Richland, Washington

Richland, Washington is a city located in the southeastern part of Washington, along the Columbia River, near the Hanford Site, a former United States Department of Energy nuclear production facility, and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, a United States Department of Energy national laboratory. The city is part of the Tri-Cities, Washington metropolitan area, which also includes Kennewick, Washington, Pasco, Washington, and surrounding areas, such as West Richland, Washington, and is situated near the Yakima River, a tributary of the Columbia River. Richland is home to the Washington State University Tri-Cities campus and the Columbia Basin College, and is near the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, a United States Department of Energy facility, and the McNary National Wildlife Refuge, a United States Fish and Wildlife Service protected area. The city is also close to the Sagebrush Flat, a Bureau of Land Management area, and the Badger Mountain, a popular hiking spot.

Geography

The city of Richland is situated in the Columbia Basin, a region of southeastern Washington, near the Columbia River, and is part of the Tri-Cities, Washington metropolitan area, which also includes Kennewick, Washington, Pasco, Washington, and surrounding areas, such as West Richland, Washington. The city is located near the Hanford Site, a former United States Department of Energy nuclear production facility, and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, a United States Department of Energy national laboratory, and is close to the Yakima River, a tributary of the Columbia River, and the Snake River, another major river in the region. Richland is also near the McNary National Wildlife Refuge, a United States Fish and Wildlife Service protected area, and the Sagebrush Flat, a Bureau of Land Management area, and is situated near the Badger Mountain, a popular hiking spot, and the Columbia River Gorge, a scenic area along the Columbia River. The city is close to the Walla Walla Valley, a region known for its Walla Walla Sweet Onion production, and the Yakima Valley, a region known for its Yakima Valley AVA wine production.

History

The area that is now Richland was originally inhabited by the Chemehuevi and Walla Walla Native American tribes, and was later settled by European-Americans in the late 19th century, with the establishment of the Northern Pacific Railway and the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company. The city was officially incorporated in 1905, and was named after Nelson Rich, a Northern Pacific Railway official, and is located near the Hanford Site, a former United States Department of Energy nuclear production facility, which was established in 1943 as part of the Manhattan Project, a research and development project led by J. Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi, and Ernest Lawrence. The city is also close to the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, a United States Department of Energy national laboratory, which was established in 1965, and is near the Columbia River Gorge, a scenic area along the Columbia River, and the Grand Coulee Dam, a Bureau of Reclamation dam.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States Census, the city of Richland had a population of over 55,000 people, with a diverse population that includes people of European-American, Hispanic and Latino American, African American, Asian American, and Native American descent, and is part of the Tri-Cities, Washington metropolitan area, which has a population of over 300,000 people, and is close to the Yakima, Washington metropolitan area, and the Walla Walla, Washington metropolitan area. The city is home to a number of Washington State University students, as well as employees of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, a United States Department of Energy facility, and is near the Columbia Basin College, a Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges college. Richland is also close to the Kadlec Regional Medical Center, a Providence Health & Services hospital, and the Lourdes Medical Center, a Lourdes Health hospital.

Economy

The economy of Richland is driven by a number of industries, including nuclear energy, technology, healthcare, and education, with major employers including the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, and Washington State University Tri-Cities, as well as a number of private companies, such as Bechtel National, CH2M Hill, and URS Corporation. The city is also home to a number of small businesses, including restaurants, retail stores, and service providers, and is close to the Tri-Cities Airport, a Federal Aviation Administration airport, and the Columbia Basin Railroad, a BNSF Railway railroad. Richland is also near the Port of Kennewick, a Port of Kennewick port, and the Port of Pasco, a Port of Pasco port.

Education

Richland is served by the Richland School District, which operates a number of public schools, including Richland High School, Hanford High School, and River's Edge High School, as well as a number of private schools, such as Tri-Cities Prep, a Catholic Church school. The city is also home to the Washington State University Tri-Cities campus, which offers a number of academic programs, including engineering, business, and health sciences, and is close to the Columbia Basin College, a Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges college, and the Heritage University, a private university. Richland is also near the Eastern Washington University, a public university, and the Walla Walla University, a private university.

Infrastructure

The city of Richland has a number of infrastructure facilities, including the Tri-Cities Airport, a Federal Aviation Administration airport, and the Columbia Basin Railroad, a BNSF Railway railroad, as well as a number of highways, including Interstate 82, U.S. Route 12, and Washington State Route 240. The city is also served by a number of public transportation systems, including the Ben Franklin Transit, a public transportation system, and the Richland Transit, a public transportation system, and is close to the Port of Kennewick, a Port of Kennewick port, and the Port of Pasco, a Port of Pasco port. Richland is also near the Grand Coulee Dam, a Bureau of Reclamation dam, and the Ice Harbor Dam, a United States Army Corps of Engineers dam. Category:Cities in Washington (state)