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Benton County, Washington

104 topographic sheets cover 50 settlements here, and 7 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

7 National Register listings published here, 1 of them a National Historic Landmark.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Washington within the United States
Benton County within Washington

What the record shows

  • 620 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 7 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 5 buildings, 1 district and 1 structure.
  • 1 of the 7 listings was added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 50 populated places in this county; 50 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

7

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Benton County Courthousebuilding197676001869
J. W. Carey Housebuilding198989002096
Gold Coast Historic Districtdistrict200504000315
Hanford B Reactorstructure199292000245
Kennewick Fruit & Produce Company Buildingbuilding2025100011980
Post Office and Federal Office Buildingbuilding2024100010893
US Post Office-Prosser Mainbuilding199191000653

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

253 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 253 of them, burning about 304,070 acres. 41 started naturally and 23 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined83
Equipment and vehicle use42
Natural41
Arson/incendiarism23
Debris and open burning19
Railroad operations and maintenance16
Recreation and ceremony10
Firearms and explosives use10
Fireworks3
Power generation/transmission/distribution2
Smoking2
Misuse of fire by a minor2

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
27 June 2000Equipment and vehicle use163,884 acresHanford Reach National Monument24 COMMAND
18 July 2019Recreation and ceremony41,748 acresHanford Reach National MonumentCOLD CREEK
28 July 1998Natural6,500 acresHanford Reach National MonumentELKMEADOW
29 July 2007Missing data/not specified/undetermined6,000 acresWashington State Fire Marshal's OfficeLES BLAIR
26 August 1997Debris and open burning5,500 acresSpokane DistrictOLYMPIA ST
22 June 2005Missing data/not specified/undetermined5,000 acresOregon Department of Forestry Salem HeadquartersJUNIPER CANYON
13 August 2007Missing data/not specified/undetermined4,704 acresHanford Reach National MonumentMILEPOST 17
11 August 2018Missing data/not specified/undetermined4,700 acresWashington State Fire Marshal's OfficeBOFFER

