1805Military
Lewis and Clark passed through the area in 1805, and an expedition of the Army Corps of Topographical Engineers headed by Robert E Johnson mapped the Yakima Valley in 1841.
1853History
In 1853, a road was authorized by Congress to pass through the Yakima Valley, and passed through present-day West Richland; however, settlement did not properly begin until the ...
1896Education
The first schoolhouse was built in 1896 on the Van Horn Property just south of what is now Van Giesen Street.
1905Government
Benton County was created in 1905, Richland was incorporated in 1906, and the West Richland area was known as 'Lower Yakima'.
1908Architecture
An irrigation canal from the north side of Horn Rapids Dam was built in 1908 to bring water into Richland.
1917Infrastructure
The Yellowstone Trail, a national highway stretching from Albany, New York, to Seattle, was located through the Yakima Valley in 1917 and 1918.
1948History
Carl Heminger purchased some 80 acres (320,000 m2) in 1948, and laid out plans for a city.
1949History
It was proposed that it be named Heminger City (presumably after himself), but in 1949 the townspeople chose the name Enterprise instead.
1955Government
When the time came in 1955 to incorporate the town, it was decided to rename to West Richland, taking advantage of the already well-known status of nearby Richland.
1981Government
The city annexed the Lewis and Clark Ranch, a 7,600-acre (3,100 ha) property along the Yakima River in 1981.
1999History
== Culture ==
=== Events ===
The City of West Richland has held a Veteran's Day Parade annually since 1999.
2000History
=== 2000 census ===
As of the 2000 census, there were 8,385 people, 2,937 households, and 2,305 families living in the city.
2008History
In 2008, West Richland was the location of the speed test for the fastest production car in the world (the Aero SSC TT) at over 250 mph (400 km/h).
2010History
=== 2010 census ===
As of the 2010 census, there were 11,811 people, 4,145 households, and 3,253 families living in the city.
2020History
=== 2020 census ===
As of the 2020 census, there were 16,295 people and 4,640 households in the city.
2023History
== Demographics ==
As of 2023, the population of West Richland is estimated to be 18,456 residents.
2025History
Plans to develop a planned community with up to 34,000 homes were released in 2025.