Editing Pasco, Washington

{{short description|City in Washington, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Pasco
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|motto                    = 
|image_skyline            = City Hall in Pasco, Washington (panorama).jpg
|imagesize                = 300px
|image_caption            = Pasco City Hall
|image_map                = Franklin_County_Washington_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Pasco_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Pasco, Washington
<!-- Location ------->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Washington|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Franklin County, Washington|Franklin]]
<!-- Government ------->
|government_type          = [[Council–manager government|Council–manager]]
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Pete Serrano<ref>{{cite web|title=City Council|url=https://www.pasco-wa.gov/directory.aspx?EID=163|publisher=City of Pasco|access-date=January 30, 2024}}</ref>
|leader_title1            = [[City manager]]
|leader_name1             = Adam Lincoln<ref>{{cite news|date=April 18, 2023 |title=Pasco received 2 dozen applications for city manager, but this 1 stood out |work=Tri-City Herald}} https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/politics-government/article274455980.html</ref>
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1891
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        = September 3, 1891
<!-- Area ------>
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_53.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 24, 2022}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 97.13
|area_total_sq_mi         = 37.50
|area_land_km2            = 87.95
|area_land_sq_mi          = 33.96
|area_water_km2           = 9.18
|area_water_sq_mi         = 3.54
<!-- Population ------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 80038
|pop_est_as_of            = 2023
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="Census-Estimate2023">{{cite web |date=May 2024 |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places of 20,000 or More, Ranked by July 1, 2023 Population: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2023/cities/totals/SUB-IP-EST2023-ANNRNK.xlsx  |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=December 23, 2024}}</ref>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 77108
|population_rank          = US: 455th<br>WA: [[List of municipalities in Washington|16th]]
|population_metro         = 311469 (US: [[Metropolitan statistical area|165th]])
|population_urban         = 255401 (US: [[List of United States urban areas|157th]])
|population_blank1_title  = [[Combined Statistical Area|CSA]]
|population_blank1        = 370975 (US: [[Combined statistical area|103rd]])
|population_blank2_title  = [[Tri-Cities, Washington|Tri-Cities]]
|population_blank2        = 226886
|population_density_km2   = 857.67
|population_density_sq_mi = 2221.33
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific]]
|utc_offset               = -8
|timezone_DST             = PDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -7
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 390
|coordinates              = {{coord|46|14|19|N|119|07|31|W|region:US-WA|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
|postal_code              = 99301, 99302
|area_code                = [[Area code 509|509]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 53-53545
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2411381<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2411381}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.pasco-wa.gov/|pasco-wa.gov}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Pasco''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|æ|s|k|oʊ}} {{respell|PAS|koh}}) is a city in, and the [[county seat]] of, [[Franklin County, Washington]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The population was 77,108 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Pasco_city,_Washington?g=160XX00US5353545 |access-date=August 15, 2023 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> and estimated at 80,038 in 2023.<ref name="Census-Estimate2023"/>
Pasco is one of three cities (the others being [[Kennewick, Washington|Kennewick]] and [[Richland, Washington|Richland]]) that make up Washington state's [[Tri-Cities, Washington|Tri-Cities]] region, a mid-sized metropolitan area of approximately 303,622 people.

==History==
{{main|Timeline of the Tri-Cities, Washington}}
On October 16, 1805, the [[Lewis and Clark Expedition]] camped in the Pasco area, at a site now commemorated by [[Sacajawea State Park]]. The area was frequented by [[fur trapper]]s 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]],<ref>{{cite book|last=Meany|first=Edmond S.|title=Origin of Washington geographic names|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015027074981;view=1up;seq=224|year=1923|publisher=University of Washington Press|location=Seattle|page=208}}</ref> a city in the Peruvian [[Andes]], where he had helped build a railroad. In its early years Pasco was a small railroad town, but the completion of the [[Grand Coulee Dam]] in 1941 brought irrigation and agriculture to the area.

[[File:Franklin County Courthouse in Pasco, Washington.JPG|thumb|The Franklin County courthouse in Pasco]]

Due largely to the presence of the [[Hanford Site]] (which made the plutonium for the "[[Fat Man]]" nuclear bomb used on Nagasaki in 1945), the entire Tri-Cities area grew rapidly from the 1940s through 1950s. However, most of the population influx resided in [[Richland, Washington|Richland]] and [[Kennewick, Washington|Kennewick]], as Pasco remained primarily driven by the agricultural industry, and to a lesser degree the NP Pasco rail yards.  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.  Farming continues to be the economic driver for most of the city's industrial tax base.

