SR: Spokane-Kootenai In It Together

Trumpets sounding fanfares might be over the top for anything as wonkish as a “combined statistical area,” but Spokane and Kootenai counties’ new status in the eyes of the federal government deserves at least a respectful mention. With a combined population of 609,715, according to the 2010 Census, the bordering counties will rank in the top 65 such areas in the country once the designation is formally implemented, probably in 2013. To businesses looking for locations with a certain population mass, that joint identity can be an attention-getting device that neither county could match individually/ Spokesman-Review Editorial Board . More here.

Question: In the past, Kootenai County has had the attitude that it didn’t want to have anything to do with Spokane County. Do you think that attitude prevails today? Do you consider a “combined statistical area” to be a good thing?