Editing Prosser, Washington

{{Short description|City in Washington, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Prosser
|settlement_type          = [[City government in Washington (state)|City]]
|motto                    = 
|image_skyline            = Prosser Court House.jpg
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = Benton County court house in Prosser
|image_map                = Benton_County_Washington_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Prosser_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Prosser, Washington
<!-- Location ------------->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Washington|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Benton County, Washington|Benton]]
<!-- Government ------>
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = [[Mayor–council]]
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = 
|established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = 1899
<!-- Area ------>
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_53.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 24, 2022}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 12.39
|area_land_km2            = 12.06
|area_water_km2           = 0.33
|area_total_sq_mi         = 4.79
|area_land_sq_mi          = 4.66
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.13
<!-- Population ----->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 6242
|pop_est_as_of            = 2022
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2022"/>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 6062
|population_density_km2   = 528.96
|population_density_sq_mi = 1369.98
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
|utc_offset               = -8
|timezone_DST             = PDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -7
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 663
|coordinates              = {{coord|46|12|42|N|119|45|10|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 99350
|area_code                = [[Area code 509|509]]
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 53-56450
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2411497<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2411497}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://cityofprosser.com/|cityofprosser.com}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Prosser''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|r|ɑː|s|ə|r|}}) is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Benton County, Washington]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Situated along the [[Yakima River]], it had a population of 6,062 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Prosser_city,_Washington?g=160XX00US5356450 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=November 5, 2023}}</ref>

==History==
{{More citations needed section|date=March 2023}}

Prosser was long home to [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] who lived and fished along the river.  They called the area "Táptat" (alternatively spelled Tap-tat, Top tut, etc.<ref>Mink, Gaylord - ''From Taptat to Prosser Dam''. Benton County Historical Museum, 2020, p.23.</ref>), which translates to "long hair in front, short hair on the sides", referring to a style of headdress.<ref>Hunn, Eugene et al. - ''Čáw Pawá Láakni – They Are Not Forgotten: Sahaptian Place Names Atlas of the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla''. University of Washington Press, 2015, p. 100.</ref>

[[William F Prosser|Colonel William Farrand Prosser]] first surveyed the area in 1879, then claimed homestead in 1882.  The [[Northern Pacific Railroad]] laid tracks through the area two years later.  A town plat was filed by Colonel Prosser in 1885, and in 1886 he was elected [[Yakima County (Washington)|Yakima County Auditor]].  He moved to [[Yakima, Washington|North Yakima]] to attend to these duties, and never returned to the town that he founded.

Lewis Hinzerling built a flour mill at Prosser falls in 1887, encouraging further settlement of the area.  The first [[Irrigation (agriculture)|irrigation canal]] was completed in 1893 by the Prosser Falls Land and Irrigation Company.  Prosser was officially incorporated in 1899 with a population of 229 people.

In 1905, [[Benton County (Washington)|Benton County]] was carved out of the eastern portions of [[Yakima County (Washington)|Yakima]] and [[Klickitat County (Washington)|Klickitat]] Counties. The new town of Prosser was chosen as county seat. In 1907 a power plant was added and began delivering [[Rural electrification|electricity]] to the town.  The following year, a new high school was built, followed a year later by a telephone exchange.  In 1910 the city received a grant from [[Andrew Carnegie]] for a public library.

Throughout the 1910s and 1920s various companies drilled in this area for oil and natural gas. There were no large findings and the [[Great Depression]] put an end to exploration.

On November 5, 1912, Benton County voters held a [[referendum]] to move the [[county seat]] from Prosser to either [[Kennewick, Washington|Kennewick]] or [[Benton City, Washington|Benton City]].  Intense rivalry and war of words between Benton City, Kennewick, and Prosser preceded the vote. Despite getting a majority of the vote, Kennewick did not receive 60 percent of the vote as required by law.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=7744| title = Voters fail to move Benton County seat from Prosser following rivalry with Benton City and Kennewick on November 5, 1912. - HistoryLink.org}}</ref>  To date, Prosser remains the county seat.

In 1919, [[Washington State University|Washington State College]] (later WSU) established the Irrigation Experiment Station at Prosser.  The program's mandate is to study the problems faced by farmers, orchardists, and ranchers in the dry central part of the state. The station originally employed scientists from the college in Pullman, who partnered with scientists from the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and the [[USDA|United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)]].  The station is still currently in use, and offers a number of agricultural education programs.

Prosser at one point had three newspapers, which were consolidated in the 1920s into the Prosser ''Record-Bulletin'', and a permanent courthouse was built in 1926.  The Benton County Historical Museum was dedicated in 1968.<ref>[http://www.recordbulletin.com/about/index.php About the Prosser ''Record-Bulletin''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426045657/http://recordbulletin.com/about/index.php |date=April 26, 2009}}</ref>

In more recent years, Prosser's location on a major river (the Yakima) and highway access has encouraged a growing [[Wineries|wine business]] and associated [[Wine tourism|tourist]] industry.  Several Prosser wineries are located within the [[Yakima Valley AVA|Yakima Valley appellation]].

