What Kennewick is known for

The Hanford Reach National Monument can be found within the Kennewick Region and is a draw to the area. The Hanford Reach National Monument was created in 2000. The park was named after Hanford Reach, which is a part of the Columbia River. The monument is a desert environment with the river flowing through the area. The river is stocked with various fish, such as the Chinook salmon.[1] 

Another prominent feature of the Kennewick Region is the Umatilla National Forest. The forest covers 1.4 million acres. The forest is mostly located in Oregon but touches the southeast side of Washington. The forest was named after the Umatilla Indian word that means "water rippling over sand." Thousands of immigrants passed through, and an estimated value of more than 10 million dollars in gold and silver was mined in the area. Today, many people come to the forest for various recreation, including hiking, fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, skiing, camping, and more. There are multiple campsites and camping opportunities available, with the Jubilee Lake being one of the campsites that receives the most visitors.[2] Kennewick is one of the biggest cities in the region. The name Kennewick means "grassy place." Kennewick is located along the Columbia River. The area is known for various outdoor activities, including fishing, bird watching, biking, and golfing.[3] 

The Toyota Center is located in Kennewick and hosts the Tri-City Americans hockey team, as well as many other events, including concerts and theater events. The Southridge Sports and Events Complex is another event center in Kennewick. The complex is a 52-acre complex that hosts regional and national tournaments throughout the year.[3] One thing that Kennewick is known for is the vast amount of wineries that are in the area. There are over 160 wineries within just 60 miles of Kennewick.[3] Columbia Center Mall gets a lot of foot traffic from the Tri-Cities residents and visitors throughout the year. Kennewick also has a historic downtown that many people visit.[6] 

The Tri-Cities include Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland. The Tri-Cities see thousands of travelers throughout the year. There are conventions, sporting events, outdoor recreation, and much more that draw people into the area. When it comes to weather, the best time to visit Kennewick for warm weather months is from June to August.[4]

Geography

Kennewick has been called "winter paradise" because of the mild winters.[3] June to September are the hottest months of the year, averaging 83 degrees. The hottest day of the year typically reaches 93 degrees. November to February are the coldest months of the year, the temperature typically being below 50 degrees. The coldest day of the year is usually in December, with a high of 39 degrees. October through May is considered to be the wetter season with a higher chance of rain.[4] The annual high-temperature average is 66 degrees. The annual low temperature is 44 degrees. The average annual precipitation is 7.73 inches of rain and one inch of snowfall.[5] 

The Hanford Reach National Monument is known for having a wide range of fish. Chinook salmon are stocked in the river. Other species include Spring Chinook and the Middle Columbia River Steelhead. The elk population at the National Monument is substantial. The average number of elk spotted during the winter months is 670, marking it as the peak season for that activity. During the spring and summer, about 150 are seen, and around 375 are seen in the fall. Other mammals in the area include skunks, bobcats, river otters, cougars, coyotes, badgers, beavers, etc. Another type of mammal that populates the area consists of a variety of different mice. Deer mice, western harvest mice, and northern grasshopper mice all inhabit the destination.[1] Wildlife is common while visiting the Umatilla National Forest. The forest includes moose, white-tailed deer, black bears, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, cougars, and Merriam's turkeys. Fish found in the forest include Chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, rainbow trout, brook trout, and lake trout.[2] In the 1890s, orchards and vineyards started to expand throughout the area, and strawberries were among the most successful crops in the area.[6]

History

Native Americans from Umatilla, Wanapum, Nex Perce, and Yakama tribes were some of the first known individuals to reside in Kennewick, Washington. Kennewick was a desired location because of the mild winters and the proximity to the river stocked with fish. Lewis and Clark explored the area in 1805 and noticed the vast amount of people living in the area. In the 1860s, ranchers started settling in the area, but the settlement progression was slow because of the mild and slow climate. Steamboats and railroads were used to connect Kennewick to other settlements that were established along the Columbia River. In 1888, a bridge was built, connecting Kennewick and Pasco. The bridge was later reconstructed and called the Green Bridge. Pasco and Kennewick became the Twin Cities because they were located a river away from each other. 

The Hanford nuclear site was built in 1943 and brought more people into the area. The Hanford nuclear site was where workers would build weaponry for the United States. In 1978, the Cable Bridge was constructed and replaced the Green Bridge, connecting Pasco and Kennewick. The three cities, known as the Tri-Cities are Richland, Pasco, and Kennewick. In the 1980s, there was an attempt to consolidate the cities, but voters in Pasco and Kennewick voted against the proposal.[6] Kennewick has 73,917 people residing in the city. 78.5% of the population identify as White. 1.7% are African American, .8% Native American, 2.4% Asian, .2% Pacific Islander, 12.1% are from other races, 4.3% are from two or more races. Hispanic and Latino make up 24.2% of the population.