Prosser, Washington
Encyclopedia
Prosser is a city in and the county seat
of Benton County, Washington
, United States, along the Yakima River
with only one zip code 99350. The population was 5,714 at the 2010 census.
who lived and fished along the river. They called the area "Tap tut", meaning rapids.
Colonel William Farrand Prosser first surveyed the area in 1879, then claimed homestead in 1882. The Northern Pacific Railroad laid tracks through the area two years later. A town plat was filed by Colonel Prosser in 1885, and in 1886 he was elected Yakima County Auditor. He moved to North Yakima
to attend to these duties, and never returned to the town that he founded.
Lewis Hinzerling built a flour mill at Prosser falls in 1887, encouraging further settlement of the area. The first irrigation canal was completed in 1893 by the Prosser Falls Land and Irrigation Company. Prosser was officially incorporated in 1899 with a population of 229 people.
In 1905, Benton County was carved out of the eastern portions of Yakima and Klickitat Counties. The new town of Prosser was chosen as county seat. In 1907 a power plant was added and began delivering electricity
to the town. The following year, a new high school was built, followed a year later by a telephone exchange. In 1910 the city received a grant from the Andrew Carnegie
for a public library.
Throughout the 1910s and 1920s various companies drilled in this area for oil and natural gas. There were no large findings and the Great Depression
put an end to exploration.
On November 5, 1912, Benton County voters held a referendum
to move the county seat
from Prosser to either Kennewick
or Benton City
. Intense rivalry and war of words between Benton City, Kennewick, and Prosser preceded the vote. Despite getting a majority of the vote, Kennewick did not receive 60 percent of the vote as required by law. To date, Prosser retains the county seat.
In 1919, Washington State College
(later WSU) established the Irrigation Experiment Station at Prosser. The program's mandate is to study the problems faced by farmers, orchardists, and ranchers in the dry central part of the state. The station originally employed scientists from the college in Pullman, who partnered with scientists from the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The station is still currently in use, and offers a number of agricultural education programs.
Prosser at one point boasted three newspapers, which were consolidated in the 1920s into the Prosser Record-Bulletin, and a permanent courthouse was built in 1926. The Benton County Historical Museum was dedicated in 1968.
In more recent years, Prosser's prime location on a major river (the Yakima) and easy highway access has encouraged a growing wine business and associated tourist
industry. Several wineries within the Yakima Valley appellation
call Prosser home.
In 2010 and 2011, Prosser made national headlines when former mayor Linda Lusk was charge with child molestation. The story was later aired on 20/20.
at 46°12′25"N 119°45′56"W (46.206921, -119.765612). It is 665 ft above sea level. One river, the Yakima River
, runs through it.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.4 square miles (11.5 km²), of which, 4.3 square miles (11.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (2.93%) is water.
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, and 2.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 29.37% of the population. Ancestries: German (17.3%), English (10.8%), Irish (9.3%), United States (6.8%), Norwegian (4.3%), French (4.2%), 12.5% Foreign born (99.1% Mexican).
There were 1,697 households out of which 41.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.38.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 32.5% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.
The median age is 32 years old. The median house value was $98,500 (2000). The median income for a household in the city was $39,185, and the median income for a family was $45,162. Males had a median income of $36,750 versus $26,146 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,302. About 11.5% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 2.6% of those age 65 or over.
For population 15 years and over in Prosser city
For population 20 years and over in Prosser:
American Viticultural Area
.
extension office that proved the soils of Washington were suitable for growing wine grapes. Prosser is also home to 2 microbreweries and a distillery.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Benton County, Washington
Benton County, Washington
Benton County is a county located in the south-central portion of the U.S. state of Washington. The Columbia River makes up the north, south, and east boundaries of the county. In 2010, its population was 175,177. The county seat is Prosser, and its largest city is Kennewick...
, United States, along the Yakima River
Yakima River
The Yakima River is a tributary of the Columbia River in south central and eastern Washington State, named for the indigenous Yakama people. The length of the river from headwaters to mouth is , with an average drop of .-Course:...
with only one zip code 99350. The population was 5,714 at the 2010 census.
History
Prosser was long home to Native AmericansNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
who lived and fished along the river. They called the area "Tap tut", meaning rapids.
