KENNEWICK

city, Benton county, southeastern Washington, U.S. It lies along the Columbia River, opposite Pasco and immediately southeast of Richland. Laid out in 1892 by the Northern Pacific Irrigation Company, it is surrounded by farm country producing alfalfa, corn (maize), beans, sugar beets, grapes, and cherries. Hydroelectric dams on the Columbia River and the Hanford Works of the U.S. Department of Energy just northwest of the tri-city group are important to the economy. Kennewick has chemical and agricultural processing plants near the confluence of the Columbia with the Snake and Yakima rivers. The city's name, probably of Indian origin, is believed to mean grassy place. Inc. 1904. Pop. (1991 est.) city, 43,465; Richland-Kennewick-Pasco MSA, 154,694.