The Tri-Cities, Washington: Kennewick, Pasco, Richland at the River Confluence

The **Tri-Cities** is a metropolitan area in **southeastern Washington State** where three rivers converge: the **Columbia, Snake, and Yakima**.

Three Core Cities

• Kennewick: Largest (84,000), commercial/retail hub, Columbia River waterfront.
• Pasco: County seat (Franklin), airport (PSC), rail yard, agricultural processing, diverse.
• Richland: High-tech/white-collar (PNNL, DOE Hanford legacy), highest income, planned neighborhoods.

Smaller Communities

West Richland, Benton City, Prosser, Finley, Burbank — functionally integrated.

Economy & Identity

• Hanford Site: Manhattan Project plutonium production (1943–87). Now largest environmental cleanup ($100B+). Major employer (PNNL, Bechtel, CH2M).
• Agriculture: Irrigated by Columbia Basin Project — apples, cherries, grapes (wine), hops, potatoes, corn.
• Wine: 160+ wineries in Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley, Walla Walla AVAs.
• Transport: I-82/US-395, BNSF mainline, PSC airport (Alaska, Delta, United).

Climate

Shrub-steppe desert: 7–9" rain, 300+ sunny days, hot summers (90–100°F), cold winters (20s°F). Irrigation makes it bloom.

The Tri-Cities = science, agriculture, wine, rivers — a distinct inland Pacific Northwest hub.