Spokane Valley, Washington

Spokane Valley, Washington is a great place to work, live and enjoy life. Trunkenbolz | Rohr PLLC has been representing people in the Spokane Valley since 1985 when Jerry L. Trunkenbolz opened his practice.

Since that time we have helped serve thousands of clients. Of course in 1985 the area now known as the Spokane Valley was outside of the Spokane city limits and was (and remains) within Spokane County.

Many people who live in Spokane Valley prefer to hire professionals in this area. Highly skilled professionals, convenient locations and free, easy access to parking are just a few of the reasons our friends and neighbors prefer to stay in the Spokane Valley.

A short history of the Spokane Valley

The city of Spokane Valley was incorporated on March 31, 2003. As of the U.S. 2010 census, Spokane Valley had a population of 89,755. The city is located east of the city of Spokane and west of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Originally inhabited by Native Americans, fur traders came to the area in the 1780’s. The fur traders named the Native Americans Spokanes, which translates into ‘children of the sun.’ History shows that the Spokanes were peaceful people who co-existed with the fur traders and missionaries that settled in this area. However, the Spokanes joined what is called the Indian Rebellion of 1857, which ended in a battle where their horses, food and tepees were destroyed.

Antoine Plante, who built a small cabin near the Spokane River in 1849, was the first permanent white settler in the Spokane Valley. His settlement predated settlement in Spokane City.

Early pioneers came from the East by way of the Northern Pacific and Great Northern Railroad. Spokane became a major hub of five major railroads when the first transcontinental railroad was established in 1883.

In the Spokane Valley, irrigation was arguably the single biggest contribution to the population growth. The Spokane River, the aquifer and Liberty Lake turned 30,000 dry acres into fertile farm lands. Apple orchards sprang up and by 1911 the Spokane Valley Growers Union built a huge packing plant.

When crop and irrigation system failures plagued the Spokane Valley, many farmers sold off small 5 and 10 acre tracts and the suburbs began to spring up. Truck farms became popular and they raised and sold a variety of fruits and vegetables.

After the completion of the Grand Coulee Dam in 1941, electricity was cheap and water was more readily available. Industry began to replace farming. At one point the Spokane Valley had a paper mill, an aluminum plant and a cement plant. The cement plant closed in the 1950’s, but the paper mill and aluminum plant remain.

After World War II, the population pushed into the Spokane Valley. By the 1950’s tract housing replaced many of the remaining apple orchards. Retirees enjoyed the inexpensive housing, and retirement complexes along with apartments were built.

The Spokane Valley continues to become more urban, however at the present time it is a suburban community with strong commercial growth.

Jerry L. Trunkenbolz began his law practice in the Spokane Valley doing transactional law – helping people buy and sell homes, vacant land, commercial properties and developments. Soon these clients asked for estate planning, business advice and from time to time needed litigation support. These are the areas of practice to which the law firm remains committed.

Trunkenbolz | Rohr is located just outside of the Spokane Valley city boundary at 4127 S. Sullivan Road, Veradale, Washington. Early mornings and evenings we still have the pleasure of watching herds of deer graze on our lawn and in our pastures.

(509) 928-4100