Pasco was not a [[sundown town]] in the same way as Richland and Kennewick, however [[Jim Crow laws]] restricted [[African Americans]] to living only on the east side of the railroad tracks, which was largely underdeveloped without public water or garbage service. In the 1940s, [[Edward Richard Dudley|Edward R. Dudley]] visited as an investigator from the [[NAACP]] and observed widespread discrimination from businesses and law enforcement. In a 1947 survey, black residents listed water supply and service as the most significant problem for the area, and racial discrimination as second. White residents listed over-crowded schools as the most significant problem, and the presence of blacks as second. In 1948, [[Hazel Scott]] was refused service at a Pasco restaurant and successfully sued the owners for discrimination, bringing national attention to [[racial segregation]] practices in the Tri-Cities.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Bauman|first=Robert|date=2005|title=Jim Crow in the Tri-Cities, 1943-1950|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40491852|journal=The Pacific Northwest Quarterly|volume=96|issue=3|pages=124–131|jstor=40491852|issn=0030-8803}}</ref>

Pasco completed one of its largest annexations, comprising {{convert|7.5|sqmi|sqkm}} to the northwest, in August 1982 amid a legal dispute with neighboring Richland that was decided by the [[Washington Supreme Court]].<ref>{{cite news |date=February 12, 1983 |title=Pasco wins court battle for its largest annexation |page=C10 |work=Tri-City Herald}}</ref> 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, 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. In early 2018, plans were announced for 5,000 to 8,000 new residences in West Pasco, west of Road 100.<ref>Culverwell, Wendy. "[http://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article205705534.html Finally, a plan for west Pasco. Here's why it won’t be just another Road 68]" ''Tri-City Herald''. March 17, 2018.</ref>

==Geography and climate==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|34.08|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|30.50|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|3.58|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 19, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220065340/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=February 20, 2011}}</ref>

As Pasco is located in Southeastern Washington, the city lies in the [[rain shadow]] of the [[Cascade Range]]. As a result, the area is a windswept desert, receiving little precipitation throughout the year. Hot summers, warm springs, and cold winters provide a stark contrast to other areas of the state. Climate data is sparse, as there is no functioning weather station in the city; more reliable data is provided by the weather station in nearby [[Walla Walla, Washington|Walla Walla]].

The [[Columbia River]] borders the south side of the city, separating it from the neighboring cities of Richland and Kennewick.
{{Weather box
|width=auto
|single line=yes
|collapsed = y
|location= Pasco, Washington
|Jan record high F = 67
|Feb record high F = 68
|Mar record high F = 80
|Apr record high F = 94
|May record high F = 101
|Jun record high F = 115
|Jul record high F = 112
|Aug record high F = 111
|Sep record high F = 102
|Oct record high F = 88
|Nov record high F = 77
|Dec record high F = 69
|year record high F= 115
|Jan high F = 42.2
|Feb high F = 49.8
|Mar high F = 59.5
|Apr high F = 67.0
|May high F = 76.1
|Jun high F = 83.3
|Jul high F = 93.3
|Aug high F = 91.0
|Sep high F = 80.9
|Oct high F = 66.2
|Nov high F = 50.4
|Dec high F = 40.9
|year high F= 67.0
|Jan low F = 28.6
|Feb low F = 29.0
|Mar low F = 33.7
|Apr low F = 38.2
|May low F = 46.0
|Jun low F = 52.7
|Jul low F = 57.6
|Aug low F = 56.0
|Sep low F = 47.2
|Oct low F = 38.8
|Nov low F = 31.5
|Dec low F = 26.9
|year low F= 40.7
|Jan record low F= -19
|Feb record low F = 4
|Mar record low F = 15
|Apr record low F = 21
|May record low F = 28
|Jun record low F = 37
|Jul record low F = 42
|Aug record low F = 40
|Sep record low F = 30
|Oct record low F = 9
|Nov record low F =  −12
|Dec record low F =  −9

|Jan precipitation inch = 0.95
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.55
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.67
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.47
|May precipitation inch = 0.74
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.68
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.14
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.18
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.33
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.54
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.76
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.09
|Jan snow inch = 0.3
|Feb snow inch = trace
|Mar snow inch = trace
|Apr snow inch = trace
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 1.1
|Dec snow inch = 2.1
|year snow inch = 6.1
|source 1 = WRCC<ref name = WRCC >{{cite web
| url = https://wrcc.dri.edu/WRCCWrappers.py?sodxtrmts+456400+por+por+maxt+none+mmax+5+01+F
| title = Maximum of Maximum Temperature (Degrees Fahrenheit)
| publisher = [[Western Regional Climate Center]]
| access-date = February 24, 2018}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 320
|1900= 254
|1910= 2083
|1920= 3362
|1930= 3496
|1940= 3913
|1950= 10228
|1960= 14522
|1970= 13920
|1980= 18428
|1990= 20337
|2000= 32066
|2010= 59781
|2020= 77108
|estyear=2023
|estimate=80038
|estref=<ref name="Census-Estimate2023"/>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 23, 2014}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 77,108 people, 25,084 households.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 59,781 people, 17,983 households, and 13,863 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1960.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 18,782 housing units at an average density of {{convert|615.8|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 55.8% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.9% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.9% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 36.4% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 3.3% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 55.7% of the population.