Colonel William Farrand Prosser first surveyed the area in 1879, then claimed homestead in 1882. The Northern Pacific Railroad laid tracks through the area two years later. A town plat was filed by Colonel Prosser in 1885, and in 1886 he was elected Yakima County Auditor. He moved to North Yakima
Yakima, Washington
Yakima is an American city southeast of Mount Rainier National Park and the county seat of Yakima County, Washington, United States, and the eighth largest city by population in the state itself. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 91,196 and a metropolitan population of...
to attend to these duties, and never returned to the town that he founded.
Lewis Hinzerling built a flour mill at Prosser falls in 1887, encouraging further settlement of the area. The first irrigation canal was completed in 1893 by the Prosser Falls Land and Irrigation Company. Prosser was officially incorporated in 1899 with a population of 229 people.
In 1905, Benton County was carved out of the eastern portions of Yakima and Klickitat Counties. The new town of Prosser was chosen as county seat. In 1907 a power plant was added and began delivering electricity
Rural electrification
Rural electrification is the process of bringing electrical power to rural and remote areas. Electricity is used not only for lighting and household purposes, but it also allows for mechanization of many farming operations, such as threshing, milking, and hoisting grain for storage; in areas...
to the town. The following year, a new high school was built, followed a year later by a telephone exchange. In 1910 the city received a grant from the Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
for a public library.
Throughout the 1910s and 1920s various companies drilled in this area for oil and natural gas. There were no large findings and the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
put an end to exploration.
On November 5, 1912, Benton County voters held a referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
to move the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
from Prosser to either Kennewick
Kennewick, Washington
Kennewick is a city in Benton County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, near the Hanford nuclear site. It is the most populous of the three cities collectively referred to as the Tri-Cities...
or Benton City
Benton City, Washington
Benton City is a city in Benton County, Washington, United States. The population was 3,038 at the 2010 census. The city is strongly associated with nearby Kiona, with which it shares a school district.-History:...
. Intense rivalry and war of words between Benton City, Kennewick, and Prosser preceded the vote. Despite getting a majority of the vote, Kennewick did not receive 60 percent of the vote as required by law. To date, Prosser retains the county seat.
In 1919, Washington State College
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
(later WSU) established the Irrigation Experiment Station at Prosser. The program's mandate is to study the problems faced by farmers, orchardists, and ranchers in the dry central part of the state. The station originally employed scientists from the college in Pullman, who partnered with scientists from the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The station is still currently in use, and offers a number of agricultural education programs.
Prosser at one point boasted three newspapers, which were consolidated in the 1920s into the Prosser Record-Bulletin, and a permanent courthouse was built in 1926. The Benton County Historical Museum was dedicated in 1968.
In more recent years, Prosser's prime location on a major river (the Yakima) and easy highway access has encouraged a growing wine business and associated tourist
Wine tourism
Wine tourism refers to tourism whose purpose is or includes the tasting, consumption or purchase of wine, often at or near the source. Wine tourism can consist of visits to wineries, vineyards and restaurants known to offer unique vintages, as well as organized wine tours, wine festivals or other...
industry. Several wineries within the Yakima Valley appellation
Yakima Valley AVA
The Yakima Valley AVA was the first American Viticultural Area established within Washington State, gaining the recognition in 1983. Part of the larger Columbia Valley AVA, Yakima Valley AVA is home to more than of vineyards, giving the area the largest concentration of wineries and vineyards in...
call Prosser home.
In 2010 and 2011, Prosser made national headlines when former mayor Linda Lusk was charge with child molestation. The story was later aired on 20/20.
Annual events
- Prosser Community Awards Banquet In January the community honors hard working citizens and volunteers.
- Red Wine & Chocolate
- Sweet Retreat 2nd Saturday in March the Columbia Valley Winery Association hosts the pairing of sweet wine with food.
- Spring Barrel Tasting In April various wineries offer tasting.
- Wine Country Spring Fair In May on Mother's Day weekend arts and crafts in the park.
- Farmers Market Usually starts in May sometime and runs every weekend through harvest.
- The Dash Race for the Kids Early June after school lets out we have a bicycle competition a 62 mile "Metric Century" and youth fun run. Wine tasting after for the adults.
- Kestrel Festival Sponsored by Kestrel Wines. This takes place in June each year.
- Old Fashioned 4 July 4 July Weekend, includes a kiddie parade, car show, fireworks, bingo, stage shows, and food vendors in the park.
- Art Walk and Wine Gala Wine tasting event in the middle of July.
