Sunnyside, Washington
Sunnyside is a city of 16,277 people in Yakima County, Washington, founded in 1902.
Why visit Sunnyside
Townapedia lists 1 museum or landmark, 10 parks and trails, 37 places to eat, 7 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Grand Cinemas, Harrison Hill, Centennial Square and Central Park.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 88°F; December lows average 22°F.
Weather in Sunnyside
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Sunnyside
Sunnyside is a city in Yakima County, Washington, United States. The population was 16,375 at the 2020 census, making it the second-most populous city in Yakima County.
From the Wikipedia article Sunnyside, Washington (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do3
Museums and landmarks1
Parks, trails and playgrounds10
Restaurants and cafes37
Varietal Beer Company
Bar and pub · 0.7 mi
416 East Edison Avenue, Sunnyside
Tu-Sa 12:00-21:00; Su 12:00-18:00
El Charrito Mexican Restaurant
Restaurant · Mexican · 0.9 mi
Mo-Su 10:00-21:00
25 more on the map.
History
Up through the early portion of the 19th century, the portion of the Yakima Valley where Sunnyside is now located was inhabited by the "Taptat-ħlama" (or ″People at the rapids"). These people hunted and fished along Yakima River from the mouth of Satus Creek (contained in present-day Satus immediately southwest of Sunnyside) to present Kiona, with a key fishery at near present-day Prosser.
Several tribes in the region were relocated onto the Yakama Indian Reservation following the 1855 signing of a treaty with the federal government. However, the Yakima War lingered until 1858, with Chief Kamiakin fighting on until the Battle of Four Lakes in 1858.
The modern settlement of Sunnyside was founded by Walter Granger in 1893. The name was coined by a merchant named W. H. Cline. Granger was involved in the financing and construction of the Sunnyside Canal which would have allowed Yakima River water to irrigate the area. However, due to the Panic of 1893, Granger's creditors foreclosed on the canal, and the town's population dwindled to seven families. By the end of 1901, the population had doubled, finally exceeding 300 people. The site contained "1 bank, 11 stores, 3 hotels, 1 newspaper [the Sunnyside Sun, still publishing in 2020], 2 blacksmith shops, 2 livery barns, 3 churches, and a large and growing school".
From the History section of Sunnyside, Washington on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay7
Churches and places of worship24
Shopping10
Gas and EV charging8
Schools, colleges and libraries19
Healthcare5
Map of Sunnyside
124 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 23°F | 1.0 in |
| Feb | 45°F | 24°F | 0.7 in |
| Mar | 55°F | 30°F | 0.5 in |
| Apr | 63°F | 36°F | 0.6 in |
| May | 73°F | 44°F | 0.8 in |
| Jun | 79°F | 49°F | 0.6 in |
| Jul | 88°F | 54°F | 0.1 in |
| Aug | 86°F | 52°F | 0.3 in |
| Sep | 78°F | 44°F | 0.4 in |
| Oct | 64°F | 35°F | 0.7 in |
| Nov | 48°F | 27°F | 0.8 in |
| Dec | 37°F | 22°F | 1.2 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Sunnyside Hcn (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Yakima County has had 28 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2026-08-03: Wildfires (Fire)
- 2026-07-26: Signal Peak Fire (Fire)
- 2026-07-26: Ransier Fire (Fire)
- 2026-04-07: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2025-12-12: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2024-07-26: Retreat Fire (Fire)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Yakima Air Terminal (YKM) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 31 miles away.
- Outlook 4 mi west, about 7 min by car
- Grandview 7 mi southeast, about 11 min by car
- Mabton 7 mi south, about 12 min by car
- Granger 9 mi west, about 15 min by car
- Prosser 14 mi southeast, about 22 min by car
- Richland 34 mi east, about 55 min by car
- Kennewick 40 mi east, about 1 h by car
- Pasco 42 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Hermiston 48 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Ellensburg 54 mi northwest, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Sunnyside WA, September 2015, Orange Suede Sofa, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sunnyside Post Office Front Face, Shy salmon, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sunnyside Post Office Waiting Area, Shy salmon, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sunnyside Post Office PO Boxes, Shy salmon, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sunnyside Post Office Street View, Shy salmon, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sunnyside Post Office Stairs, Shy salmon, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sunnyside High School aerial, Tedder, CC BY 4.0
- ISS046-E-3704 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS046-E-3703 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS065-E-375711 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS037-E-668 - View of Washington, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS056-E-47365 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS018-E-10431 - View of Washington, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS056-E-47366 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS046-E-3702 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS065-E-377041 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS037-E-1174 - View of Washington, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
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