Richland

Richland is a city in southeastern Washington where the Columbia and Yakima rivers meet, forming one third of the Tri-Cities area alongside Pasco and Kennewick. The settlement sits at 117 meters elevation and extends along both river shores with several parks and public access points.

The military took over the area in 1943 to build the Hanford nuclear facility as part of the Manhattan Project. The former farming region transformed within months into a research settlement housing thousands of workers.

The REACH Museum presents exhibits about the Columbia Basin region, covering natural history, scientific developments, and the impact of the Ice Age floods.

Two marinas and a five-mile paved path along the waterfront offer access to the water and recreational routes. The shoreline areas work well for walking, cycling, and river activities in a moderate climate.

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory measures tiny shifts in spacetime and occupies a facility stretching for miles. The Manhattan Project B Reactor still stands today as a national monument showing early nuclear technology.

Location: Benton County

Inception: 1905

Elevation above the sea: 117 m

Part of: Tri-Cities

Shares border with: Kennewick

Website: http://ci.richland.wa.us

GPS coordinates: 46.28028,-119.27528

Latest update: December 12, 2025 23:24