Genealogy Records in Richland, Washington
Richland genealogy research draws on two layers of records: municipal documents held by the Richland City Clerk and county-level vital, land, and court records maintained by Benton County. Incorporated in 1910 and transformed into a major center during the Manhattan Project in the 1940s, Richland has a distinctive record history unlike most Washington cities. This guide explains where genealogy records live, how to access them, and which sources are available online for free.
Richland Overview
Richland City Clerk and Municipal Records
The City of Richland website at richlandwa.gov connects researchers to the City Clerk, who maintains city council minutes, ordinances, resolutions, and public records. Because Richland was incorporated in 1910, city-generated records begin that year. The clerk's office holds historical municipal records and processes public records requests.
Richland's history took a dramatic turn in the 1940s when the federal government acquired the town for the Hanford nuclear site as part of the Manhattan Project. Families were relocated, new residents arrived, and city records from that period reflect a community in rapid transition. For genealogists, records from the 1940s onward document this transformation and the people who lived through it.
Pre-1910 records for the Richland area are held by Benton County, not the city. Benton County was created in 1905 from Klickitat and Yakima counties, so county records for the Richland area begin that year. For events before 1905, researchers may need to search records from predecessor counties.
Note: Public records requests in Washington must be submitted in writing. Most city clerks respond within five business days under RCW 42.56, the state Public Records Act.
Benton County Records for Richland Genealogy
The Benton County Courthouse is located in Prosser, Washington. The County Auditor has birth records from 1905-1907 and marriage records from 1905. The County Clerk has divorce, probate, and court records. The County Assessor holds land records. Known beginning dates for government county records include birth in 1905, marriage in 1905, death in 1915, court in 1884, land in 1885, and probate in 1884. There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.
The Benton County Auditor's online document search at erecording.co.benton.wa.us provides access to recorded documents from January 1972 to the present. The Kennewick Office is at 7122 W Okanogan Pl, Suite E120, Kennewick, WA, phone (509) 736-2727, with hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Copies are $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $3.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page per document. Mail requests must include the Auditor's File Number and a return address.
The FamilySearch Wiki for Benton County notes that the eastern part of the county is dominated by the Tri-City Metropolitan Area. Residents near the confluence of the rivers may have records in Benton, Franklin, or Walla Walla counties, depending on exact location and time period. Richland researchers should check all three if early records are hard to find in Benton County alone.
Benton County Records in the Digital Archives
The Washington State Digital Archives provides free online access to several Benton County collections directly useful for Richland family history research.
The Benton County Auditor Birth Returns collection at digitalarchives.wa.gov covers 1905-1907. Both an index and images of birth returns filed with the Benton County Auditor are available. A second collection, Benton County Auditor Birth Register (1905-1907), provides similar coverage. For births after July 1, 1907, records move to the Washington State Department of Health.
Marriage records for Benton County are available in several overlapping collections. The Benton County Auditor Marriage Certificates collection covers 1905-1995. Marriage Affidavits cover 1909-1939. Marriage License Applications cover 1939-1949, 1952-1953, and 1977-1980. The Benton County Auditor Marriage Records collection continues from 1987 to the present. Together these collections provide broad coverage of Richland marriages across most of the county's history.
Land records in the Digital Archives include Benton County Plats and Surveys from 1906-2023 and Recorded Land Records from 1938-2023. Earlier land records going back to 1885 require a direct request to the Benton County Auditor or the Washington State Archives Central Regional Branch. Additional Benton County collections include Dental Certificates (1905-1983), Professional License Records (1992-2023), and Historical School Districts, Registers and Censuses (1910-1926).
Richland Genealogy Sources and Collections
The Washington State Digital Archives hosts a digitized collection specific to Benton County. The screenshot below shows the birth register collection for 1905-1907, one of the earliest Benton County genealogy collections available online.
This collection includes both an index and images of birth returns filed with the Benton County Auditor. It covers the period from the county's creation through the start of statewide registration. Researchers tracing Richland families from the earliest settlement period will find this collection a key starting point.
Additional Benton County Digital Archives collections cover land records, marriage records, and professional license records. The screenshot below shows another Benton County collection available through the same portal.
All collections at the Digital Archives are free to search and view. Researchers can browse by county name or collection title to find materials relevant to Richland and the broader Tri-Cities area.
Local Genealogical Resources in Richland
The Tri-City Genealogical Society is based in Richland at PO Box 1410, 1314 Jadwin Ave, Richland, WA 99352-1410. The society serves Benton County and the surrounding Tri-Cities area, providing resources and assistance for family history research. Local genealogical societies often hold unique collections including family histories, cemetery records, and local obituaries not found in government archives. Contact the society directly for information on meetings, research assistance, and available record collections.
The East Benton County Historical Society and Museum is located at 205 West Keewaydin Drive, Kennewick, WA 99336, phone 509-582-7704. The museum collects and preserves history of eastern Benton County including Kennewick and Richland. Collections may include photographs, manuscripts, business records, and personal papers of local families. The Reach Museum at 1943 Columbia Park Trail, Richland, WA 99353, phone 509-943-4100, holds historical collections relevant to Native American history, pioneer settlement, and the Hanford nuclear site.
The FamilySearch Wiki for Benton County lists all known record collections for the county and links directly to Digital Archives collections, microfilm inventories, and local research facilities. The Washington State Archives Central Regional Branch in Ellensburg serves Benton County and can be reached at (509) 963-2136 or CEBranchArchives@sos.wa.gov. The branch is open for in-person research Wednesdays through Fridays by appointment only.
Note: The Central Regional Branch serves Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, and Yakima counties. Major subject areas include genealogy, land use, the legal system, and education. Completeness of records varies by county, but staff can help determine what is available for Benton County.
Statewide Resources for Richland Genealogy
Washington State provides several free tools that supplement county records for Richland family history. The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov provides access to over 200 million records from state and local governments. The portal covers birth and death registers (1891-1907), marriage records, land records, probate files, school censuses, military records, city directories, and naturalization documents.
The Washington State Department of Health at doh.wa.gov is the statewide custodian of birth and death certificates from July 1, 1907 forward and marriage and divorce certificates from January 1, 1968 forward. Fees run $20-$25 per certified copy. For events before statewide registration, the DOH directs researchers to county auditors or the Washington State Archives.
The Legacy Washington gateway at sos.wa.gov/legacy/genealogy.aspx links to the Birth Records Index (1907-1929), Death Records Index (1907-2000), Marriage Records Index (1968-2004), and Divorce Records Index (1968-1999). These statewide indexes help researchers identify a record quickly before requesting a full copy.
The Washington State Library genealogy guides cover vital records, newspapers, city directories, military records, and territorial censuses. Staff can assist with research referrals and interlibrary loan for materials not available online. The Washington Rural Heritage program provides digitized photographs, documents, and oral histories from smaller libraries and museums across the state, including institutions in the Tri-Cities area.
Benton County Genealogy Records
Richland is in Benton County. Vital records, court filings, and land documents for Richland residents are held by Benton County offices. For courthouse contact details and a full list of Benton County genealogy resources, visit the county records page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Richland and file genealogy records through county offices in the Tri-Cities region and eastern Washington.