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Kennewick, WA

Frequently asked questions

Kennewick, WA

Kennewick is a city in Benton County in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located along the southwest bank of the Columbia River, just southeast of the confluence of the Columbia and Yakima Rivers and across from the confluence of the Columbia and Snake Rivers. It is the most populous of the three cities collectively referred to as the Tri-Cities (the others being Pasco and Richland). The United States Census Bureau estimated the population to be 84,750 as of 2022, up from 83,921 at the 2020 United States Census.

The discovery of Kennewick Man along the banks of the Columbia River provides evidence of Native Americans' settlement of the area for at least 9,000 years. American settlers began moving into the region in the late 19th century as transportation infrastructure was built to connect Kennewick to other settlements along the Columbia River. The construction of the Hanford Site at Richland accelerated the city's growth in the 1940s as workers from around the country came to participate in the Manhattan Project. While Hanford and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory continue to be major sources of employment, the city's economy has diversified over time, and Kennewick today hosts offices for Amazon and Lamb Weston.

Kennewick is located in Eastern Washington along the south side of the Columbia River and is one of three cities in the Tri-Cities. The other two cities are Richland, which is upstream of Kennewick on the same side of the river, and Pasco, which is across the river. The elevation within the city rises from the river to a line of ridges on the south side of town that are a result of the same anticline that created Badger Mountain and Rattlesnake Mountain. Beyond that line of ridges, the city slopes up toward the Horse Heaven Hills. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 28.36 square miles (73.45 km²), of which, 26.93 square miles (69.75 km²) is land and 1.43 square miles (3.70 km²) is water. The former community of Vista is now a neighborhood fully contained within Kennewick.

The city overlies basalt laid down by the Columbia River Basalt Group, which was a type of volcanic eruption known as flood basalt. This erupted from fissures that were geographically spread throughout eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, and far western Idaho. Most of the lava erupted between 17 and 14 million years ago, with smaller eruptions lasting as late as 6 million years ago. The nearest eruptive vent to Kennewick from this period is near Ice Harbor Dam along the Snake River upstream of Burbank and Pasco. While outcroppings from the basalt flows can be seen throughout Kennewick, they are mostly buried by sediments.

The first major sediment deposit following the eruptions is the Ringold Formation, which was placed by the Columbia River between 8 and 3 million years ago. Further deposition came as a result of the Missoula Floods. At the end of the last glacial maximum, an ice dam blocked the Clark Fork River in Montana. The pressure from the resulting lake would periodically build to the point that the dam would fail, sending massive amounts of water cascading to the Pacific Ocean. The flood's movement was impeded by the Horse Heaven Hills, creating a temporary lake known as Lake Lewis. This abrupt halt in flow allowed the floodwater to drop a significant amount of sediment before passing through Wallula Gap toward Hermiston. During the largest floods, the water's surface reached 1,250 feet (380 m) above sea level. This completely covered all of the land within Kennewick's city limits.

Earthquakes are a hazard in Kennewick, though not to the same extent or frequency as areas west of the Cascade Range like the Puget Sound Region. The entire Pacific Northwest is threatened with subduction zone earthquakes that can exceed magnitudes of 9 on the moment magnitude scale. The last of these earthquakes, which could be compared to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake in Japan, occurred in 1700. Should the next earthquake occur, damage is expected to be minimal in and around Kennewick, but destruction west of the Cascades could have a major impact on the economy of inland areas. These subduction zone earthquakes will be centered on the boundary between the North American Plate and the Juan de Fuca Plate, which is located offshore. Fault lines closer to Kennewick also produce earthquakes. While these are weaker, they can still cause damage. One such earthquake, named the 1936 State Line earthquake, occurred near Walla Walla with damage extending as far away as Prosser.

Kennewick places a strong emphasis on health and wellness for its residents. Trios Health System and Kadlec Regional Medical Center offer comprehensive health services, including wellness check-ups and preventive care programs. Planet Fitness offers comprehensive fitness programs including cardio, strength training, and group exercise classes. Experience relaxation and rejuvenation at Elements Massage, which provides personalized massage therapy sessions. For fitness enthusiasts, Gold's Gym offers state-of-the-art equipment and a variety of fitness classes. Synergy MedAesthetics specializes in aesthetic treatments to help you look and feel your best. For a unique experience, visit Float Euphoria, where float therapy helps reduce stress and promote relaxation.  Stay active outdoors by exploring the Kennewick Parks & Recreation programs, which offer a variety of activities and sports leagues.

Top sites in Kennewick, WA are Columbia Park, Columbia Center, and Howard Amon Park.

Population: 85,158 (2023). ZIP codes: 99336–99338. Area code: 509. Elevation: 407 ft (124 m). Area: 28.36 square miles (73.45 km²).

FAQs

What is Kennewick, WA is known for?

More recently, Kennewick has become famous for Kennewick Man discovered at Columbia Park during the annual Water Follies hydroplane races. He is the oldest known inhabitant of the area. His skeleton has been dated at 9,200 years old, making it the oldest nearly complete skeleton ever found in North America. Today, Kennewick is the largest of the Tri-Cities with a population of roughly 80,000, and is poised for future prosperity and growth.

What are the demographics of Kennewick, WA?

With 83,823 people, Kennewick is the 15th most populated city in the state of Washington out of 635 cities. The largest Kennewick racial/ethnic groups are White (62.3%) followed by Hispanic (29.3%) and Two or More (3.1%). In 2022, the median household income of Kennewick households was $70,429. Kennewick households made slightly more than Oakesdale households ($70,333) and Millwood households ($70,313) . However, 11.0% of Kennewick families live in poverty.

What is the crime rate in Kennewick, WA?

With a crime rate of 52 per one thousand residents, Kennewick has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 19. Within Washington, more than 91% of the communities have a lower crime rate than Kennewick. Separately, it is always interesting and important to compare a city's crime rate with those of similarly sized communities - a fair comparison as larger cities tend to have more crime. NeighborhoodScout has done just that. With a population of 84,750, Kennewick has a combined rate of violent and property crime that is very high compared to other places of similar population size.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Kennewick

Washington Demographics

Neighborhood Scout

Columbia Park

Columbia Center

Howard Amon Park

Trios Health System

Kadlec Regional Medical Center

Planet Fitness

Elements Massage

Gold's Gym

Synergy MedAesthetics

Float Euphoria

Kennewick Parks & Recreation

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