Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Elda Belcher retired in after 15 years as West Richland's water and utility clerk. She saw the city grow from 88 utility hookups to over Seventeen years after incorporation, West Richland got its first flagpole and flags in Douglas L Morton, age 13, organized the flag pole project as the last requirement for becoming an Eagle Scout.
A third police officer was hired in In , 12,year-old mammoth bones were found in a construction site on Ironton Drive. The area was a flood plain of the Yakima and Columbia Rivers. University of Washington archeologist Jim Martin also found the bones of rodents, frogs, birds, rabbits, and other small mammals. Tapetal Elementary School was built in The original library opened this same year.
The population in was 2, The police department purchased its first portable radios. West Richland was the fastest-growing incorporated community in Washington in In , the State Transportation Commission approved the construction of a new four-lane bridge over the Yakima to replace the year-old Fallon Bridge.
Widening Van Giesen was completed in A new bridge was built over the Yakima River. The old Fallon Bridge was lowered onto a barge and floated away. In , a new library was built. The bright contemporary building houses the city council chambers and meeting room. This year, West Richland got its first D. Voters cast ballots for or against a change in the city's form of government at the November election. The city's current form of government is Mayor-Council.
Some community members believed the city should have a council-manager form of government. Voters chose to keep the existing form of government by almost 2 to 1. West Richland had 3, registered voters. West Richland sponsored its first annual Harvest Festival in The family festival is known for its free kids' activities, great food, and interesting craft vendors.
