History of Airway Heights

Airway Heights celebrated its 50-year history June 14, 2005 and has Carl M. and Flora K. Lundstrom to thank for early city-building. The Lundstroms were the first to plat the land, donate parcels for initial city building and worked towards incorporation in 1955. Carl M. and Flora K. Lundstrom had worked in real estate in Seattle and Electric City in the early 1940’s and owned Rocket Investment Company. Discussions with officials at Galena Air Depot (which later became Fairchild Air Force Base) showed the need for local housing.

In the spring of 1942, installation of the electric and water systems in Airway Heights began and parcels of land were sold off to build houses. The Lundstroms built the first home at the corner of Lundstrom Street and 13th Ave.

Later that year, Fritz Ziegler and his wife became the first residents. Their son, Les was the first baby born in Airway Heights. Development was slow due to the availability of building materials and financing, and met with occasional opposition.

In August of 1946, the Lundstroms filed plats for the Airway Heights First and Second addition. Streets were then named for town residents. In 1957, the Third Addition to Airway Heights was platted.

In 1948, the first post office opened with Mollie Mitchell as the inaugural postmistress, a position she held till 1969. In 1946, the Loffler Family built the Airway Heights Motel – the first in town.

The Lundstroms donated parcels of land over time to help build the community – land for the first Sunset School in 1951, the Airway Community Church in 1954, town hall in 1957, and the fire department building in 1963. The first Sunset School was east of town and is now an apartment building. Church, community gatherings and dances were all held at the old school. The volunteer fire department was organized in 1963 and the building housed the fire truck.

On April 15, 1955, after paying a $5 incorporation fee, and receiving a positive 50-8 vote, one square mile was incorporated as the City of Airway Heights, with 412 residents. The intersection of Lundstrom and 14th was the original town center for house numbering which was laid out by the Spokane County Planning Commission who issued all building permits until incorporation.

Carl Lundstrom ran unopposed as the first mayor and held office for seven years. Flora Lundstrom served on city council for seven years and assisted with operations around City hall. Council meetings were held at the Sunset School and later a house on Lundstrom Street. In 1956, local residents voted to purchase the water system from August Timm to operate the town utility. In 1973 the 135 foot water tower was built, and in 1991, the state department of corrections chose Airway Heights for a minimum and medium security prison.

The City celebrated its 50 year history June 14, 2005 and placed a flag pole monument and time capsule at Sunset Park.

In January 2012, Airway Heights welcomed a new annexation area to the City.  The annexation area included the properties east of Hayford Road, west of Deer Heights Road, north of McFarlane Road and south of 6th Avenue.  The annexation grew the City to over 6,100 residents (over 8,300 including the Department of Corrections population).  It was another exciting step forward to becoming a community working together to ensure our city is a great place to live, work and play.