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1956 to 2020

60 of 88 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 88 reports for this county, causing no deaths, no injuries and about $576,500 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind52
Hail14
Flood6
Tornado5
Funnel Cloud5
Wildfire3
Flash Flood2
Dust Devil1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
January 2009FloodProsser$453,000The Kiona river gage rose to 2.55 feet above flood stage.
January 2011FloodNorth Prosser$60,000In Benton County, there was minor flooding at the RV park along the river at Benton City and through the rural areas of West Richland. At the higher levels, some water from the river flows through a low bank area and moves overland through a rural subdivision and then rejoins the main river channel. Homes are built up so water does not enter them, but there was 60,000 dollars in damages to roads and outbuildings.
May 2016Tornado (EF0)Kennewick Vista Arpt$20,000We received a cell phone video captured from the general public that showed swirling motion at the surface.
July 2002Thunderstorm WindKennewick$20,000Ham radio operator reported trees blown into cars and homes.
August 2000Thunderstorm WindKennewick$20,000no account filed
June 2008Thunderstorm WindKennewick$2,000Carport roof was blown off.
June 2005Dust DevilRichland$1,000no account filed
May 2011Thunderstorm WindProsser$500Swirling winds from a thunderstorm gust front picked up lawn furniture which flew 500 feet, crashed into, and broke the back window of a car traveling along Byron Road west of Prosser. Cushions from the furniture traveled 300-400 yards across the Yakima River. The swirling winds were about 5 yards wide and traveled 250 yards to the north and then dissipated in trees north of the Yakima River.
March 2020Tornado (EF0)North Richland-Multiple public videos of a weak landspout tornado on the north side of Richland, WA in an open area. No damage reported.
May 2020Thunderstorm WindKennewick-Large tree blocking Kennewick Avenue near Newport Street.
May 2020Thunderstorm WindProsser-Downed trees in Prosser.
May 2019Funnel CloudBenton City-A member of the public posted a picture of a funnel cloud to social media. Weak rotation verified by RADAR.
May 2019HailBenton City-A member of the public posted a video showing hail with a maximum size of 1 inch.
June 2019Flash FloodVista-Significant ponding was reported along West Forth and South Steptoe Street with water up to the bumpers on vehicles.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindHanford-A mesonet station at the Hanford Site reported a gust to 62 mph near the Vernita Bridge.
May 2017HailActon-Estimated 1.00 inch hail occurred at West Richland in Benton county. Report from social media via NBC Tri-Cities.
February 2017FloodBadger-Mild temperatures February 9 -13 allowed an initial snow melt and heavy rain caused rapid melting and increased runoff across Benton county. This area had a snowpack of 5-10 inches on February 15, with much of it melted by February 21. Rain amounts of 0.50 to 0.75 were seen on February 16 and temperatures remained above freezing through February 22 with additional rain amounts of 0.50 to 1.00 inches on February 21-22. Numerous county roads had washouts, erosion, slides and undermining.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindActon-A severe thunderstorms produced wind gusts of 62 to 68 mph occurred in and around West Richland in Benton county.
June 2017Flash FloodRichland-Numerous intersections were flooded in Kennewick and Richland Washington, including Canal Drive and Volland Street, Gage Boulevard and Quinault Street. The Columbia Park Trail was closed from Hillwood to Rockwood due to flooding. Vista Field in Kennewick had 1.05 inches in one hour, with spotter reports of 0.64 inches to 0.94 inches in Richland and 0.70 inches to 1.01 inches in Kennewick.
August 2014Tornado (EF0)North Prosser-Small tornado touched down in an open field with no damage reported.
August 2014Thunderstorm WindBadger-Public reported 3200 pound shed moved 20 feet with shingle damage.
August 2014Thunderstorm WindProsser-Public reported a power outage due to strong winds.
September 2013Thunderstorm WindNorth Mc Nary-Multiple highway signs blown down along I-82 between Coffin Road and Oregon State Line.
September 2013Thunderstorm WindNorth Richland-Hanford Mesonet measured a 68 mph wind gust.
September 2013Thunderstorm WindKennewick Vista Arpt-Mesonet at Vista Field measured a 58 mph wind gust.
September 2013Thunderstorm Wind(Rld)Richland Arpt-Four inch tree limbs down, with blowing dust and restricting visibilities.
September 2013Thunderstorm WindActon-A 77 mph wind gust measured by Hanford Mesonet.
September 2013Thunderstorm Wind(Rld)Richland Arpt-Few power lines down and limbs on power lines. Power out until Friday morning for for some customers in the county.
September 2013Thunderstorm WindKennewick Vista Arpt-Weather station measured a wind gust of 62 mph. Power went out at 715 pm. Wind blew down tree limbs 4 to 5 inches in diameter.
September 2013Thunderstorm WindNorth Mc Nary-Washington Ag Wx Net Station.
September 2013Thunderstorm WindNorth Mc Nary-Washington Ag Wx Net observation.
August 2013Thunderstorm WindKennewick Vista Arpt-Tree limbs approx 4-7 inches in diameter down from thunderstorm wind gusts.
April 2012Funnel CloudBadger-The air traffic control tower at Pasco airport reported at funnel cloud about 15 miles southwest of the airport with little or no movement.
July 2012HailFinley-Radio operator reported hail damaged 3 vehicles and broke 2 house windows.
July 2012Thunderstorm WindKennewick Vista Arpt-Wind caused the rain and hail to move sideways parallel to the ground.
May 2011FloodProsser-The Yakima River at Kiona crested at 15.5 feet on May 18th, which was 2.5 feet above flood stage. The flooding damaged several businesses in Prosser and farmland, roads, businesses, and residential areas from Prosser to Richland, including the Beach RV Park in Benton City and the West Richland Golf Course.
April 2011FloodGibbon-The river gage at Kiona crested at 1.3 feet above flood stage.
January 2009FloodYellepit-The Walla Walla River at Touchet crested at 1.87 feet above flood stage.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindRichland-Hanford Army Loop Road station reported 61 mph.
May 2006Thunderstorm WindPlymouth-Several irrigation pivots blown over.
May 2006Thunderstorm WindFinley-Winds damaged sheds, downed 4 poplar trees, and snapped a flag pole in half.
May 2006Thunderstorm WindKennewick-Grain bin roof blown over and crushed.
May 2006Thunderstorm WindFinley-Numerous trees and powerlines down, some on houses and cars.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindPaterson-Thunderstorm wind gust ripped off large tree branches and blew nearly all apples onto the ground. A large aluminum tool box was blown 25 feet and an irrigation wheel line was moved.
April 2003Funnel CloudProsser-A funnel cloud associated with a thunderstorm moved slowly northward.
July 2002WildfireProsser-The Crosby Road Fire, sparked by lightning, consumed 2,000 acres and one structure.
June 2001Funnel CloudHanford Works-A cold-core funnel cloud was reported underneath a convective shower over the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.
July 2001Thunderstorm WindRichland-A wind gust of 60 mph was measured at one of the observing sites on the Hanford Reservation.
July 2000WildfireFinley-Lightning from dry thunderstorms started two range fires near the town of Finley. One fire burned around 40 acres of fallow farmland near the intersection of Finley and Farm Roads south of Finley. The second fire started near Ayers Road and Yellepit pond. No structures were harmed by these two fires.
August 1997WildfireBerrian-A brush fire fueled by a powerful dust storm blackened the hills of south Kennewick. Over 5100 acres of sage brush were burnt and electricity to a local TV and radio tower was cut off by the fire. No homes were destroyed.
July 1995Thunderstorm Windnot stated-In the Tri Cities street flooding and power outages accompanied the thunderstorm. Quarter-inch hail was also reported.
May 1994HailHanford-A severe thunderstorm produced golf ball-sized hail and very heavy rain in the vicinity of Hanford.
May 2020Thunderstorm WindPlymouth-no account filed
May 2016HailKennewick Vista Arpt-no account filed
August 2014Thunderstorm WindHanford Works-no account filed
August 2013Thunderstorm WindHanford-no account filed
August 2013Thunderstorm WindNorth Richland-no account filed
June 2013HailProsser-no account filed
September 2013Thunderstorm WindBiggam-no account filed
August 2013Thunderstorm WindNorth Richland-no account filed

