Our Community
Richland, Washington nestles in the fertile joining of the Columbia and Yakima rivers. Located in Benton County, Richland, along with Pasco and Kennewick, make up the massive Tri-Cities MSA. Richland began as a pastoral farming community with less than 1,500 residents; the 2000 Census showed a population of 38,708.
In 1943, the U.S. Government chose the Hanford Site for the nation’s first nuclear reactor, which resulted in a significant increase in Richland’s population. While the Hanford Site maintains an important role in the economy of the Tri-Cities, numerous affiliated sites are preserved for historical interests.
During World War II and the Cold War, Richland built special housing to accommodate the surging population at the Hanford Site. A letter of the alphabet designated the distinct design differences of each group of apartments, dormitories, duplexes, or houses. Today, visitors are welcome to contact the Columbia River Exhibition of History, Science and Technology for tours.
Education plays an important role in Richland. Students have excellent public and private school options at the primary and secondary grade levels, with outstanding higher learning within easy reach. Columbia Basin College, whose flagship campus is in nearby Pasco, has a small facility in Richland. Richland also houses the Tri-Cities campus of Washington State University.
Richland has a thriving nuclear and technology based economy, represented by companies such as Lockheed Martin Services and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Richland's prime agricultural location, in the heart of the Columbia Basin, drives a strong agricultural industry, where wine grapes play the primary role. Barnard Griffin Winery, Bookwalter Winery, and Tagaris Winery are all located in Richland. There are 22 wineries within a 15-minute drive and 100 within an hour’s drive of Richland.
Outdoor recreation in this exceptional Pacific Northwest climate includes three golf courses designed for every skill level, while seven additional courses lie within a reasonable driving distance; several public parks, many of which are on the banks of the Columbia and Yakima rivers, afford boating, fishing, kayaking and waterskiing. Other sites of interest include Badger Mountain Centennial Preserve, where visitors enjoy exquisite views of Red and Rattlesnake mountains, and Hanford Reach. The Hanford Reach marks the last freely flowing portion of the Columbia River and recently earned the designation of National Monument status.
In winter, Richland, Washington visitors are within one or two hours of several popular snow skiing destinations. Sports enthusiasts also have three professional teams in the immediate area. These include the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League, the Tri-City Dust Devils who enjoy affiliation with the Colorado Rockies, and Tri-Cities Fever, an indoor football team.
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