Remote Surveillance Trailer in Richland, WA

In recent years, numerous studies have shown Americans are leaving big city life for smaller cities and towns.

Young people are opting for cities with populations under a million, according to a March 2025 article from the New York Post, compared to a decade ago when young adults accounted for the majority of major metropolitan area growth. And a Bloomberg article from last year shows small towns and cities are growing while metropolitan areas have taken the loss.

While the Tri-Cities as a whole is growing as a metropolitan area, it features a unique combination of bigger city elements with small city living. Richland, Kennewick and Pasco have all seen consistent growth through the 2020s.

But West Richland has been steadily growing, too. According to the World Population Review, the city’s population has increased more than 21% since 2020.

The city was recently named as one of the top 10 best small towns to live in across the United States in a Travel + Leisure article.

The article picked 10 small towns and cities across the country as the best to live in. They focused on health and education access, cultural activities, green spaces and affordable housing. Real estate experts were consulted about each location.

The top 10 in order:

The article quotes Tri-Cities-area Realtor Cari McGee on West Richland’s appeal. She mentioned the city’s development, with new schools, restaurants and shopping opportunities popping up. The Herald also contacted McGee, a nationally ranked real estate agent who has served the area as a Realtor for over two decades.

McGee told the Herald that she has been a proud resident of West Richland since 1998.

“It’s a tidy little town where you can find groceries, restaurants, and other services you might need,” McGee said in an email to the Herald. “But it’s certainly not loud and bustling.”

Additionally, West Richland is named one of the safest cities in Washington by SafeWise and received a B grade in Crime and Safety from Niche.

Compared to the west side of the state, West Richland has more amenable weather and significantly cheaper homes. The median sale price for a home in all of King County is $875,000, according to Redfin. In West Richland, it’s less than $500,000.

Whether you’re looking to rent or buy, McGee says there are options in West Richland. There are not many traditional rental units, but many houses available for rent. She also said all household types can find a home in West Richland, whether it’s a young, single individual, a large family with multiple children or a retired couple.

“We have a lot of single-family homes here. A small amount of duplexes,” McGee said about the common properties in West Richland. “As far as style is concerned - you can find large homes on acreage by the Yakima River, or smaller 3 bed/2 bath homes with a 2-car garage on a cul-de-sac. There isn’t one or two particular styles that you’ll find.”

The Realtor says the construction is drawing people in, and with more move-ins, that construction only increases.

“Growth begets growth and that’s often pretty exciting, so the excitement draws people, too,” McGee said.

Evacuations are underway in West Richland, Washington, as a fast-moving brush fire threatens homes near Northlake Drive and Clark Court. The blaze broke out on Wednesday night.

“Fire crews are busy in West Richland with a large brush fire threatening houses in the area of Northlake and Clark Ct. Please avoid the area and give fire crews enough space to work,” Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) said in a post on Facebook.

According to local outlet 509 Media, Level 2 evacuation orders have been issued for Broadview in West Richland.

Also Read: Columbia River Gorge fire map and evacuation updates: Blaze near Rowena Crest viewpoint closes I-84 near The Dalles

Witness Reports

Social media has been flooded with images and videos showing intense flames and thick smoke. Residents shared firsthand accounts as the fire inches closer to homes and businesses.

One witness wrote on Facebook: "Getting close to the Castlehouse. Omg. Massive west Richland fire rn!!! Up the hill side behind the Yakima (think across from W.E. Johnson) Clark Ct, City View Drive, Riverside Dr. Offering up prayers for the families in this area as well as everyone helping with containment! Not sure how it started but man, no good."

Another wrote, “Pray for whoever’s house this is that the fire reached! And whoever’s it has reached! We saw the smoke all the way from our house in Pasco! And this is in Richland. My heart hurts for those that this is effecting!! It’s so sad. There are so many fire trucks from all over trying to stop it for 30 minutes or more and it just keeps creeping.”

A third witness reported, “If you have kids being nosey off Mt. Adam's View in West Richland, please call them home. We don't need our grandparents blocked in while this fire spreads, with no outlet. Thanks!”

There are some telltale signs of summer in Tri-Cities, like the Columbia River filling up with boats and the mountains becoming covered with hikers.

As temperatures rise, the number of local events to choose from expands significantly. In summertime, Tri-Cities becomes bustling with things to do, especially live music. There are multiple festivals planned in the coming months, as well as several concert series lasting all summer.

Multiple concert series start in late May, including the longest-standing Live@5 concert series, which begins May 29.

Entering its 21st year, just one year ahead of the Thunder on the Island concert series, Live@5 is a community favorite for family-friendly entertainment. It is presented by Stephens Media Group, a digital media company that runs six Tri-Cities radio stations, with Yakima Federal Savings and Loan as the primary sponsor, according to a recent news release.

The Live@5 concert series provides free music at John Dam Plaza every Thursday through summer. Here’s this year’s lineup:

Music starts at 5 p.m. and is completely free.