==Geography==
Prosser is located near the eastern end of the [[Yakima River|Yakima Valley]]. It is {{Convert|665|ft|m}} above sea level.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>  One river, the [[Yakima River]], runs through it.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|4.53|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which, {{convert|4.49|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.04|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 19, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=January 25, 2012}}</ref> The former community of [[Kinneyville, Washington|Kinneyville]] is now a neighborhood fully contained within Prosser. The city has the [[ZIP code]] 99350.

===Climate===
Prosser experiences a [[semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''BSk'').

{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | collapsed   = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = Prosser, Washington (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1925–present)
 | Jan record high F  = 69
 | Feb record high F  = 69
 | Mar record high F  = 81
 | Apr record high F  = 91
 | May record high F  = 100
 | Jun record high F  = 114
 | Jul record high F  = 111
 | Aug record high F  = 106
 | Sep record high F  = 101
 | Oct record high F  = 90
 | Nov record high F  = 76
 | Dec record high F  = 70
 | year record high F = 
 | Jan high F = 40.1
 | Feb high F = 46.7
 | Mar high F = 55.9
 | Apr high F = 64.6
 | May high F = 74.1
 | Jun high F = 80.9
 | Jul high F = 90.4
 | Aug high F = 89.2
 | Sep high F = 79.7
 | Oct high F = 64.7
 | Nov high F = 49.3
 | Dec high F = 39.5
 | year high F = 64.6
 | Jan mean F = 33.5
 | Feb mean F = 37.6
 | Mar mean F = 45.4
 | Apr mean F = 52.2
 | May mean F = 61.0
 | Jun mean F = 67.2
 | Jul mean F = 75.0
 | Aug mean F = 73.4
 | Sep mean F = 64.9
 | Oct mean F = 52.8
 | Nov mean F = 40.5
 | Dec mean F = 32.9
 | year mean F = 53.0
 | Jan low F = 26.8
 | Feb low F = 28.6
 | Mar low F = 34.9
 | Apr low F = 39.9
 | May low F = 47.9
 | Jun low F = 53.6
 | Jul low F = 59.5
 | Aug low F = 57.7
 | Sep low F = 50.1
 | Oct low F = 40.8
 | Nov low F = 31.7
 | Dec low F = 26.3
 | year low F = 41.5
 | Jan record low F  = -20
 | Feb record low F  = -20
 | Mar record low F  = 6
 | Apr record low F  = 14
 | May record low F  = 26
 | Jun record low F  = 30
 | Jul record low F  = 31
 | Aug record low F  = 36
 | Sep record low F  = 21
 | Oct record low F  = 11
 | Nov record low F  = -7
 | Dec record low F  = -11
 | year record low F = 
 | precipitation colour   = green
 | Jan precipitation inch = 1.24
 | Feb precipitation inch = 0.90
 | Mar precipitation inch = 0.69
 | Apr precipitation inch = 0.74
 | May precipitation inch = 0.88
 | Jun precipitation inch = 0.68
 | Jul precipitation inch = 0.21
 | Aug precipitation inch = 0.16
 | Sep precipitation inch = 0.27
 | Oct precipitation inch = 0.77
 | Nov precipitation inch = 0.86
 | Dec precipitation inch = 1.33
 | year precipitation inch = 8.73
 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
 | Jan precipitation days  = 8.3
 | Feb precipitation days  = 5.9
 | Mar precipitation days  = 5.9
 | Apr precipitation days  = 5.2
 | May precipitation days  = 5.8
 | Jun precipitation days  = 3.7
 | Jul precipitation days  = 1.7
 | Aug precipitation days  = 1.5
 | Sep precipitation days  = 2.7
 | Oct precipitation days  = 5.7
 | Nov precipitation days  = 7.1
 | Dec precipitation days  = 8.3
 | year precipitation days = 61.8
 | source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=pdt
|title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = December 11, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00456768&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = December 11, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 229
|1910= 1298
|1920= 1697
|1930= 1569
|1940= 1719
|1950= 2636
|1960= 2763
|1970= 2954
|1980= 3896
|1990= 4476
|2000= 4838
|2010= 5714
|2020= 6062
|estyear=2022
|estimate=6242
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2022">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |date=November 5, 2023|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=November 5, 2023}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 19, 2013}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 6,062 people, 2,272 households in the city.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 5,714 people, 2,023 households, and 1,396 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1272.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 2,129 housing units at an average density of {{convert|474.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 76.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.5% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.0% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 17.6% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 3.2% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 37.2% of the population.

There were 2,023 households, of which 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.0% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.42.

The median age in the city was 32.8 years. 30.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.5% were from 25 to 44; 21.4% were from 45 to 64; and 13.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 4,838 people 1,697 households, and 1,240 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,125.1 people per square mile (434.4/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 1,800 housing units at an average density of 418.6 per square mile (161.6/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the city was 79.89% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.54% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.91% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.76% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.29% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 15.11% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.50% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 29.37% of the population. Ancestries: German (17.3%), English (10.8%), Irish (9.3%), United States (6.8%), Norwegian (4.3%), French (4.2%), 12.5% Foreign born (99.1% Mexican).