- Prosser's Wine and Food Fair" One of the top events of the year on the 2nd Saturday of August. Thirty-some Washington Wineries and food from 20 vendors come together to offer sampling and tasting. Formerly located at Art Fiker Stadium, the event is held at the WSU Irrigation Experiment Station due to the stadium being part of the high school and being a non-alcoholic site.
- A Night Out Beginning of September. Fundraising benefit of food and fun for the Prosser Memorial Foundation.
- Prosser State's Day Celebration Another on of the top events of the year. On Labor Day. There is a carnival in the city park, and a parade in the morning. Miss Prosser is crowned.
- The Great Prosser Balloon Rally The last of the top events. On September 23, 24, & 25th 2011, Hot air balloons are scheduled to launch just after dawn from the Prosser airport. Balloons glow from within at Art Fiker Stadium during The Great Prosser Balloon Rally Night Glow show.
- Annual Harvest Festival Same weekend as the Balloon Rally. Arts and crafts downtown with fun and food.
- Annual Caren Mercer-Andreason Street Painting Festival Same weekend as the Prosser Balloon Rally and Harvest Festival. Watch local and regional artists create works of art on the pavement in downtown Prosser.
- Thanksgiving in Wine Country Sunday after Thanksgiving. Sample all the newly released wines.
- Family Christmas Festival The annual lighting of the Christmas tree takes place with carolers and holiday music.
- Rocky Marmot Cancer Awareness Run First Saturday in October 5k Fun Run to raise money for cancer research.
Geography
Prosser is located near the eastern end of the Yakima ValleyYakima Valley
Yakima Valley may refer to:*Yakima River Valley in southeastern Washington*Yakima Valley AVA...
at 46°12′25"N 119°45′56"W (46.206921, -119.765612). It is 665 ft above sea level. One river, the Yakima River
Yakima River
The Yakima River is a tributary of the Columbia River in south central and eastern Washington State, named for the indigenous Yakama people. The length of the river from headwaters to mouth is , with an average drop of .-Course:...
, runs through it.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 4.4 square miles (11.5 km²), of which, 4.3 square miles (11.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (2.93%) is water.
Climate
Prosser experiences a semi-arid climate (KöppenKöppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
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Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,838 people 1,697 households, and 1,240 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,125.1 people per square mile (434.4/km²). There were 1,800 housing units at an average density of 418.6 per square mile (161.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.89% White, 0.54% African American, 0.91% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.29% Pacific Islander, 15.11% from other racesRace (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 29.37% of the population. Ancestries: German (17.3%), English (10.8%), Irish (9.3%), United States (6.8%), Norwegian (4.3%), French (4.2%), 12.5% Foreign born (99.1% Mexican).
There were 1,697 households out of which 41.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.38.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 32.5% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.
The median age is 32 years old. The median house value was $98,500 (2000). The median income for a household in the city was $39,185, and the median income for a family was $45,162. Males had a median income of $36,750 versus $26,146 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,302. About 11.5% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 2.6% of those age 65 or over.
For population 15 years and over in Prosser city
- Never married: 18.1%
- Now married: 64.1%
- Separated: 1.9%
- Widowed: 7.5%
- Divorced: 10.9%
For population 20 years and over in Prosser:
- High school or higher: 68.0%
- Bachelor's degree or higher: 16.2%
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.0%
- Unemployed: 6.6%
- Mean travel time to work: 18.9 minutes
Economy
The economy of Prosser is based on agriculture. In addition to fruit orchards and fruit packing plants, Prosser is an important center of wine making in the Yakima ValleyYakima River
The Yakima River is a tributary of the Columbia River in south central and eastern Washington State, named for the indigenous Yakama people. The length of the river from headwaters to mouth is , with an average drop of .-Course:...
American Viticultural Area
American Viticultural Area
An American Viticultural Area is a designated wine grape-growing region in the United States distinguishable by geographic features, with boundaries defined by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau , United States Department of the Treasury....
.
Schools
- Prosser High SchoolProsser High SchoolProsser High School is a school in Prosser, Washington. It is the main high school in the Prosser School District, though there is also an alternative Prosser Falls Education Center. The school has around 920 students attending in grades 9 through 12...
