Company town turned historic neighborhood, West Valley
Millwood was built on paper. Constructed by the Inland Empire Paper Company in 1911, the area’s paper mill was the industrial hub of the Spokane Valley; it had a constant water source with the Spokane River and employed hundreds of people. The company employed so many people, in fact, that they bought up land around the mill and sold it to their employees at a discount. They also lent funds to these employees to build their own homes, and about 70 such properties were constructed between the 1920s and '40s. As the community grew, the company built restaurants, hotels, barbershops and a baseball field. Musically inclined workers even formed the Paper Makers Band.
The paper mill is still in operation today, but some things have changed. Those company-built homes and businesses now make up the Millwood Historic District, and trees have matured into neighborhood hallmarks. “Millwood was the first incorporated town in the Valley, so it’s known for the big, gorgeous trees that line the street,” says Cambria Henry, owner and managing broker at Haven Real Estate. She’s sold homes since the 2010s, and she was born and raised in Spokane. “You have the feel of South Hill, a wooded neighborhood closer to downtown, but Millwood is right here in the Valley.” This natural element is also a highlight for Dana Pendergrass of Designed Real Estate, who’s lived in the area since the 1990s and has sold homes since the 2000s. “The trees are beautiful with all the colors in the fall,” she says. “You also get some wildlife on the Spokane River, and the Centennial Trail follows the water. It beats other parts of the Valley in my opinion.”
No two homes alike in the Millwood Historic District
Inland Empire provided architectural pattern books for their employees, but homes nearest the Millwood Historic District are far from cookie cutter. Because properties were custom built between the 1920s and ‘40s, styles can be anything from American colonial to English Tudor. One home, the Rosebush House, has French eclectic architecture and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Some properties are on the Millwood Register of Historic Places, a local register different from the national one, and the Millwood Historic Preservation Commission has to approve renovations. Despite their architectural and historical differences, many homes in this area are Craftsman bungalows with pillared front porches. Small homes start at $225,000, while homes with triple the size can reach $800,000. However, ranch-style homes outside of the historic district were usually built in the 1950s and ‘70s. Smaller properties start at $265,000, while bigger ones can go to $485,000. Newer homes from the 2000s and 2020s are in this range, too, but they’re rarer.
The city of Millwood
All homes have access to Millwood’s water system, built by Inland Empire in the 1920s. This system is separate from the city of Spokane Valley. This is because Millwood, while incorporated into the Valley, is considered a noncharter code city. As a result, the area has its own local government with a mayor and council, and some rules and maintenance efforts are unique to the area. Homeowners have to test their pipes for backflow every year, for instance, and the city collects leaves from yards in the fall.
Argonne Road restaurants and shops
Argonne Road is Millwood’s commercial district, and it’s central in the neighborhood. Corner Door Fountain & Books, built in 1925 as the company pharmacy, has everything from ice cream to literature. The Masonic Temple Building & Bank was built two years later, and it’s now a rentable event space. Rocket Bakery came later in 1992, so it’s not on the Millwood Register of Historic Places. However, this building is the chain’s original and most popular location. This small space packs with patrons in the mornings, and sometimes it’s difficult to find a table. Joe’s House is a short walk south, and it’s another bite-sized restaurant. “It’s this tiny little bar and grill with six or seven tables,” says Henry, “but it’s got the best Mexican pizza you’ve ever had. Joe is a great guy, too, and you can tell he enjoys what he cooks.” More restaurant options are outside of the historic district, farther south on Argonne. Also in this area, Yoke’s Fresh Market has groceries, and The General Store specializes in hardware and sporting goods. The Spokane Valley Mall is about 5 miles east of the neighborhood.
Biking along the Spokane River, hiking in the Selkirk Mountains
The Spokane River flows along the neighborhood’s northern side; it’s a major recreation space for Millwood and Spokane as a whole. Residents can kayak and fish, but with the Centennial Trail along the water, walking and biking are the most common activities. This trail starts in downtown Spokane and goes east through Millwood. About 65 miles in total, it continues all the way to Couer d’Alene, an Idaho town and lake of the same name. The path also connects Millwood to riverside spaces such as Boulder Beach, Camp Sekani Park and John C. Shields Park. A half-mile south of the water, Millwood Park is the most central park in the neighborhood since it’s walkable from the Argonne Road commercial district. This green space is popular for picnics and barbecues, and its tennis and basketball courts can get crowded in summer. A multiuse field houses the Millwood Water Tower, decorated in West Valley High’s black and orange, and hosts the Millwood Farmers Market from May to October.
For something with more open space, the Selkirk Mountains are northeast of the neighborhood. Their foothills are visible from most homes, and they house apple orchards and other farms. However, big peaks and alpine lakes are a short drive northeast. Antoine Peak Conservation Area is about 10 miles from Millwood, and Newman Lake is about 15 miles. Mount Spokane State Park is the largest state park in Washington with over 12,400 acres, and it’s roughly 20 miles from the neighborhood.
High ratings for West Valley School District
Students north of Trent Avenue likely attend Orchard Center Elementary, rated a B-minus by Niche. South of Trent, Seth Woodard Elementary gets the same score, and its Student Parent Interactive Classroom Environment is available to all grade levels. In this program, students and their families provide 45 volunteer hours, participate in fundraising events and attend monthly meetings. Centennial Middle receives another B-minus, and West Valley High scores a B-plus.
Argonne gateway, trains on Trent and Euclid
Millwood is a small, walkable neighborhood, but most people drive around the wider area. “Living in Spokane is all about access, and Millwood is in the heart of the Valley,” says Pendergrass. “With Argonne right here, you can easily drive north out of the city or go south to shopping.” Trent Avenue goes along the neighborhood’s south side, and it leads a few miles west to Spokane’s industrial area. Freight trains operate along this road and Euclid Avenue, a thoroughfare closer to the historic district. Noise is noticeable throughout the day. The paper mill is also in this area, and it can sometimes emit a sulfurous smell. This is common with many industrial processes, though. Interstate 90 runs along the neighborhood’s south side, so downtown Spokane is only a 10-mile drive west.
Photography Contributed By
Brandon Wong
