Spokane is the commercial and cultural hub of a large area known as the "Inland Empire" or the "Inland Northwest," a rich agricultural region. The picturesque beauty of its surroundings makes the city an attractive vacation spot, and population and economic growth have brought many metropolitan amenities to the once quiet, out-of-the-way town. Although the city suffered some decline during the late 1980s and early 1990s, Spokane has undergone an impressive $1 billion urban renaissance and, through its many development projects, has ensured its status as a hub of economic, recreation, and culture in the Pacific Northwest.