West Richland, Washington
Encyclopedia
West Richland is a 22 square miles (57 km²) city in Benton County, Washington
, United States, served by three elementary schools (Tapteal, William Wiley and White Bluffs ) and a middle school (Enterprise), with an annual budget of about 30 million dollars. The population was 11,811 at the 2010 census. The city is generally included in the Tri-Cities
(for purposes of counting population, etc.), even though that technically makes four cities (along with Kennewick
, Richland
, and Pasco
).
), living near the mouth of the Yakima River
. Lewis and Clark
passed through the area in 1805, and an expedition of the Army Corps of Topographical Engineers
headed by Robert E Johnson mapped the Yakima Valley
in 1841.
In 1853, a road was authorized by Congress to pass through the Yakima valley, and passed through present-day West Richland - but settlement did not really begin until the late 1870s. The first schoolhouse was built in 1896 on the Van Horn Property just south of what is now Van Giesen Street. Benton County
was created in 1905, Richland was incorporated in 1906, and the West Richland area was known as 'Lower Yakima'.
An irrigation canal
from the north side of Horn Rapids Dam
was built in 1908 to bring water into Richland.
The Yellowstone Trail
, a national highway stretching from Albany, New York, to Seattle, was located through the Yakima Valley in 1917 and 1918. It crossed the Fallon Bridge between Richland and West Richland and then proceeded directly west to Kiona
.
During the 1940s, the city of Richland
was built, run and maintained by the War Department for the duration of the Manhattan Project
. A number of residents had chafed at the government's regulations, and as a result many of them had moved across the Yakima River, where it was possible to purchase land and own (rather than rent) a house.
Carl Heminger purchased some 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) in 1948, and laid out plans for a city. It was proposed that it be named Heminger City (presumably after himself), but in 1949 the townspeople chose the name Enterprise instead. Heminger moved a mile down the road in protest, and platted a small community there called Heminger City. This was eventually incorporated in the West Richland City limits. When the time came in 1955 to incorporate the town, it was decided to rename to West Richland, taking advantage of the already well-known status of nearby Richland.
West Richland was officially incorporated on June 17, 1955, combining the two towns of Heminger City and Enterprise.
In 2008 West Richland was the location of the speed test for the fastest production car in the world (Aero SSC TT) at over 250 mi/h.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 21.8 sq mi (56.5 km²). 21.7 square miles (56.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.41%) is water.
, and 2.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.83% of the population.
There were 2,937 households out of which 45.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.9% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.5% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 32.7% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 101.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $57,750, and the median income for a family was $61,813. Males had a median income of $50,785 versus $29,595 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $22,499. About 3.9% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.
.
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, served by three elementary schools (Tapteal, William Wiley and White Bluffs ) and a middle school (Enterprise), with an annual budget of about 30 million dollars. The population was 11,811 at the 2010 census. The city is generally included in the Tri-Cities
Tri-Cities, Washington
The Tri-Cities is a mid-sized metropolitan area in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, consisting of three neighboring cities: Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland. The cities are located at the confluence of the Yakima, Snake, and Columbia rivers in the semi-arid region of...
(for purposes of counting population, etc.), even though that technically makes four cities (along with 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...
, Richland
Richland, Washington
Richland is a city in Benton County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, at the confluence of the Yakima and the Columbia Rivers. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 48,058. April 1, 2011 estimates from the Washington State Office of Financial Management put the...
, and Pasco
Pasco, Washington
Pasco is a city in and the county seat of Franklin County, Washington, United States.Pasco is one of three cities that make up the Tri-Cities region of the state of Washington...
).
History
The original people of the region were the Chemnapum Indians (closely related to the Wanapum tribeWanapum
The Wanapum tribe of Native Americans formerly lived along the Columbia River from above Priest Rapids down to the mouth of the Snake River in what is now the U.S. state of Washington. About 60 Wanapum still live near the present day site of Priest Rapids Dam...
), living near the mouth of 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:...
. Lewis and Clark
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ″Corps of Discovery Expedition" was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William...
passed through the area in 1805, and an expedition of the Army Corps of Topographical Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
headed by Robert E Johnson mapped the Yakima Valley
Yakima Valley
Yakima Valley may refer to:*Yakima River Valley in southeastern Washington*Yakima Valley AVA...
in 1841.