Local businesses will have tables set up, so attendees can support various Tri-Cities vendors while enjoying the music, but no purchases are necessary.

This year, the beer garden is hosted by The Emerald of Siam. With owner Dara Quinn launching Emerald Spark Events with her business partner Alicia Cullison, the popular Richland restaurant is able to take its mobile bar setup to more events than ever this year.

The Emerald also provides drinks at the Thunder on the Island concert series on Clover Island, which has free concerts on Wednesdays and paid shows on Sundays.

Food trucks will also be onsite, so you can head to the park straight after work for dinner, drinks and live music.

If you’re bringing kids, Knockerball Tri-Cities is hosting a children’s Fun Zone, said the release from Yakima Federal Savings and Loan.

“Live@5 has proven to be that rare kind of event that brings together people and families from across the Tri-Cities to enjoy a night out in a beautiful park setting — with great food, drinks, local vendors, and the best music the region has to offer,” Dan Manella, the Stephens Media Group general manager, said in the release.

A Kennewick law firm is gathering information from patients of a Richland doctor accused by the state of unprofessional conduct for alleged inappropriate comments and behavior toward women at an obstetrics and gynecology clinic.

At this point, Tamaki Law has not filed a lawsuit against Dr. Mark Mulholland but sent out a news release saying it is investigating the claims and is encouraging anyone with information about the allegations to come forward.

Mulholland, 58, is not currently practicing at Kadlec Regional Medical Center’s Associated Physicians for Women in Richland, but has been a member of the Kadlec medical staff since late 1999, the year he was licensed to practice medicine in Washington state.

Attorney Jeff Kreutz with Tamaki Law said patients have repeatedly told the law firm that their complaints to Kadlec or the Washington state Department of Health have been disregarded.

The state Department of Health on April 29 charged Mulholland with unprofessional conduct, alleging he lacked appropriate boundaries with patients. Any response from Mulholland to the state has not yet been made public.

“Respondent has made inappropriate comments about patients’ physical appearances, including body shaming patients who were overweight and making implied sexual comments about patients’ vaginas,” it said in a Washington Medical Commission statement of charges.

He is accused of pulling a patient’s pants down without asking for permission during a bedside ultrasound and not draping the patient, according to the statement of charges.

He also is accused of making inappropriate comments toward female staff, such as commenting on their weight, asking them to show him their breasts or inquiring about whether they planned to cheat on their husbands.

“Respondent’s behaviors toward patients and staff have often been rationalized, normalized and minimized, resulting in patient and staff complaints being dismissed and not taken seriously,” alleges the statement of charges.

Kadlec said it could not comment on allegations that are part of an ongoing Washington state Department of Health investigation, other than to say it was fully cooperating with the state in the matter.

Mulholland could not be reached for comment. Information on who his attorney is was not available.

A letter of introduction when he was nominated to serve as a member of the Kadlec medical staff’s Executive Committee said Mulholland initially was appointed to the committee in 2000. The letter indicated that the position provides “leadership and guidance for the medical staff and our interface with hospital leadership.”

It is not clear how long he served on the committee after the nomination, but Kadlec said he is not currently a member of the committee.

The letter also said he had served as chairman of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department.

Fire Departments across the Tri-Cities had their work cut out for them as dozens of calls about fireworks related fires began pouring in as dusk settled on Independence Day.

Benton County Fire District 1 public information officer Jenna Roberts said crews were battling a multi-structure and natural cover fire near Finley.

The fire began on 2013 PR SE, off of Highway 397, and resulted in traffic backups due to flames visible from the highway around 10 p.m.

She said there had been multiple small explosions, likely propane.

Callers told dispatcher the fire was started by fireworks. It burned two acres and several outbuildings.

Roberts said crews had been responding to fireworks calls related across Benton and Franklin Counties around about 8:30 p.m. Between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m. dispatch reports showed more than 50 fire related responses by local departments.

Roberts urged Tri-Citians to use caution with fireworks.

Crews in West Richland battled a large field fire near Keene Road and West Lattin Road. The fire resulted in lane closures as firefighters worked to get it under control around 11 p.m.

Benton County Fire District 4 said another fire in West Richland on the 4000 block of S. 38th Street was started by fireworks and flames were threatening structures, according to a post at 10 p.m.

Multiple engines were also dispatched to a possible commercial structure fire on the 100 block of Reata Road in Richland. The area is home to several businesses and a mini-storage complex.

Crews in Pasco were working a fire near Deseret Drive and Road 68, another on the 2500 block of Park Street and a third near S. 26 Avenue and A Street, according to dispatch reports.

Franklin County managed a small natural cover fire near Kau Trail and Road 72 N.

As of 10 a.m. Saturday Pasco and Franklin county crews were dealing with a vegetation fire on the 400 block of Locust Water Rd. and another off of Snake River Road just north of Sacajawea Lake.