There were 1,697 households, out of which 41.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.38.

In the city, the age distribution of the population showed 32.5% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,185, and the median income for a family was $45,162. Males had a median income of $36,750 versus $26,146 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,302. About 11.5% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 2.6% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
The economy of Prosser is based on agriculture. In addition to fruit orchards and fruit packing plants, Prosser is part of the [[Yakima Valley AVA]], a major wine-growing region.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}} Prosser now has nearly 30 wineries in the city and surrounding areas.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gregutt |first=Paul |date=November 12, 2006 |title=A Toast To Prosser |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/a-toast-to-prosser/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=October 20, 2022}}</ref>

==Schools==
Public education is provided by the Prosser School District, also known as Prosser Public Schools, which operates six schools.

{| class="wikitable"
|[[Prosser High School]]
|Grades 9–12
|868 students
|-
|Prosser Opportunity Academy
|Grades 9–12
|25 students
|-
|Housel Middle School
|Grades 6–8
|571 students
|-
|Keene-Riverview Elementary
|Grades K-2
|394 students
|-
|Prosser Heights Elementary
|Grades 3–5
|359 students
|-
|Whitstran Elementary
|Grades K-5
|226 students
|-
|Total six schools
|Grades K-12
|Total 2,443 Student Enrolled<br>{{center|<small>2022-23 School Year</small>}}
|}

==Media==
{{see also|Prosser Record-Bulletin|KZXR-FM}}
Prosser was formerly served by four competing newspapers at the turn of the 20th century. The ''American'' was established in 1893 and only ran for three years and was bought out by the new ''Prosser Record''. The ''Prosser Falls Bulletin'' ceased publication in 1902 and was replaced with the ''Republican Bulletin'' in 1907. The ''Benton Independent'' was established in 1909 and was consolidated into the ''Record'' in 1913, becoming the ''Independent Record'' five years later. On July 1, 1920, the ''Republican Bulletin'' and ''Independent Record'' were merged into the [[Prosser Record-Bulletin|''Prosser Record-Bulletin'']], which continues to serve the Prosser area.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 16, 1950 |title=History Of Prosser Can Be Seen By Its Newspapers; City Had Three |page=16 |work=Tri-City Herald}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Bagwell |first1=Steve |last2=Stapilus |first2=Randy |year=2013 |title=New Editions: The Northwest's newspapers as they were, are, and will be |page=253 |publisher=Ridenbaugh Press |location=Carlton, Oregon |isbn=978-0-945648-10-9 |oclc=861618089}}</ref>

In addition to a newspaper, Prosser has had an FM-radio station since 1963.  [[KZXR-FM]] (101.7 [[FM broadcasting|FM]]) is a [[radio station]] broadcasting a [[regional Mexican]] music format.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www1.arbitron.com/sip/sip.do#access |date=Summer 2009 |title=Station Information Profile |publisher=[[Arbitron]] |accessdate=2009-10-13}}</ref> The station is currently owned by Amador and Rosalie Bustos' [[Bustos Media]], through licensee Bustos Media Holdings, LLC.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=KZXR |title=KZXR-FM Facility Record |work=United States [[Federal Communications Commission]], audio division |accessdate=2009-10-13}}</ref>

==Crime==
{{Infobox UCR
|city_name= Prosser
|year= 2022
|violent_crime= 7
|homicide= 0
|rape= 0
|robbery= 1
|aggravated_assault= 6
|property_crime= 147
|arson= 1
|burglary= 13
|larceny_theft= 102
|motor_vehicle_theft= 31
|source_url= https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/LATEST/webapp/#/pages/explorer/crime/crime-trend
|source_name= 2022 FBI UCR Data
|notes= 2022 population: 6,242
}}

==Notable people==
* [[Mary L. Boas]] — Mathematician and physics instructor and author
* [[George Boomer]] — Socialist newspaper editor and 1908 gubernatorial candidate
* [[Walter Clore]] — Father of [[Washington wine]]
* [[Lorena González (Seattle politician)|Lorena González]], Seattle city councilmember
* [[Kelly Blair Labounty]] — 1996 Olympian. 
* [[Harold McCluskey]] — "The Atomic Man"
* [[Kellen Moore]] — Former [[NFL]] Quarterback. Current Head Coach of the New Orleans Saints.  
* [[Brian Norman Prior]] — IX Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota
* [[William Farrand Prosser]] — city founder, U.S. Army Colonel in the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]

==See also==
* [[List of Harvest Festivals]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://cityofprosser.com/ City of Prosser Official Website]
* [http://prosserchamber.org Prosser Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.visityakimavalley.org/ Yakima Valley Visitors & Convention Bureau]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111201205317/http://www.washingtonruralheritage.org/prosser/ Prosser Heritage. Digitized historical resources from the Prosser branch of Mid-Columbia Libraries and the Benton County Museum & Historical Society.]

{{Benton County, Washington}}
{{Washington}}
{{Washington (state) county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Cities in Benton County, Washington]]
[[Category:County seats in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Yakima River]]
[[Category:Prosser, Washington]]