Tri-Cities metropolitan area

This article is about the metropolitan area. For the three cities within the metropolitan area, see Tri-Cities, Washington.

The Kennewick–Pasco–Richland metropolitan area—colloquially referred to as the Tri-Cities metropolitan area, and officially known as the Kennewick–Richland, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area—is a metropolitan area consisting of Benton and Franklin counties in Washington state, anchored by the cities of Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland (the Tri-Cities). As of 2023, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates the population of the metropolitan area to be 314,253,^[2] making it the third-largest metropolitan area located entirely in Washington, after the Seattle metropolitan area and the Spokane metropolitan area. Although it is located outside of the metropolitan area, the CDP of Burbank (located in Walla Walla County) is part of the Tri-Cities urban area.^[3]

Tri-Cities Metropolitan Area
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Kennewick–Richland, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Aerial view of Kennewick from above the Columbia River
Interactive Map of Kennewick–Richland– Walla Walla, WA CSA   Kennewick–Richland, WA MSA   City of Kennewick   City of Pasco   City of Richland   Walla Walla, WA MSA   City of Walla Walla
Coordinates: 46°22′N 119°16′W
Country	United States
State	Washington
Largest city	Kennewick (85,158)
Other cities	- Pasco (81,415)  - Richland (61,912)  - West Richland (17,126)  - Prosser (6,213)  - Connell (5,080)  - Benton City (3,559)  - Mesa (631)  - Kahlotus (171)
Area
• Total	2,942.5 sq mi (7,621 km2)
Highest elevation	3,527 ft (1,075 m)
Lowest elevation	265 ft (81 m)
Population  (2023)
• Total	314,253
• Rank	166th in the U.S.
• Density	106.8/sq mi (37/km2)
GDP [1]
• Total	$21.08 billion (2023)
Time zone	UTC-8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)

The Tri-Cities metro area is a constituent piece of the Kennewick-Richland-Walla Walla combined statistical area, which consists of the Tri-Cities (Benton and Franklin Counties) along with the Walla Walla metropolitan area (Walla Walla County).^[4]

Counties

• Benton
• Franklin

Communities

Over 50,000 inhabitants

• Kennewick (principal city)
• Pasco
• Richland (principal city)

10,001 to 50,000 inhabitants

• West Richland

5,001 to 10,000 inhabitants

• Prosser
• Connell

5,000 inhabitants or fewer

• Benton City
• Mesa
• Kahlotus

Unincorporated places

• Acton
• Badger
• Basin City
• Eltopia
• Finley
• Grosscup (now part of West Richland)
• Harder
• Highland
• Kiona
• Ledbeder (now part of West Richland)
• Longview
• North Prosser
• Paterson
• Plymouth
• West Pasco
• Whitstran

Ghost towns

• Ainsworth
• Berrian
• Cactus
• East White Bluffs
• Gibbon
• Hanford (depopulated in March 1943)
• Horse Heaven
• Hover
• Wahluke
• White Bluffs (depopulated in March 1943)
• Yellepit

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	13,090		—
1920	16,780		28.2%
1930	17,089		1.8%
1940	18,360		7.4%
1950	64,933		253.7%
1960	85,412		31.5%
1970	93,406		9.4%
1980	144,469		54.7%
1990	150,033		3.9%
2000	191,822		27.9%
2010	253,340		32.1%
2020	303,622		19.8%
2023 (est.)	314,253		3.5%

As of 2023, there were 314,253 people and 109,481 households residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 55% White, 36% Hispanic, 3% Asian, 2% Black, <1% Native, and <1% Islander.

The median income for a household in the MSA was $83,053. The per capita income for the MSA was $38,117.^[5]