Our Community
Kennewick, Washington encompasses the southwest bank of the Columbia River in beautiful Benton County. Incorporated on February 5, 1904, the community tried out many names before settling on “Kennewick”. The name derives from a local native word meaning “grassy place”.
Although the county seat is Prosser, Kennewick remains the largest city in Benton County and the largest city in the Tri-Cities MSA. 2000 Census showed Kennewick population as 54,643 ; however, more recent estimates indicate that the population now exceeds 60,000. The other locations comprising the Tri-Cities MSA are Pasco and Richland.
The progressive community of Kennewick claims 24 square miles of WA’s prestigious wine producing region. While Benton County has always been a primarily agricultural region, the past two decades reshaped the local economy with the upsurge in viticulture. Badger Mountain Vineyard and Powers Winery are among the many prominent wineries and tasting rooms found in Kennewick. This dynamic community, known as a winter paradise for its mild winters, teems with cultural and recreational opportunities. Local sites of interest include the Columbia Center Mall, Toyota Center, and the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. Kennewick hosts the Arena Football League’s Tri-Cities Fever and the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League, both held in the Toyota Center.
Kennewick is home to Columbia Park East, where 100 acres of parkland along the scenic Columbia River affords outdoor enthusiasts exciting scenery and a refreshing climate. The Park includes an aquatic water park, boat launch, family fishing pond, horseshoe pits, and the Playground of Dreams. In addition, the Park hosts several community events throughout the year. These include arts and crafts shows, concerts, festivals, runs, trade shows, and hydroplane races.
On July 28, 1996 two men attending the hydroplane races along the Columbia River found the skeletal remains of a prehistoric man. The remains, later named “Kennewick Man”, became the center of a great local controversy over ownership. Five native tribes in the area claimed Kennewick Man; however, in February 2004, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that because a cultural link between the tribes was not clear, the 9,200 year old remains would go to scientists for further study.
Kennewick residents enjoy an excellent quality of life, with affordable housing and a reasonable cost of living. Students have modern public schools with outstanding reputations as well as a small selection of private schools from which to choose. Kennewick is also home to the Tri-Tech Skills Center. The City of Kennewick and several other local school districts work together to operate this vocational school. The Kennewick Senior Center, boasts a multi-purpose facility with myriad activities and services available to residents over the age of fifty.
Kennewick, Washington features a Pacific Northwest diverse community where notable residents have included Ray Mansfield and Damon Lusk.
