Welcome to Eastern Washington Windermere

BENTON COUNTY

County Offices
620 Market Street
Prosser 509-786-5710
https://www.co.benton.wa.us/

Chamber of Commerce
7130 W Grandridge Boulevard
Kennewick 509-736-0510
https://www.tricityregionalchamber.com/

Located in south-central Washington State, Benton County is bounded by the Columbia River on the north, south, and east. Yakima River bisects the county from east to west, serving as a vital source for agricultural activity before emptying into the Columbia River at Richland. Navigable only by small personal watercraft, this shallow waterway is beginning to see restoration of a once-bountiful salmon population. Hanford Reach National Monument and Saddle Mountain and Umatilla National Wildlife Refuges are all partially located in Benton County. This area is also home to the Red Mountain AVA (American Viticultural Area), part of the larger Columbia Valley AVA. Nestled between Benton City and West Richland, Red Mountain is the smallest AVA in Washington but produces some of the state’s most sought-after wines.

Other leading industries include professional, scientific, technical services, healthcare and social services, retail, hospitality and food services. Serving as the county seat, the city of Prosser combines with Richland and Pasco in Franklin County to form the Tri-Cities. Located at the confluence of the Yakima, Snake, and Columbia rivers, these adjacent cities have the appearance and feeling of a single larger community. Major thoroughfares serving the region include Interstates 82 and 182, U.S. Routes 12 and 395, and State Routes 14, 240, and 397. Commercial airline service is available locally at Tri-Cities Airport. Newcomers are drawn to the Benton County’s favorable climate, growing economy, and lower cost of living—all within a four-drive from Seattle, Portland, Boise, and Spokane metropolitan areas.

Services

Quality educational services begin with progressive local school districts and a selection of private schools. Delta High School in Richland offers a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) focus—a collaborative venture of the Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland school districts. The Tri-Tech Skills center in the city of Kennewick offers a small vocational school run by the Kennewick School District. Opportunities for higher education include a Richland branch campus and nursing school for the Pasco-based Columbia Basin College, a two-year institution that now offers several baccalaureate degrees. Richland is also home to Washington State University Tri-Cities (WSUTC), a branch campus for Washington State University with its main campus in Pullman. Located in North Richland near the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, WSUTC began as two-year extension but evolved to offer four-year degrees. In addition to county and city library systems, this area is home to notable educational resources like the Columbia Basin Regional Medical Library, Neurological Resource Center Library, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Technical Library, and Washington State University Tri-Cities Library.

Quality healthcare facilities and comprehensive services are anchored by three major health systems: Kadlac, Prosser Memorial Health, and Trios Health. Named “Best Hospital in Central Washington” by U.S. World & News Report, Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland offers a long list of leading services including a growing heart and vascular program and the region’s only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Prosser Memorial Hospital is dedicated to clinical excellence, comprehensive services, and expanding access to new provider specialties. Along with local clinics, Prosser Memorial Health maintains centers for general surgery, orthopedics, urology, heart, allergies, therapy and rehab, women’s health, and pain management. The multi-faceted healthcare system of Trios Health provides state-of-the-art services for residents of the Tri-Cities area and those in surrounding communities. Along with Trios Southridge Hospital, the system includes Trios Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Kennewick for a continuum of care across a broad spectrum of specialties and services including one of Eastern Washington’s largest multi-specialty medical groups.

Lifestyle

Newcomers to Benton County will discover welcoming communities that offer a wide range of home styles and settings. Choices include homes set on multi-acre properties, country living with river views, family homes in tree-lined neighborhoods, and elegant contemporary construction on generous lots. The dedication to preserving natural areas, open space, and parkland is evident throughout the region. Benton County oversees more than 2,000 acres of recreational and conservation area with miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Other amenities include a horse camp, model airplane facility, boat launch, tent and RV camping, and the Rattlesnake Mountain Shooting Facility. The most developed and visited of the parks, Two Rivers, combines urban park amenities with 19 acres of lush lawn, rural open space, nature trails, and native habitat. Another popular destination is the 400-acre Columbia Park with 4.5 miles of riverfront shoreline. Throughout the county, residents enjoy access to city parks, aquatic playgrounds, challenging golf courses, sports fields and courts, and tours of local wineries and vineyards.

Opportunities for artistic expression and cultural appreciation are never far from home for Benton County residents. Those interested in the area’s past can visit the Benton County Historical Museum, while the scientific minded will want to explore Hanford Reach Interpretive Center and the mysteries of the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail. For sports thrills and performing arts, the Toyota Center seats up to 7,200 for everything from Tri-City American’s hockey games to big-name entertainment and Broadway shows. The arena also serves as a regional venue for public skating, lessons, and junior hockey games. Audience-pleasing performances by music and dance groups cover every genre, highlighted by Oregon East Symphony and Chorale, Inland Northwest Musicians, International Folk Dancers of Richland, and Mid-Columbia Regional Ballet. Theater lovers can enjoy performances by the Richland Players, the Rude Mechanicals company, and the Mid-Columbia Musical theatre for opera and musicals. Less than an hour away, Yakima is home to the Capital Theatre for 4th Street Theatre, the Yakima Symphony Orchestra, and touring Broadway musicals. With its strong community spirit, vast open countryside, attractive home selection, and growing economy, Benton County is an ideal place to call home.

