The largest of the three cities that comprise the Tri-cities in the Columbia Basin, Kennewick, with a population of around 60,000, is a clean, crime-free city with a marvelous climate and a beautiful setting on the banks of the mighty Columbia River. Listed number four in a World Trade Magazine list of the nation’s top cities, Kennewick and the Tri-cities offer terrific outdoor sports and recreation, a vibrant cultural and artistic scene, and the best of small-town values, yet are less than half a day’s drive from major centers like Seattle and Portland
Location
Kennewick is located in Benton County, southeastern Washington on the southwest bank of the Columbia River opposite Pasco, near its confluence with the Yakima River.
Kennewick is 10 miles from Richland, 70 miles from Yakima, and 130 miles from Spokane.
Geography
Kennewick is part of the Tri-cities area and is situated at less than 400 feet above sea level on the banks of the Columbia River. Where it is not irrigated for agriculture or horticulture the surrounding country is a semi-arid, shrub-steppe environment.
Jobs
Agriculture, technology and the government are the foundation of Kennewick’s thriving economy. The Washington Public Power Supply System and major private sector employers including Westinghouse, Boeing, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Lamb Weston, ICF Kaiser, Iowa Beef Processing, draw on the area’s highly educated and skilled workforce. The area has also become a regional retail hub in recent years and this sector offers many job opportunities, as does the developing tourism industry.
Housing
Kennewick is benefiting from the popularity and economic development of the tri-cities area and offers a wide range of affordable housing. There are several neighborhoods offering new construction homes at an average price of around $240,000, beautiful river-view neighborhoods, and rejuvenated downtown neighborhoods. Other types of housing available include golf course communities, multi-family, planned communities, and country living. The current average sale price of a pre-owned home is $162,000.
In Kennewick most homes were built either before 1970 or after 1990. This is because the Washington Public Power Supply (WPPS) stopped construction of three nuclear plants on the Hanford Reservation in 1979 and the employee basis dropped by 28,000 practically overnight. The area suffered a severe depression for the following 10 years and few houses were built during this time.
Recreation
Kennewick’s location near the confluence of the Yakima and Columbia Rivers has produced an unequalled aquatic playground, offering power and pleasure boating, wakeboarding, swimming, windsurfing, and terrific fishing. For upland game hunters, the surrounding country holds pheasants, chukor, quail and doves.
The city has several beautiful parks and recreation areas, including the 400 acre Columbia Park, with 4.5 miles of shoreline the Columbia River, in the heart of the city. This park makes good use of trees and open areas to provide wonderful spots for family picnics and ball sports as well as amenities such as a Playground of Dream, juvenile fishing pond, Aquatic Splash playground, several boat launches, ropes course, Audubon Natural Area, and barbeque facilities. Just outside the city the 22 mile Sacagawea Heritage Trail is excellent for mountain biking, roller-blading, walking, or jogging and offers thrilling views of the multitude of birds that inhabit the Columbia Basin.
The marvelous climate of the Kennewick area makes golfing one of the city’s most popular forms of recreation. With seven beautiful courses and two championship putting courses to choose from, there is a challenge for the most experienced golfer as well as the beginner. Rated by the PGA in the top 10 public golf courses in the Northwest, Canyon Lakes is the premier course in the Tri-cities area and is notable for having, among other assets, the largest green in the Pacific North-West, and GPS on all its golf carts.
The Tri-City Country Club is an excellent place to take the family and enjoy a round of golf. This family-oriented facility features an outstanding 18 hole golf course which is open to the public, excellent dining and lounge facilities, a swimming pool, tennis court, and workout facilities.
Special Attractions/Events
Kennewick’s attractions naturally center on the rivers. Jet-boat tours of the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River, the last free-flowing stretch of the river within the United States, pass the majestic White Bluffs, remnants of old town sites, and derelict nuclear reactors previously associated with the Manhattan Project of the 1940’s and 50’s. They also allow wonderful views of the wildlife in areas quite inaccessible by road. Coyotes, beavers, porcupines and mule deer can often be seen on the river banks, and huge white pelicans, herons, and other water birds on the river.
Next to the Mid-Columbia Library in Kennewick, Highlands Grange Park is a 26 acre groomed park that features the Master Gardener's Demonstration Garden. From spring to fall this lovely area is a blaze of color with 21 different gardens, including a rose garden containing 500 roses, vegetable garden, and a host of special flower gardens. Wide paved paths, decorative arches, and secluded areas with benches offer delightful views of this special setting.
One of Kennewick’s biggest annual events is the Benton Franklin Fair and Rodeo, which celebrated its 57th year in 2005 with over 125,000 people attending. With world-class rock and country artists performing, a massive parade, all kinds of events for children, and a staggering 500 rodeo contestants, this is one of the biggest events of its kind in the Pacific North-West.
Interesting Facts/Historic Buildings and Places
The name "Kennewick" is believed to be derived from a native word meaning "grassy place”, but it has been also translated as "winter paradise," in reference to the area’s mild winters. Its first known inhabitants, the Chemnapum Indians, were attracted to the area for the climate and the good hunting, plentiful fish, and lush pastures for their horses.
Kennewick and its neighboring cities became centers of attention during World War Two when nuclear reactors associated with the Manhattan Project were developed there. The city’s fortunes were severely affected in the late 1970’s when work on the construction of three huge nuclear power plants was halted, leaving 28,000 workers unemployed and leading to ten years of economic stagnation. For this reason homes in Kennewick were built either before 1970 or after 1990 (when the city’s fortunes picked up again).
More recently the city has been made famous by the so-called “Kennewick Man”, whose 9300 year-old remains were discovered in the Columbia River in 1996. The discovery offered new information and raised many questions on the origins of America’s indigenous people, and led to long-running court battles over the ownership of such remains and controversy over whether scientists should be allowed to study them or they should be returned for proper burial to those who claim them as ancestors.
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