Editing West Pasco, Washington (section)

== History ==
The area now known as West Pasco was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the [[Yakama]], [[Walla Walla people|Walla Walla]], and [[Umatilla people]]s. These tribes relied on the [[Columbia River]] for fishing, trade, and transportation, developing complex societies with cultural and traditions centered around the river. European exploration in the region began in the early 19th century, with the [[Lewis and Clark Expedition]] passing through in 1805. This marked the beginning of increased interaction between Native American tribes and European settlers. By the mid-19th century, the establishment of [[Fort Walla Walla]] and subsequent agricultural development led to more permanent settlements in the area.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jenks |first=Andrew |date=2012 |title=Review: ''ATOMIC FRONTIER DAYS: Hanford and the American West'', by John M. Findlay and Bruce Hevly |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/scq.2012.94.1.141 |journal=Southern California Quarterly |volume=94 |issue=1 |pages=141–143 |doi=10.1525/scq.2012.94.1.141 |issn=0038-3929}}</ref>

The modern development of West Pasco accelerated during the mid-20th century, primarily due to the establishment of the [[Hanford Site]] as part of the [[Manhattan Project]] during [[World War II]]. The Hanford Site's role in producing plutonium for nuclear weapons brought a substantial population increase to the Tri-Cities area, including Pasco. To accommodate the growing workforce, residential subdivisions were constructed, and West Pasco began to expand significantly.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lynn |first=Robert |date=July 2003 |title=Wired for Success: The Butte, Anaconda, and Pacific Railway, 1892-1985 Charles V. Mutschler |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3379194 |journal=The Public Historian |volume=25 |issue=3 |pages=119–121 |doi=10.2307/3379194 |issn=0272-3433}}</ref>

In the post-war era, infrastructure development such as roads, schools, and public facilities supported the expanding population. The region's agricultural roots remained strong, with local farms producing a variety of crops, including wheat, potatoes, and later, wine grapes. The [[Columbia Basin Project|Columbia Basin's]] favorable climate and fertile soil proved ideal for viticulture, and the area has since become one of the premier wine-producing regions in the United States.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=June 2010 |title=Review Jack Nisbet The Collector: David Douglas and the Natural History of the Northwest Sasquatch Books , Seattle6 2009 . Notes, bibliography, index. 290 pages. $$23.95 cloth. |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.5403/oregonhistq.111.2.253 |journal=Oregon Historical Quarterly |volume=111 |issue=2 |pages=253–255 |doi=10.5403/oregonhistq.111.2.253 |issn=0030-4727}}</ref>