Editing Pacific, Missouri (section)

=== Early history (1820–1864) ===
Throughout the early 19th century, the area that would eventually become Pacific slowly developed, with the first log cabin being constructed in 1820 and a covered bridge across the nearby [[Meramec River]] being constructed in 1838.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=History of Pacific|url=https://www.pacificmissouri.com/199/History|website=City of Pacific, Missouri}}</ref>

The Town of Franklin, Missouri was platted in 1852 by Major William C. Inks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Civil War Gravestone Near Pacific Vandalizedn Had Been Fully Restored in 2004 |url=https://www.emissourian.com/local_news/pacific/civil-war-gravestone-near-pacific-vandalizedn-had-been-fully-restored-in-2004/article_1ee649ba-44b7-5c46-b63d-153209c58153.html |access-date=2022-03-07 |website=The Missourian |language=en}}</ref> The following year, the [[Pacific Railroad]] laid tracks in the town, and the railroad opened on July 19, 1853.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://shsmo.org/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_franklin.html| title=Franklin County Place Names, 1928–1945 (archived)| publisher=The State Historical Society of Missouri| access-date=30 September 2016| url-status=bot: unknown| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624071257/http://shsmo.org/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_franklin.html| archive-date=24 June 2016}}</ref> A post office was opened in 1854, and has continuously operated since.<ref>{{cite web|title=Post Offices|url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=MO&county=Franklin|access-date=30 September 2016|publisher=Jim Forte Postal History}}</ref> The first city school was constructed in 1855.

In 1859, Franklin was incorporated as a fourth-class city and, in honor of the railroad, changed its name to Pacific.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_RfAuAAAAYAAJ | title=How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named | publisher=The State Historical Society of Missouri | author=Eaton, David Wolfe | year=1916 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_RfAuAAAAYAAJ/page/n65 168]}}</ref>