Pasco (IPA: [ˈpæs ko]) is a city located in Franklin County, in the state
of Washington, USA. Pasco is the county seat of
Franklin County6.
Pasco is one of three cities that make up the Tri-Cities region of the state
of Washington. It is a mid-sized metropolitan area of approximately 200,000 people that also includes the cities of
Kennewick and Richland.
The April 1, 2007 population of Pasco was estimated by the Washington State Office of Financial Management at 50,210.
Pasco is, in terms of net percentage growth, the fastest-growing city in the state of Washington and has been for the past
several years[citation needed].
History
On October 16, 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition camped in the Pasco area, at a site now commemorated by
Sacagawea State Park. The area was frequented by fur
trappers and gold traders. In the 1880s, the Northern Pacific Railway was built near the Columbia
River, bringing many settlers to the area. Pasco was officially incorporated on September
3, 1891. It was named by Virgil Bogue, a construction
engineer for the Northern Pacific Railway after Cerro de Pasco, a city in the
Peruvian Andes, where he had helped build a
railroad. In its early years, it was a small railroad town, but the completion of the
Grand Coulee Dam in 1941 brought irrigation and agriculture to the area. As well, it
determining the site of a nuclear power plant at the nearby Hanford Site.
With the Hanford site and related Manhattan
Project in the 1950s, the entire Tri-Cities area grew rapidly. However, most of the population influx resided in
Richland and Kennewick, as Pasco
remained primarily driven by the agricultural industry. After the end of World War II, the
entire region went through several "boom" and "bust" periods, cycling approximately every 10 years and heavily based on available
government funding for Hanford-related work. Due to its relatively higher poverty level, Pasco was seen by many as the least
desirable of the three cities and over time became the smallest of the Tri-Cities in terms of population. Farming continued to be
the economic base for most of the city.
In the late 1990s, foreseeing another Hanford-related boom period, several developers purchased
large farm circles in Pasco for residential and commercial development. Since that time, Pasco has undergone a transformation
that has not only seen its population overtake the neighboring city of Richland and Kennewick, but also has resulted in growth in
the city's retail and tourism industries. Recently incorporated land on the West side of the city has exploded into new housing
tracts, apartments, and shopping centers. This area of the city has become referred to locally as "West Pasco", distinguishing it
from the older area of town to the East. In addition to an influx of new residents to the region, many residents of the
Tri-Cities have moved from Richland and Kennewick to West Pasco due to its central location and virtually all-new housing and
business. With the Tri-Cities population appearing to reach a point of critical
mass, the growth in West Pasco will likely continue into the foreseeable future.
Geography & Climate
Pasco is located at 46°14′19″N, 119°6′31″W (46.238507,
-119.108534)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area
of 78.3 km² (30.2 mi²). In addition, 72.7 km²
(28.1 mi²) of it is land and 5.5 km² (2.1 mi²) of it (7.08%) is water.
As Pasco is located in Southeastern Washington, the city lies in the rain shadow of the
Cascade Mountain Range. As a result, the area is a windswept desert, receiving little
precipitation throughout the year. Hot summers and cold winters provide a stark contrast to other areas of the state.
The massive Columbia River borders the south side of the city, separating it from the
neighboring cities of Richland and Kennewick.
Demographics
The Franklin County courthouse in Pasco during restoration in 2005.
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 32,066 people; 9,619 households; and 7,262 families residing
in the city. In 2005, the Washington State Office of Financial Management estimates the number of people to be 44,190. The
population density was 440.9/km² (1,141.9/mi²) and there were 10,341 housing units at
an average density of 142.2/km² (368.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 52.76% White; 3.22% African American; 0.77% Native American; 1.77% Asian; 0.14% Pacific Islander; 37.44% from other races; and 3.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 56.26% of the population. There were 9,619
households out of which 45.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 54.7% were married
couples living together; 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present; and 24.5% were non-families. Also, 20.1%
of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average
household size was 3.3 and the average family size was 3.79.
Lampson Crane yard, Port of Big Pasco, in Pasco.
