Bateman Island facts for kids
 Bateman Island
Location in Washington (state)
Bateman Island (Washington)
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Columbia River, Richland, Washington |
| Coordinates | 46°14′42″N 119°13′34″W / 46.245°N 119.226°W |
| Area | 0.25 sq mi (0.65 km2) |
| Length | 0.83 mi (1.34 km) |
| Width | 0.57 mi (0.92 km) |
| Administration | |
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United States
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| State | Washington |
| County | Benton County |
| City | Richland |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
Bateman Island is a cool island located in the Columbia River in Washington state. It sits right between the cities of Richland and Kennewick, Washington. This island is about one mile long and half a mile wide. That's about 160 acres! Even though it's an island, it's actually part of the city of Richland. Bateman Island used to be known as Riverview Island.
Contents
A Look Back: Bateman Island's Story
Early Explorers and Discoveries
Did you know that famous explorers Lewis and Clark wrote about Bateman Island? They mentioned it in their journals way back in 1805. William Clark and two other men tried to explore the Yakima River's mouth. But they only made it as far as Bateman Island before it got too late.
Clark wrote about seeing Native American lodges on the island. These lodges were places where people lived. He saw them drying salmon there. He also mentioned that there weren't many trees around, just small willow bushes.
Clark wrote:
…I took two men in a Small Canoe and ascended the Columbia river [10 miles (16 km)] to an Island near the Stard. Shore on which two large Mat Lodges of Indians were drying Salmon,…there is no timber of any Sort except Small willow bushes in Sight in any direction - from this Island the natives showed me the entrance of a large Westerly fork which they Call Tâpetêtt at about 8 miles distant, the evening being late I deturmined to return to the forks, at which place I reached at Dark…
Bateman Island was the furthest upstream that Lewis and Clark traveled on the Columbia River.
Island Life Through the Years
Over the years, Bateman Island has been used for different things. In 1872, people used the island for growing wheat. Later, in 1912, it became a place for raising cows.
A special road, called a causeway, was built to connect the island to the shore. This causeway was finished around 1940. From 1941 to 1952, a family named Bateman used the island. They raised turkeys and did some farming there.
Challenges and Cleanup Efforts
The island has faced challenges, like wildfires. A fire happened on August 8, 2001. Experts found that the fire started by accident.
In 2002, a big cleanup effort took place. With help from Bechtel Hanford and many volunteers, about 27 tons of trash were removed. This trash included old beer cans and other debris left over 60 years.
Fun Things to Do on Bateman Island
Today, Bateman Island is open for everyone to enjoy! It has recovered a lot since the 2001 fire. You might still see some signs of it, but nature is bouncing back.
The island is home to many different kinds of wildlife. You might spot deer or various birds. During the wet season, you can even see carp in the water. There are also many small animals living there.
People love to visit Bateman Island for outdoor activities. Some popular things to do include:
- Fishing
- Bird watching
- Hiking on the trails
- Finding geocaches (hidden treasures using GPS)
It's a great place to explore nature and have an adventure!
