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Elevation

Elevation of Spokane

1,870ft

above sea level · 570 m

Spokane is a city in Washington with 230,783 people, the 2nd most populous in the state. Of the 249 US cities with 100,000 to 250,000 people, it’s the 31st highest.

By the Mapsfera Team

Elevation profile

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Place facts

Coordinates
47.66° N · 117.43° W
In degrees, minutes and seconds: 47° 39′ 32″ N · 117° 25′ 34″ W
UTM coordinates
11T · 468,010 E · 5,278,464 N
Zone 11 · NAD83, the official US datum
County
Spokane County
Where the city’s reference point falls
State
Washington
WA · capital: Olympia
Time zone
Pacific Time
UTC−8 · UTC−7 in summer (daylight saving time)
Population (2025)
230,783 people
68.8 sq mi of land · 3,356 people/sq mi
Elevation model
USGS 3DEP, 1 m grid
Lidar from July 2022: the ground height at the city’s reference point.

Population

Spokane had 230,783 residents on July 1, 2025, according to Census Bureau estimates, 0.8% more than in April 2020, when it had 228,965. Its 68.8 sq mi of land work out to 3,356 people/sq mi; the state average is 120 people/sq mi.

It’s the 2nd most populous of the 639 places the Census counts in Washington (cities, towns and CDPs), after Seattle (784,777), and holds 2.9% of the state’s population.

It lies entirely within Spokane County. Its reference point in the USGS gazetteer is 0.7 mi from the geographic center the Census gives for the city.

Compared with US cities of 100,000 to 250,000

Spokane sits at 1,870 ft (570 m) above sea level. Of the 249 US cities with 100,000 to 250,000 people, the highest is Lakewood (5,520 ft) and the lowest is Fort Lauderdale (3 ft). The average is 862 ft: Spokane is 1,008 ft above it.

The state capital, Olympia, is 260 mi away in a straight line and 1,774 ft lower than Spokane.

The nearest city with more than 250,000 people is Seattle, 228 mi away in a straight line and 1,697 ft lower.

Of the 10 cities in Washington with a page, Spokane is the 2nd highest: the highest is Spokane Valley (2,013 ft) and the lowest is Kent (43 ft).

The highest point in Washington is Mount Rainier, at 14,411 ft according to the USGS: 12,541 ft above Spokane, 211 mi away in a straight line.

  1. 29 Lancaster 2,352 ft
  2. 30 Spokane Valley 2,013 ft
  3. 31 Spokane 1,870 ft
  4. 32 San Angelo 1,843 ft
  5. 33 Abilene 1,705 ft

Each color band is 500 m (1,640 ft), the same colors as the map. See the full list

Nearest cities with a page

Tools for this place

Elevation profile Draw a route from Spokane and see how much it climbs and drops. Elevation of a point Compare the elevation of Spokane with any other point on the map. Map of Spokane County The county on the map with all its cities and towns, ready to print or download. Time zone The time right now in Spokane and its clock changes. What county am I in? See which county, city and ZIP code you’re in, from your location. Blank map of Washington counties Print it blank, with names or to color in.

Step-by-step guide How to find the elevation of any place

Frequently asked questions

What people most often ask about the elevation of Spokane.

What is the elevation of Spokane?

Spokane is 1,870 feet (570 m) above sea level. That’s the ground height from the USGS 3DEP elevation model at the city’s reference point in the official gazetteer (GNIS). The city doesn’t have a single elevation: it rises and falls from one neighborhood to another.

What are the coordinates of Spokane?

Latitude 47.65878 and longitude -117.42605, in decimal degrees (47° 39′ 32″ N · 117° 25′ 34″ W). In UTM, zone 11: 468,010 E and 5,278,464 N, on NAD83.

How does Spokane rank among the highest US cities of its size?

It’s the 31st highest of the 249 US cities with 100,000 to 250,000 people. The highest is Lakewood (5,520 ft) and the lowest is Fort Lauderdale (3 ft).

What county is Spokane in?

Spokane County, Washington.

Which is higher, Spokane or Olympia?

Spokane. Spokane sits at 1,870 ft and Olympia at 96 ft: a difference of 1,774 ft, 260 mi apart in a straight line.

How is elevation measured?

Elevation is the height above mean sea level. In the US the official reference is the NAVD88 vertical datum. Summits are surveyed on the ground, with leveling and precise GPS. The USGS 3DEP is an elevation model of the whole country, largely from 1-meter lidar: it gives the ground height at every point. That’s why it can differ by a few feet from the official figure of a sharp summit.

Sources

  • USGS 3DEP (EPQS service) The elevation: the ground height at the reference point. Public domain.
  • USGS GNIS (official gazetteer) The city’s reference point (“Populated Place”). Public domain.
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 estimates Population, land area (2025 Gazetteer) and counties. Public domain.
  • TIGERweb (U.S. Census Bureau) Which county and city the point falls in. Public domain.
  • timezone-boundary-builder The point’s time zone (ODbL, © OpenStreetMap contributors).
  • Terrain Tiles, OpenStreetMap and OpenFreeMap The relief shading and the base map (ODbL).

Methodology and sources · Spotted a mistake? Let us know