heights, Washington
Flag
Location of Airway Heights, Washington
Location of Airway Heights, Washington
Country United States
State Washington
County Spokane
Government
 • Type Council–manager
Area
 • Total 6.01 sq mi (15.57 km2)
 • Land 6.01 sq mi (15.57 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
2,398 ft (731 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 10,757
 • Density 1,789.9/sq mi (691.1/km2)
Time zone UTC−8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP code
99001
Area code 509
FIPS code 53-00905
GNIS feature ID 1511953

Airway Heights is a city in Spokane County, Washington, United States, just west of Spokane. It is part of the Spokane metropolitan area and had a population of 10,757 at the 2020 census. The city's name was taken from its close proximity to the runways at Fairchild Air Force Base and Spokane International Airport.

History

Airway Heights was founded in 1942 and officially incorporated on June 28, 1955.

Growth in the city was spurred by the opening of the Airway Heights Corrections Center by the Washington State Department of Corrections in 1992 and the opening of the Northern Quest Resort & Casino by the Kalispel Indian Tribe in 2000. In the decades since, Airway Heights has seen the addition of new retailers, several new apartment buildings and housing developments, the expansion of the Northern Quest Casino, and the opening of the Spokane Tribe Casino.

Geography

Deno Road, Spokane County, WA, USA
A rural scene north of Airway Heights looking east

Airway Heights is located at 47°38′37″N 117°35′11″W / 47.64361°N 117.58639°W / 47.64361; -117.58639 (47.643648, -117.586491). Downtown Spokane is located eight miles by road east of Airway Heights. In 2012, the City of Spokane incorporated the Spokane International Airport and surrounding area, since which the city Spokane has bordered the city of Airway Heights to the east and south.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.63 square miles (14.58 km2), all of it land.

The community lies in the northeastern corner of the flat Columbia Plateau. While the plateau tends to be flat, the terrain locally is quite rugged as it is part of the Channeled Scablands. The "heights" in the city's name references its location at a higher elevation than the city center of Spokane. Traveling into Airway Heights along U.S. Route 2, the main road into the city, from Downtown Spokane, one will climb over 500 feet.

Climate

Climate data for Airway Heights, Washington (Spokane Int'l), 1981–2010 normals
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 62
(17)
63
(17)
74
(23)
90
(32)
97
(36)
105
(41)
108
(42)
108
(42)
98
(37)
87
(31)
70
(21)
60
(16)
108
(42)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 34.4
(1.3)
39.6
(4.2)
48.9
(9.4)
57.2
(14.0)
66.4
(19.1)
73.8
(23.2)
83
(28.3)
83
(28.3)
72.9
(22.7)
58.0
(14.4)
41.6
(5.3)
32.2
(0.1)
57.6
(14.2)
Daily mean °F (°C) 29.55
(−1.36)
33
(1)
40.25
(4.58)
47
(8)
55.1
(12.8)
62.1
(16.7)
69.65
(20.92)
69.4
(20.8)
60.3
(15.7)
47.6
(8.7)
35.7
(2.1)
27.35
(−2.58)
48.08
(8.95)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 24.7
(−4.1)
26.4
(−3.1)
31.6
(−0.2)
36.8
(2.7)
43.8
(6.6)
50.4
(10.2)
56.3
(13.5)
55.8
(13.2)
47.4
(8.6)
37.2
(2.9)
29.8
(−1.2)
22.5
(−5.3)
38.6
(3.7)
Record low °F (°C) −30
(−34)
−24
(−31)
−10
(−23)
14
(−10)
24
(−4)
33
(1)
37
(3)
35
(2)
22
(−6)
7
(−14)
−21
(−29)
−25
(−32)
−30
(−34)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.79
(45)
1.33
(34)
1.61
(41)
1.28
(33)
1.62
(41)
1.25
(32)
0.64
(16)
0.59
(15)
0.67
(17)
1.18
(30)
2.30
(58)
2.29
(58)
16.55
(420)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 12.0
(30)
7.2
(18)
3.7
(9.4)
1.0
(2.5)
0.1
(0.25)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0.1
(0.25)
7.2
(18)
14.9
(38)
46.2
(117)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 13.4 10.4 11.6 10.1 10.2 7.9 5.0 3.8 5.1 7.8 13.7 13.2 112.2
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 8.9 5.1 4.1 1.1 0.3 0 0 0 0 0.2 4.7 9.8 34.2
Average relative humidity (%) 62.0 81.5 75.0 66.5 60.5 58.0 50.5 45.5 49.0 57.0 68.0 81.5 80.5
Percent possible sunshine 28 41 55 61 65 67 80 78 72 55 29 23 55
Source: NOAA (extremes 1881–present, percent sunshine through 2009)

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1960 708
1970 744 5.1%
1980 1,730 132.5%
1990 1,971 13.9%
2000 4,500 128.3%
2010 6,114 35.9%
2020 10,757 75.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

At the 2020 census there were 10,757 people in 2,371 households in the city.

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 6,114 people in 1,547 households, including 1,035 families, in the city. The population density was 1,086.0 inhabitants per square mile (419.3/km2). There were 1,727 housing units at an average density of 306.7 per square mile (118.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 78.5% White, 7.2% African American, 3.7% Native American, 3.5% Asian, 0.9% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 4.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 8.3%.

Of the 1,547 households, 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.1% were non-families. 25.1% of households were one person and 5.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.01.

The median age was 34.6 years. 17.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 11.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 40.9% were from 25 to 44; 25.2% were from 45 to 64; and 5.6% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 67.7% male and 32.3% female.

Education

The majority of the city is within the Cheney School District (No. 360). The northeastern portion is in the Great Northern School District (No. 312), grades K–6.

Airway Heights joined the Spokane County Library District in 2023 following a referendum of city residents. The city had already contracted with the library district to operate a branch in Airway Heights.

Healthcare

The closest hospital to the city is Deaconess Medical Center, located in Downtown Spokane. Healthcare services located in the city itself include the Airway Heights Dental Center, West Plains Chiropractor, and APEX Physical Therapy.

Transportation

U.S. Route 2 is the main east-west thoroughfare in the city, which lacks a traditional downtown area. A new street to serve as a local connector and alternative to the highway is planned for construction. U.S. Route 2 connects Airway Heights with Fairchild to the west and Spokane to the east. Interstate 90 runs just a few miles south of the city.

Public transportation is managed by the Spokane Transit Authority. Bus route 61, which serves Airway Heights, begins at the transit authority's main hub in Downtown Spokane, and extends to Fairchild Air Force Base.

Recreation

Spokane Tribe Casino, Interstate 90, Airway Heights, Washington (50082800928)
Spokane Tribe Casino is one of two casino hotels in the city

Spokane County Raceway is one of the largest racetracks in the Inland Northwest. It offers oval track racing, drag racing, and road course racing.

See also

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