2018
- Travelocity - number one small city road trip destination for 2018
- Travel + Leisure named Walla Walla one of the 50 Best Places to Travel to in 2018
- MSN, Trip Ideas - one of the 31 Most Romantic Weekend Getaways in America
- 49th spot on moveBuddha’s list of 100 popular cities to move to with populations between 10,000 and 50,000.
- Selected to host 2018 Wine Bloggers Conference
- Whitman College listed as Fulbright top producer - The Chronicle of Higher Education (Click here for additional rankings)
2017
- Walla Walla featured in "Where to Retire Magazine" as a top retirement destination in the November/December 2017 issue
- Top 50 most searched destinations under 65,000 population – moveBuddha.com, a relocation assistance service
- Downtown Walla Walla Foundation received an Economic Vitality award from Washington Trust for Historic Preservation
- 20 Best Romantic Vacations in America for a Couples' Getaway - Tripadvisor
- 15 Relaxing Fall Getaways - Travel Channel
- Whitman College ranks 47th in Kiplinger's Personal Finance's 300 Best College Values for 2018
2016
- Complete Streets Award from Washington Transportation Improvement Board
- Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community designation
- Ranked 104th out of 200 for Best Small Places for Business and Careers by Forbes
- Received 23rd Tree City USA Award
- Parks & Recreation Department received the Washington Recreation and Park Association’s Spotlight Program Excellence Award in the category of Arts and Cultural Services for the Gentleman of the Road Stopover
- Finalist for Best Food Town category of the Sunset Travel Awards, along with Portland, Oregon; St. Helena, California; and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
- Port of Walla Walla Snake River Wastewater Crossing Project received a “Best in State: Silver Award for Successful Fulfillment of Client/Owner Needs” from the American Council of Engineering (ACEC)
- Whitman College received a top 10 spot on Forbe's America's Top Colleges for 2016-2017 academic year.
2015
- The Foodie's 5 Must-See Wine Country Destinations - Wine Enthusiast
- Sunset Magazine Best Food Town finalist with Portland, Oregon; Berkeley, California; and Las Vegas, Nevada.
- Lifetime of GMA Achievement Award for excellence in city planning awarded by Governor Jay Inslee
- Named Breathtaking Wine Country Destination by Fit Travel by Shape
- Named one of the 10 Most Beautiful Town in Washington by The Culture Trip
- Named one of the 15 Most Underrated Cities in the USA by Global Yodel
- Ranked 33rd out of more than 1,300 places as Best Small City in the US by NerdWallet
- Featured as Wine with a Splash of Sunshine by 425 Magazine
- Selected as one of the 2015 Gentlemen of the Roads Stopovers
2014
- Downtown Walla Walla Foundation's Residential Guidelines was recognized as an Outstanding Special Project by Washington Trust for Historic Preservation
- One of the 10 Best Wine Travel Destinations – Wine Enthusiast Magazine
- One of the 24 Best Places to Live and Work – Sunset Magazine
- Excellence on Main Award from the Washington State Main Street Program
- Washington State Governor’s Smart Communities Award
- Named one of the Top 6 Affordable Wine Regions in the US by Bankrate.com
2013
- Finalist for America’s Best Small Town for Food in Rand McNally’s Best of the Road competition
- Fodor’s lists Walla Walla in 10 Best Small Towns in America
- Received 19th Tree City USA Award
- Walla Walla Police Department Merit Award for Masonry from the Masonry Industry Promotions Group
- Walla Walla named as semifinalist for Smart 21 Intelligent Communities
- Walla Walla Community College named Top Community College in Nation - by the Aspen Institute
2012
- "Travel + Leisure" magazine list of America's Prettiest Winter Towns
- American Planning Association names Walla Walla in Top Ten Greatest Neighborhoods
- Community Facilities Award from the Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council
- The Daily Meal names Walla Walla one of the Country’s eight Best Small Towns for Food
- Finalist for America’s Best Small Town for Food in Rand McNally’s Best of the Road Competition
- Municipal Excellence in Public Works Award for Infrastructure Repair and Replacement Plan from Association of Washington Cities
- One of the five global finalists for Wine Enthusiast’s Wine Region of the Year Award
- Tyler Public Sector Excellence Award from Tyler Technologies
- Tonique Magazine Names Walla Walla as Most Authentic Wine Region in America
- Wastewater Treatment Plant Outstanding Performance from Washington State Department of Ecology
- Charles Smith World Headquarters received an Outstanding Design or Rehabilitation award from Washington Trust for Historic Preservation
2011
- Friendliest Town in the Country – USA Today
- Friendliest Small Town in America – Rand McNally
- One of the Five Best Small Towns in America – USA Today
- Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association
- Going Above & Beyond in Drinking Water Award from the Washington State Department of Health
- State of Washington Governor’s Smart Communities Award for the Washington Park Gathering Place project
2010
- America’s New Wine Capital – The Today Show
- Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association
- Government Fleet Magazine awards the Fleet Services Division with the Environmental Leadership Award
2009
- Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association
- Named one of The West’s 20 Best Small Town – Sunset Magazine
- Governor's Smart Communities Award for Urban Area Comprehensive Plan
2008
- Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association
2007
- Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association
2006
- Top 5 Places to Retire – CNNMoney.com
- Port of Walla Walla receives "Port of the Year Award" by the Washington Public Ports Association
- Port of Walla Walla receives the Governor's Economic & Workforce Development Award
2005
- ESRI Special Achievement in Geographic Information Systems
- Excellence in Downtown Revitalization Award – National Trust for Historic Preservation
- 2005 Wine Destination of the Year – Sunset Magazine
2004
- Best Economic Restructuring Story – Department of Community Trade and Economic Development
- Downtown nominated for the 2005 Preserve America Presidential Award
- Received its 10th Tree City USA Award and its 4th Tree Grow Award
2002
- One of 12 national Distinctive Destinations – National Trust for Historic Preservation
- The West’s Best Place to Live – Sunset Magazine
- Best Main Street – Sunset Magazine
2001
- Arbor Day Award – the Washington Arbor Day Council
- Great American Main Street Award – National Trust for Historic Preservation
2000
- Semi-Finalist for the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Great American Main Street Award
1999
- City receives Honorable Mention from National Trust for Historic Preservation
1996
- Named One of the 100 Best Small Art Towns in America in a book by John Villani, John Muir Publications