Richland, Washington, is a city in Benton County, located in the southeastern part of the state at the confluence of the Yakima and Columbia rivers. The town, with a population of about 50,000, is part of the Tri-Cities which include Pasco and Kennewick. With an exceptional climate, it's known for its wineries and its outdoor recreation. The rivers provide fishing, and boating, and Richland has developed several waterfront parks, along with a scenic 23-mile bike trail along the rivers. Golf is also very popular here with three 18-hole golf courses and one 9-hole course, not to mention several others in the area.
Columbia Basin College, primarily located in Pasco, has a small branch campus in Richland, and Washington State University Tri-Cities, sits on the western bank of the Columbia River. Since World War II, Richland has been a center of production and research in nuclear energy, and is home to the Hanford nuclear site and commercial nuclear power plant. With the shutdown of the last production reactor in 1987, the area has transitioned to environmental cleanup and technology. |