Kennewick General Hospital: Community.

Our Community

The Tri-Cities of Kennewick, Pasco and Richland
The Tri-Cities of Kennewick, Pasco and Richland lie at the confluence of the Yakima, Snake and Columbia Rivers in southeastern Washington State. (map) The three communities have a combined population of over 200,000 people. The high desert climate offers more than 300 days of sunshine each year. July temperatures average 92 degrees during the day and 60 degrees at night. The median low temperature in the winter is 34 degrees. Average rainfall is about seven inches per year.

The Tri-Cities is heir to the Indians, explorers, trappers, missionaries, railroaders, settlers, and builders who came before it. In 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition camped at the confluence the Snake and Columbia Rivers. Sacajawea State Park now lies at their original campsite and commemorates their visit.

The early 1860s saw the first real settlements, and by the late 1800s the area was beginning to open up to more settlers and agriculture. In the 1930s hydroelectric dams were built along the Columbia River adding some light industry.

The name Kennewick is derived from "kin-i-wack," an Indian name meaning "grassy place." Kennewick was first home to the Chemnapam Indians who called it "winter haven", an appropriate title as the tribe gathered in the mild climate to trade, fish and pasture their horses. With a population of just over 50,000, Kennewick is now the largest of the three cities and relies on light industry and retail to support its thriving economy. Kennewick General Hospital is located in the heart of downtown Kennewick.

Transportation is a dominant part of Pasco's history. Pasco originally grew out of railroad activities, incorporating in 1891. In 1910, the city founded the first airport west of the Mississippi River. The first airmail service ever initiated in the U.S. originated in Pasco in 1926.

Originally a small farming community, Richland's population boomed in 1943 when the government built the country's first nuclear reactor on the Hanford site. The top-secret Manhattan Project resulted in the making of plutonium used in the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan, effectively ending World War II. Richland was maintained as a government town until its incorporation in 1958. In 1964, after years of development of the atom during both war and peace, the government announced the curtailment of plutonium production and the shut down of Hanford reactors. The Hanford site still continues however to be a thriving center of activity for nuclear research, development, and waste management.

Today, agriculture is still an economic staple with more than 200 varieties of fruits, grains, vegetables and crops grown in the Columbia Basin. The Tri-Cities boasts 43 wineries with a 50-mile radius, producing some of the finest wines in the country. The development of the Tri-Cities as a technological center began with the establishment of Hanford Nuclear Reservation in the 1943 and continues today. Light and heavy industry, tourism, recreation, shopping, and a sophisticated transportation system also contribute to the diversified economy.

Excellent education systems, affordable housing, cultural arts and entertainment, and a variety of outdoor activities all combine to make the Tri-Cities a rich, vibrant community.

Additional Information
For more information, please contact the links below.

Local Information