Housing and Community Development

Benton County’s population is housed in a total of 55,963 housing units, including 33,327 detached single-family homes (59.6 percent) (Census 2000). The remaining housing units include multiple unit apartments, 7,665 mobile homes (13.7 percent), and 289 boats, RVs, vans, or other. Approximately 32.6 percent of the housing units were built since 1980, 32.3 percent were built from 1970 to 1979, 9.1 percent were built from 1960 to 1969, and 23.2 percent were built from 1940 to 1959. The remaining 2.8 percent of the housing units were built in 1939 or earlier. The primary heating fuel for the units is electricity, serving 86.7 percent of Benton County’s housing. Other sources of heating fuel are utility gas (8.5 percent), bottled gas (0.9 percent), fuel oil (1.9 percent), and wood (1.9 percent). Building construction in Benton County is in accordance with the Uniform Building Code of 1997, Uniform Plumbing Code of 1997, Uniform Mechanical Code of 1997 and the National Electrical Code of 1997.

The city of Richland lies at the confluence of the Columbia and Yakima rivers, encompassing land on the west bank of the Columbia River, and north and south of the mouth of the Yakima River. Richland was established in 1892 as an agricultural community. In 1942, with the development of the Hanford Site, Richland was transformed from a village of 247 residents to a federally owned town of 11,000. Self-rule was re-established in 1958. Richland’s current population is approximately 38,708 (2000 U.S. Census). The city covers approximately 30 square miles (18,673 acres) – 78 percent of the Richland Urban Growth Area. Richland is governed by an elected City Council. Daily operations are directed by the City Manager.

The city of West Richland is principally a bedroom community for the Tri-Cities area. The area now considered West Richland became developed in the 1950s as residents moved across the Yakima River to avoid government restrictions on the community of Richland. West Richland is governed by a Mayor and City Council. The city has a population of approximately 9,300, and continues to experience considerable growth – most of it as single-family homes. There is comparatively little commercial development, and almost no industrial land uses in West Richland. The city encompasses 22.5 square miles, most of which is undeveloped land to the northwest. A single owner holds almost 8,000 acres of the undeveloped land, known as the Lewis and Clark Ranch.

The city of Kennewick covers 22.93 square miles on the south bank of the Columbia River. Kennewick was incorporated in 1904. The city was primarily an agricultural center until the 1940s, when it began to experience growth associated with the Hanford Site. Kennewick has developed as a bedroom community and a shopping destination for the region, with a current population of approximately 54,693 (2000 U.S. Census). Kennewick is governed by an elected City Council. Daily operations are directed by the City Manager.

Benton City was founded in 1909, built around railroad freight and passenger depots established by the Oregon Washington Railroad and Navigation line. Although initially owned and controlled by various rail and land companies, Benton City was publicly incorporated in 1945. Benton City’s population is approximately 2,624 (2000 U.S. Census), inhabiting 1.75 square miles.

The city of Prosser has a population of almost 5,000 (4,882 in census 2000) within its boundaries, which encompass almost two square miles. Outside the city boundaries, the designated urban growth center contains another 5,000 residents. The city is bisected by the Yakima River – the older downtown section is south of the River, between the River and the Horse Heaven Hills. Newer development and residential areas are north of the River. The Burlington Northern railroad tracks also pass through the city within a block of the downtown area. In addition to serving as the historic county seat, Prosser serves as a local center supporting surrounding agricultural uses, including several area wineries, fruit orchards, pastures and dryland wheat fields. Within and adjacent to the city are several agricultural processing facilities and fertilizer plants.

Paterson is an unincorporated community along the north bank of the Columbia River, on the southern edge of Benton County. The original town was named after a local settler in 1901, and served as a center for local agriculture. Paterson now supports wineries and recreation.

Plymouth is an unincorporated community 13 miles east of Paterson, on the north bank of the Columbia River. Plymouth was founded in 1907 as an agricultural center by the Benton County Irrigation Company. The town site was the landing for the ferry from Umatilla before the current bridge was built.

Finley is an unincorporated community immediately southeast of Kennewick, consisting of a mixture of low-density residential development, small farms, and open space. Finley was a construction camp, and later a train station and post office. The construction camp serviced the Northern Pacific Irrigation Project, circa 1905 – 1906. The area is now home to several large chemical plants.

Whitstran is a small, unincorporated area immediately northeast of Prosser, along the northern bank of the Yakima River. The area includes low-density residential use, a few small commercial establishments, small farms, and other agricultural uses.

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