Mines and quarries

87 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 87 workings inside this county. 8 still produce and 79 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction42
Stone, Crushed/Broken26
Gold8
Pumice4
Clay3
Perlite1
Gemstone1
Silver1
Diatomite1
Flagstone1
Stone, Dimension1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Barrel SpringsGemstoneProspect
Gravel PitStone, DimensionPast Producer
KionaDiatomiteOccurrence
ProsserPerliteOccurrence
ProsserGold, SilverProspect
Prosser QuarryFlagstonePast Producer
HanfordClayPast Producer
KennewickClayPast Producer
ProsserClayPast Producer
Nine CanyonPumiceOccurrence
ProsserPumiceOccurrence
Rider PitPumicePast Producer
South ProsserPumiceOccurrence
Artesian Coulee PlacerGoldUnknown
Berrian Island PlacerGoldOccurrencePlacer
Berrian Island PlacerGoldPast Producer
Blalock Island PlacerGoldPast Producer
Chinaman Bar PlacerGoldPast Producer1939
Gone Busted PlacerGoldOccurrencePlacer
Gone Busted PlacerGoldPast Producer
Borrow PitStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Borrow PitStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Crow Butte PitStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
D.O.E. Pit No. 1Sand and Gravel, Construction, Stone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Farmers Field PitStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Gravel PitStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Gravel PitStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Gravel PitStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Highway 221 QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Johnson PitStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Luth QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Marin QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Reils QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Rothrock QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed Quarry SStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Acme Concrete CoSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Anderson Pit & PlantSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Benton CitySand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrence
Cherry Lane QuarrySand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Fallon Bridge PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Fallon River BarSand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrence
Finley PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Hibbs PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Hoit PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Kennewick PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
KionaSand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrence
Matheson PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Matheson PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Pf R-76 PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Plymouth PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Prairie Rock PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Prosser PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Putnam PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Richland PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Sanders and Young PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Shelby Road PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
South KionaSand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrence
State R-50 QuarrySand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed Pit LSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer

Every populated place in the county

50

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

The vanished settlements of Benton County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.