Unlike those two, however, Nine Mile Falls is not part of the contiguous built up urban and suburban area surrounding Spokane.

The west side is home to a park, fire station, restaurant and elementary school.

[5] The Spokane River turns from a northwestern direction to a western path just downstream of Nine Mile Falls, as it navigates around the southern foothills of the Selkirk Mountains.

Europeans have had a constant presence in the Nine Mile area since the Spokane House was established at the confluence of the two rivers in 1810.

A village was built at the site of Nine Mile Falls to provide housing for dam workers and their families.

The historic areas of the hydroelectric complex are jointly managed by Avista Utilities, which operates the dam and power generation, and Riverside State Park.