In the city the population was spread out with 35.5% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 15.5% from
45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.7 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,540, and the median income for a family was $37,342. Males had a median
income of $29,016 versus $22,186 for females. The per capita income for the city was
$13,404. About 19.5% of families and 23.3% of the population were below the poverty
line, including 31.4% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The City of Pasco exercises the Council-Manager form of government with an
elected body of 7 council
members, 5 of whom are from specific districts within the city, and 2 from at-large. The council semi-annually elects amongst
itself a Mayor that runs meetings, signs certain documents, and acts in ceremonial capacity; and a Mayor Pro-Tem that acts in the
Mayor's absence. The City Manager is chosen by council as a professional administrator and runs day-to-day operations of the city
including management of staff. Council members are considered part-time legislators. Those elected after 2005 receive $900 per
month and mayors receive $1,100 a month.
The City also has a number of advisory boards appointed by the Council and includes citizen volunteers that giver their time
and expertise in dealing with issues including parks, senior citizen issues, planning, code enforcement, etc.
Economy
Due to the agricultural region in which it sits, several large food processing companies have a presence in the city of Pasco.
Simplot, ConAgra Foods, Reser's Fine Foods, and Twin City Foods are just some of the
companies that have chosen Pasco in which to base a part of their operations. In recent years, the region has become a large
player in Washington State's booming wine industry. Gordon Brothers Cellars, Kamiak Vineyards, and Preston Premium Wines are just a few of the local Pasco
area wineries that contribute to this industry.
Pasco is home to the Tri-Cities Airport a regional commercial and
private airport. The Tri-Cities Airport is the only commercial airport in the Tri-Cities area and is served by several major
airlines with direct flights to Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Denver, Salt Lake City, and Las Vegas.
Additional commercial transportation is also done through extensive barge traffic on the
Columbia and Snake rivers. The railroad transport is
done through the Burlington Northern and trucking via Interstate 182, and to a lesser extent through
U.S. Highway 395. Some of the biggest Pasco employers include Hanford nuclear facility, Burlington Northern, Lamb Weston, Boise
Cascade, Tyson Foods, Energy Northwest,
Fluor Hanford Inc., Bechtel National Inc., and Batelle Pacific Northwest National
Laboratories.
Education
Pasco is served by the Pasco School District and Columbia Basin College.
Pasco High School is currently the city's only public high school, and is one of
the largest in the state of Washington. However, due to the rapid growth of the city in recent years, a second high school was
approved via a voter bond and is currently under construction. Chiawana High School will open in Fall 2009. The school recently adopted the Riverhawks as their mascot with school colors of navy blue and silver.
With a rapidly growing campus, Columbia Basin College is the largest public two-year community college in Southeastern
Washington with a student body of nearly 7,000 students. The college was founded in 1955 and serves
students from the entire Tri-Cities region.
Recreation
Among all of Pasco's annual activities and events, the most popular is the Pasco Farmers Market, located in downtown Pasco.
The market is open from May through October each year, drawing a large regional crowd and providing an outlet for farmers selling
fresh produce.
The Fiery Foods Festival is another popular event held each September. This one-day event celebrates spicy foods of all varieties, and highlights the thriving
Hispanic culture that lives in the city.
Pasco's Dust Devil Stadium hosts the Tri-City Dust Devils baseball club of the Northwest League. The Dust Devils are a Class A team of the
Colorado Rockies. The team plays during summer months during its relatively short
season.
Pasco is located along a major stretch of the 22-mile Sacagawea Heritage Trail, an interactive educational and recreational hiking/biking loop that circles the
Tri-Cities area.
Pasco has several waterfront parks along the Columbia River, as well as easy river
access for boaters, fishers, and skiers at any of the free boat launches.
The TRAC (Trade Recreation Agricultural Center) is a large complex located in West Pasco which hosts regional events,
including (but not limited to) conventions, meetings, sporting events, and concerts. The TRAC is located near the booming Road 68
corridor of West Pasco.
Transportation
Famous citizens
Pasco is the birthplace of
- Brian Urlacher, Chicago Bears Pro Bowl linebacker
- Ray Washburn, ex-Major League Baseball
pitcher.
- Ron Silliman, poet
- Chuck Palahniuk, novelist
- Kevin T. O'Connor, musician, Talkdemonic
- Kristine W, (Weitz) singer/songwriter, former Miss Washington
- Shauna O'Brien, actress/model
- Micheal Jackson, Seattle Seahawks
linebacker
- Bruce Kison, Pittsburgh Pirates
World Series pitcher
- Joseph Santos, Artist/Painter (Pasco High School graduate)
- Beefy, Rap Artist, born Keith .A Moore
Pasco is also the early childhood home of James Wong Howe, Academy Award winning cinematographer.
References
External links
Coordinates:
46.238507° N 119.108534°
W
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