Welcome to Kennewick

Kennewick is situated on the southwest bank of the Columbia River in Benton County.  It is one of three cities in what are commonly referred to as the Tri-Cities region.  Richland, also in Benton County, and Pasco in Franklin County are the other two cities.

Columbia Park East covers 100 acres adjacent to the Columbia River where it offers a variety of recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.

The Three Rivers Convention Center and the Toyota Arena host a variety of business and social events throughout the year.  The arena has an ice sheet that can be used for private skating parties or hockey practices.  The Toyota Center is a venue for several entertainment events.

The Roundabout Theatre Arts presents a variety of entertainments in Kennewick.  Ye Merrie Greenwood Players, produce "Ye Merrie Greenwood Renaissance Faire" each summer in Kennewick.

The Online Encyclopedia of Washington History has several articles on the history of Kennewick and its people, including and overview of the history of Benton County, early rail service, the Liberty Theatre and the flood of 1948.  Use the search option on the encyclopedia's web site for more articles.  The East Benton County Historical Museum is located in Kennewick.

The discovery of the remains of a prehistoric man found on a bank of the Columbia River nearby and given the name of Kennewick Man has led to a matter of ongoing controversy.  This archeological event has undoubtedly given the city's name a prominence it might otherwise never have had.  Additional information about the Kennewick Man is available on the National Park Service, the Kennewick Man Virtual Interpretive Center, Friends of America's Past, Confederate Tribes for the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Archeological Institute of America and the Smithsonian Institute web sites.

There is a good selection of lodging and dining facilities in Kennewick and the Tri-City area.

The City of Kennewick and the Tri-Cities Visitors and Convention Bureau web sites have additional information to assist with travel planning to Kennewick and the Tri-Cities region.

Transportation:   Ben Franklin Transit provides bus services throughout the Tri-Cities region.  This site also has a useful map of the service area.

Pasco and the Tri-Cities region are well served by major highways:  Interstate 82, which runs northwest to southeast from Interstate 90 in Ellensburg, WA to Interstate 84 near Pendleton in Oregon; US395, a major north-to-south highway serving eastern Washington and Oregon running from Spokane southbound to eventually California and Nevada; and US12, a west-to-east route crossing Washington state from its junction with US101 at Aberdeen on the coast to Lewiston in Idaho and points east.

Airports:   Tri-Cities Airport on the north side of Pasco provides commercial passenger and general aviation services.  

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