Grades 9-12, 843 Students - Prosser Falls Education Center Grades 9-12, 69 Students
- Housel Middle School Grades 6-8, 676 Students
- Prosser Heights Elementary Grades 3-5, 676 Students
- Keene-Riverview Elementary Grades K-2, 480 students
- Whitstran Elementary Grades K-5, 285 Students
Wine
Prosser now has nearly 40 wineries in an area about ten-by-ten miles, as well as being home to the WSUWashington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
extension office that proved the soils of Washington were suitable for growing wine grapes. Prosser is also home to 2 microbreweries and a distillery.
Crime
Crime statistics provided are from 2001, 2002, and 2003. There were 0 murders, 1 rape and only 2 robberies in this time frame. An average of 3 assaults, 31 burglaries, 151 larceny counts, and 9 auto thefts per year. City-data.com crime index average for 3 years is 203.66 per 100,000. The US average is 329.7. Lower is better.Major highways and closest cities
- Interstate 82
- U.S. Route 12
- State Route 221Washington State Route 221State Route 221 is a long state highway located entirely with in Benton County, Washington, United States. The highway serves to connect the unincorporated community of Paterson to the county seat Prosser...
- State Route 22
- Grandview, WashingtonGrandview, WashingtonGrandview is a city in Yakima County, Washington, United States. The population was 8,377 at the 2000 census.-History:Grandview received its name in 1906 due to its view of Mount Rainier and Mount Adams. Grandview was officially incorporated on September 21, 1909...
8 miles - Mabton, WashingtonMabton, WashingtonMabton is a city in Yakima County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,286 at the 2010 census. Incorporated during the first few years of the 20th century, it is located at the eastern edge of the Yakama Indian Reservation.-History:...
12 miles - Sunnyside, WashingtonSunnyside, WashingtonSunnyside is a city in Yakima County, Washington, United States. As of the 2010 Census the population was 15,858.-History:On September 16, 1902, residents voted 42 to one to incorporate as the town of Sunnyside. By state law a town needed to have 300 citizens in order to legally incorporate...
15 miles - Benton City, WashingtonBenton City, WashingtonBenton City is a city in Benton County, Washington, United States. The population was 3,038 at the 2010 census. The city is strongly associated with nearby Kiona, with which it shares a school district.-History:...
17 miles
Citizens of note
- Mary L. BoasMary L. BoasMary Layne Boas was an American mathematician and physics professor best known as the author of Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences , an undergraduate textbook that is still widely used in college classrooms in 2010...
— An American mathematician and physics instructor and author - George BoomerGeorge BoomerGeorge Ellsworth Boomer was an American socialist journalist, newspaper editor, and political activist. Boomer is best remembered as a key participant in the formation of the Socialist Party of Washington and as its candidate for the Governor of Washington in 1908.-Early years:George Ellsworth...
— Socialist newspaper editor and 1908 gubernatorial candidate - Walter CloreWalter CloreDr. Walter J. Clore was a pioneer in wine growing and agricultural research in Washington State and has been formally recognized by the Washington State Legislature as the "Father of Washington Wine"....
— Father of Washington wineWashington WineWashington wine is wine produced from grape varieties grown in the U.S. state of Washington. Washington ranks second in the United States in the production of wine, behind only California. By 2006, the state had over of vineyards, a harvest of of grapes, and exports going to over 40 countries... - Harold McCluskeyHarold McCluskeyHarold R. McCluskey was a chemical operations technician at the Hanford Plutonium Finishing Plant located in Washington state who is known for having survived, on April 24, 1976, exposure to the highest dose of americium radiation ever recorded...
— "The Atomic Man" - Kellen MooreKellen MooreKellen Moore is an American football quarterback with the Boise State Broncos of the Mountain West Conference . Moore was born in Prosser, Washington and finished fourth out of four in voting for the 2010 Heisman Trophy....
— All American quarterback at Boise State University and former quarterback at PHS - Colonel William Farrand ProsserWilliam Farrand ProsserWilliam Farrand Prosser Tennessee and Washington state politician. Union Colonel in the American Civil War...
— city founder, U.S. Army Colonel in the Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25... - The Rt. Rev. Brian Norman PriorBrian Norman PriorThe Right Rev. Brian Norman Prior is the IX Bishop of Minnesota in The Episcopal Church. He was elected on October 31, 2009, and consecrated on February 13, 2010.-See also:* List of Succession of Bishops for the Episcopal Church, USA-References:...
- IX Bishop of The Episcopal Church in Minnesota