COMMUNITIES

Benton City
Municipal Offices
509-588-3322
https://www.ci.benton-city.wa.us/

Chamber of Commerce
509-736-0510
https://www.tricityregionalchamber.com/
Nestled in a fertile green bend of Eastern Washington’s desert sage area, the city of Benton welcomes newcomers to small-town charm and picturesque rural settings. Self-described as a “little Tuscany” surrounded by orchards, vineyards, hayfields, and pastures, Benton overlooks the world-famous Red Mountain vineyards and wineries to the west. To the north, Rattlesnake Mountain is home to a large herd of elk and deer. Residents can enjoy fishing and watersports just beyond their front doorstep on the Yakima River, although the Columbia and Snake rivers converge with Yakima near the city. Other recreational amenities include more than 30 horse-roping arenas, fishing areas, a boat ramp, multi-purpose trails, a shooting range, a miniature aircraft flying area, and a campground. Small in size but big in convenience and services, Benton offers a new library, a medical clinic under Proser Memorial Hospital, great schools, and a growing business sector. This close-knit community loves to gather for festivals and celebrations, from Benton City Daze and Winter Fest to Fourth of July activities.

Kennewick

Municipal Offices
509-585-4200
https://www.go2kennewick.com/

Chamber of Commerce
509-736-0510
https://www.tricityregionalchamber.com/
One of the first things newcomers will discover about Kennewick is the charm and vitality of the city’s historic downtown district with its eclectic blend of shops, businesses, eateries, and restaurants. In addition to its role as the place for festivals and celebration, Historic Downtown Kennewick hosts recurring events like the Farmers Market and a monthly Art Walk. Studios and galleries for glass blowers, photographers, painters, and sculptors are scattered throughout the downtown area. Other city highlights include casinos, a comedy club, walking and hiking trails, and abundant opportunities for water sports including swimming, boating, fishing, water skiing, windsurfing, and kiteboarding. As the largest city in Benton County, Kennewick is a hub for services including two hospitals under the Trios Health system and Columbia Center Mall, the largest indoor shopping center in Southeastern Washington. Children and youth receive a quality education in the Kennewick School District. Among the community highlights is the Playground of Dreams, designed for easy navigation by children with wheelchairs or mobility limitations.

Prosser
Municipal Offices
509-786-2332
https://cityofprosser.com/

Chamber of Commerce
509-786-3177
https://www.prosserchamber.org
Serving as the county seat of government, Prosser welcomes newcomers to a friendly community of unique attractions surrounded by the beauty of wine country. Cultural amenities include the historical landmark of the Princess Theatre, renovated to provide a beautiful showcase for live stage performances by the Valley Theater Company. With a focus on the younger set, Prosser Conservatory Theater for Children combines performances with dramatic arts instruction. The Historic Downtown is filled with unique shops including the 6th Street Art & Gift Gallery hosting work by 40 artisans. In addition to overseeing nine parks, an aquatic center and community center, the city keeps the calendar filled with activities and events. Each year, artists from all over the Pacific Northwest join residents and visitors at the Prosser Art Walk & Wine Gala. In conjunction with the Great Prosser Balloon Rally, local and regional artists spend two days creating artistic masterpieces on the pavement of the downtown district during the Harvest and Street-Painting Festival.

Richland
Municipal Offices
509-942-7390
https://www.ci.richland.wa.us/

Chamber of Commerce
509-736-0510
https://www.tricityregionalchamber.com/
Along with Kennewick and Pasco, Richland is one of the Tri-Cities at the confluence of the Yakima, Snake, and Columbia rivers. Interstate 182 follows the Yakima River through the city, then crosses the Columbia River and continues on through Pasco. Serving as Benton County’s center for higher education, Richland is home to branch campuses for Washington State University and Columbia Basin College. The city also offers the highly-rated healthcare resource of Kadlec Regional Medical Center. Residents enjoy first-rate recreational and cultural amenities, including live-stage theater performances by two local companies. The city is home to seven riverfront parks and opportunities for boating, fishing, and swimming. Numerous golf courses dot the landscape, and the entire Tri-Cities area is linked by a 67-mile system of paved pedestrian and bicycle trails that traverse the cities and wind along the riverfronts. In addition to a calendar of colorful events and festivals, Richland offers The Market at the Parkway, a popular gathering that combines music and crafts with fresh produce and specialty foods. Newcomers will appreciate the lively community atmosphere and the pleasing selection of homes in a variety of settings.

West Richland
Municipal Offices
509-967-3431
http://www.westrichland.org/

Chamber of Commerce
509-967-0521
https://www.westrichlandchamber.org/
The growing city of West Richland attracts newcomers to panoramic views, a family friendly atmosphere, attractive neighborhoods, vibrant new developments, and a first-rate school system. As part of the Tri-Cities area, the city combines the relaxed lifestyle of a small community with easy access to state-of-the-art healthcare resources, college campuses, expanded shopping, entertainment centers, performing arts, and cultural enrichment. Welcoming throngs of visitors, West Richland serves as a gateway to the Yakima River and the Red Mountain Center. With the renowned Red Mountain American Viticultural Area just beyond its doorstep, the city is home to charming cafes and pubs for sampling locally-produced wine, beer, hard cider, and spirits. Yakima River fishing and watersports, challenging golf courses, acres of lush parks, multi-uses paths, and a sports complex ensure abundant opportunities for recreation and outdoor enjoyment for all ages. Colorful annual events bring friends, family, neighbors, and visitors together for outdoor concerts at Flat Top Park, National Night Out, Harvest Festival, and the Hogs & Dogs Family Festival to name just a few.