The Great Divide Separating Stereotypical Wheat From Chaff

They’re wet, we’re dry. They’re liberal, we’re conservative. They’re trendy, we’re traditional. The differences between Washington’s two largest cities go far beyond these stereotypes.

Seattle and Spokane are 280 miles and a world apart. Last spring, The Spokesman-Review asked three reporters, a photographer and our cartoonist to see just how different these worlds really are - economically, politically and culturally.

Consider:

People tend to make more money in Seattle. But the notion that our lower cost of living makes up for it is a myth.

People in Seattle seem to feel less compelled to make small talk on elevators than we do.

In Spokane, local government employees give more to United Way than do their King County colleagues.

Politicians on either side of the Cascades measure success differently: On the West Side, it’s capturing state dollars. Over here, it’s keeping a lid on government spending.

To see how the Lilac City stacks up with the Emerald City, turn to special section H. It’s the first part of four days spent exploring The Great Divide.

See section H

, DataTimes