Hanford, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hanford, Washington
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Main street in Hanford, 1915
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 Hanford, Washington
Location in Benton County, Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Benton |
| Settled | 1907 |
| Elevation | 404 ft (123 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
99343
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| Area code(s) | 509 |
Hanford was once a small farming town in Benton County, Washington, in the United States. In 1943, the town and a nearby community called White Bluffs were emptied. This happened to create space for a large nuclear facility known as the Hanford Site. Today, the original town of Hanford is located in a part of the site called the "100F" sector.
A Town's Beginning
Hanford was founded in 1907. It was named after Cornelius H. Hanford, who was a judge and led an irrigation company. The land for the town was bought by a local company that provided power and water.
Growing Years
By 1913, Hanford had a special railroad track that connected it to a bigger railway. This larger railway was called the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway, also known as "the electric railroad." By 1925, the town was doing very well. There was a high demand for farm products grown in the area. Hanford had a hotel, a bank, and schools for both elementary and high school students.
The Town is Emptied
The U.S. federal government decided to take over Hanford. They used a process called eminent domain. This means the government can take private land for public use, even if the owner doesn't want to sell it. This was done to build the Hanford Site.
Leaving Home
On March 9, 1943, the people living in Hanford were told they had to leave. They were given only 30 days to move out of their homes. Most of the buildings in the town were torn down. However, the old Hanford High School was saved. During World War II, it was used as an office for managing the construction work.
Hanford Today
The old Hanford High School still stands today. It has some damage from when it was used for military training. You can see the high school if you take a tour bus operated by the U.S. government. Hanford is now a protected area. It is part of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park.
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Service station in Hanford, 1930
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Hanford High School, 1925
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Hanford High School, following its use for military training
See also
In Spanish: Hanford (Washington) para niños
