It is located along the southwest bank of the Columbia River , just southeast of the confluence of the Columbia and Yakima rivers and across from the confluence of the Columbia and Snake rivers.
It is the most populous of the three cities collectively referred to as the Tri-Cities the others being Pasco and Richland.
The United States Census Bureau estimated the population to be 85, as of , [ 7 ] up from 83, at the United States census. The discovery of Kennewick Man along the banks of the Columbia River provides evidence of Native Americans ' settlement of the area for at least 9, years. The construction of the Hanford Site at Richland accelerated the city's growth in the s as workers from around the country came to participate in the Manhattan Project.
While Hanford and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory continue to be major sources of employment, [ 9 ] the city's economy has diversified over time and Kennewick today hosts offices for Amazon and Lamb Weston. Native Americans populated the area around modern-day Kennewick for millennia before being discovered and settled by European descendants. Kennewick's low elevation helped to moderate winter temperatures. On top of this, the riverside location made salmon and other river fish easily accessible.
By the 19th century, people lived in and between two major camps in the area. Lewis and Clark noted that there were many people living in the area when they passed through in and These had approximate populations of 2, and 3, respectively. There are conflicting stories on how Kennewick gained its name, but these narratives attribute it to the Native Americans living in the area.