In 1853, a road was authorized by Congress to pass through the Yakima valley, and passed through present-day West Richland - but settlement did not really begin until the late 1870s. The first schoolhouse was built in 1896 on the Van Horn Property just south of what is now Van Giesen Street. Benton County
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...
was created in 1905, Richland was incorporated in 1906, and the West Richland area was known as 'Lower Yakima'.
An irrigation canal
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
from the north side of Horn Rapids Dam
Horn Rapids Dam
Horn Rapids Dam is a rock filled timber crib barrage dam on the Yakima River in Benton County, Washington near the intersection of SR 240 and SR 225...
was built in 1908 to bring water into Richland.
The Yellowstone Trail
Yellowstone Trail
The Yellowstone Trail was the first transcontinental automobile highway through the upper tier of states in the United States. It ran from Massachusetts to Seattle. It was conceived by J.W. Parmley of Ipswich, South Dakota in 1912. Originally, Parmley and his business colleagues wanted a good road...
, a national highway stretching from Albany, New York, to Seattle, was located through the Yakima Valley in 1917 and 1918. It crossed the Fallon Bridge between Richland and West Richland and then proceeded directly west to Kiona
Kiona, Washington
Kiona is an unincorporated community in Benton County, Washington, United States. Kiona is an Indian term meaning "brown hills." Kiona and Benton City share a school district .-History:...
.
During the 1940s, the city of Richland
Richland, Washington
Richland is a city in Benton County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, at the confluence of the Yakima and the Columbia Rivers. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 48,058. April 1, 2011 estimates from the Washington State Office of Financial Management put the...
was built, run and maintained by the War Department for the duration of the Manhattan Project
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
. A number of residents had chafed at the government's regulations, and as a result many of them had moved across the Yakima River, where it was possible to purchase land and own (rather than rent) a house.
Carl Heminger purchased some 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) in 1948, and laid out plans for a city. It was proposed that it be named Heminger City (presumably after himself), but in 1949 the townspeople chose the name Enterprise instead. Heminger moved a mile down the road in protest, and platted a small community there called Heminger City. This was eventually incorporated in the West Richland City limits. When the time came in 1955 to incorporate the town, it was decided to rename to West Richland, taking advantage of the already well-known status of nearby Richland.
West Richland was officially incorporated on June 17, 1955, combining the two towns of Heminger City and Enterprise.
In 2008 West Richland was the location of the speed test for the fastest production car in the world (Aero SSC TT) at over 250 mi/h.
Geography
West Richland is located at 46°17′32"N 119°21′16"W (46.292085, -119.354417).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 21.8 sq mi (56.5 km²). 21.7 square miles (56.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.41%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,385 people, 2,937 households, and 2,305 families residing in the city. The population density was 386.1 per square mile (149.1/km²). There were 3,092 housing units at an average density of 142.4 per square mile (55.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.18% White, 0.56% African American, 0.50% Native American, 1.65% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.86% 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 2.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.83% of the population.
There were 2,937 households out of which 45.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.9% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.5% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 32.7% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 101.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $57,750, and the median income for a family was $61,813. Males had a median income of $50,785 versus $29,595 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 $22,499. About 3.9% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.
Businesses
Shelby SuperCars -- An automobile manufacturer credited with creating the former fastest production car in the world, the SSC AeroSSC Aero
The SSC Ultimate Aero is an American-built mid-engine supercar by Shelby SuperCars. The higher-performance limited production version previously held the Guinness Book of World Records record for being the fastest production car in the world , with a recorded speed of...
.
Notable residents
- Rachel Willis- Sørensen (resident from 1992–2002) - Opera singer
- Ryan KennellyRyan KennellyRyan Kennelly is an American powerlifter who specializes in the bench press. As of November 8, 2008, Kennelly holds the World Powerlifting Organization world record in the assisted bench press with a lift of 1075 lbs during the Pride Strength Wars held in Kennewick, Washington...
World record geared bench-press holder (1075 lbs, 489 kg).