There were 17,983 households, of which 51.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 22.9% were non-families. 17.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.30 and the average family size was 3.73.

The median age in the city was 27.3 years. 35.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.9% were from 25 to 44; 17.2% were from 45 to 64; and 6.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.7% male and 49.3% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 32,066 people, 9,619 households, and 7,262 families living in the city. The population density was 1,141.9 people per square mile (440.9/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 10,341 housing units at an average density of 368.2 per square mile (142.2/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the city was 52.76% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 3.22% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.77% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.77% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.14% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 37.44% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.9% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|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.  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 3.30 and the average family size was 3.79.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 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==
Pasco has a [[council-manager government]] with an elected body of 7 council members, 6 of whom are from specific districts within the city, and 1 elected at-large.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pasco-wa.gov/122/City-Council|title=City Council |publisher=City of Pasco |access-date=August 27, 2019}}</ref> The council biennially elects from its own members 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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rosane |first=Eric |date=December 25, 2023 |title=Will Pasco replace its 1st Latina mayor? A new majority could select new leadership |url=https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/politics-government/article282931388.html |work=Tri-City Herald |accessdate=January 2, 2024}}</ref> The city manager is chosen by the council as a professional administrator and runs day-to-day operations of the city including management of staff. Council members are part-time legislators.  Those elected 2017 and after receive $1,115 per month and the mayor receives $1,450 a month.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pasco.municipal.codes/PMC/2.65.010|title=PMC 2.65.010, Compensation of Mayor and of Councilmembers|work=Pasco Municipal Code|access-date=August 30, 2019}}</ref>

The city also has a number of advisory boards appointed by the council and includes citizen volunteers that give their time and expertise in dealing with issues including parks, senior citizen issues, planning, code enforcement, etc.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pasco-wa.gov/135/Boards-Commissions|title=Boards & Commissions |publisher=City of Pasco |access-date=April 16, 2019}}</ref>

==Economy==
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2021}}
Due to the agricultural region in which it sits, several large food processing companies have a presence in the city of Pasco: [[Lamb Weston]], [[Reser's Fine Foods]], and [[Twin City Foods]]. In recent years, the region has become a major player in Washington state's booming wine industry.

[[Image:LampsonCranesPascoWashington.JPG|thumb|right|Lampson Crane yard, Port of Big Pasco, in Pasco]]

Pasco is home to the [[Tri-Cities Airport (Washington)|Tri-Cities Airport]], a regional commercial and private airport served by several airlines with direct flights to 10 US cities: [[Burbank, California|Burbank]], [[Denver]], [[Las Vegas]], [[Los Angeles]], [[Minneapolis]], [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]], [[Salt Lake City]], [[San Francisco]], [[San Diego]] and [[Seattle]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flytricities.com/fly/nonstop|title = Nonstop Destinations}}</ref>

[[Amtrak]] has operated a station in Pasco since 1971, when they took over the [[Empire Builder]] from the [[Burlington Northern Railroad]] after they operated it for a short period of time. Before this, the Northern Pacific operated passenger trains through Pasco.

Additional commercial transportation is undertaken through extensive [[barge]] traffic on the [[Columbia River|Columbia]] and [[Snake River|Snake]] rivers. Rail transport is provided by the [[BNSF Railway]]. [[Truck driver|Trucking]] uses [[Interstate 182]], and to a lesser extent [[U.S. Route 395 in Washington|U.S. Route 395]].

Some of Pasco's largest employers include [[Hanford Site|Hanford nuclear facility]], [[BNSF Railway]], [[Lamb Weston]], [[Boise Cascade]], [[Tyson Foods]], [[Energy Northwest]], Fluor Hanford Inc., [[Bechtel|Bechtel National Inc.]], and [[Pacific Northwest National Laboratory]] currently managed by [[Battelle Memorial Institute]]

==Education==
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2021}}
Pasco is served by the [[Pasco School District (Washington)|Pasco School District]], [[Columbia Basin College]], and [[Washington State University Tri-Cities]].

[[Pasco High School (Washington)|Pasco High School]] is the older of the city's two public high schools, and was the largest in the state before Chiawana was built. The city's second high school—[[Chiawana High School]]—opened in August 2009. Chiawana, along with Pasco High, are both one of the largest high schools in Washington State.<ref>{{cite news |last=Burton |first=Lynsi |date=September 7, 2018 |title=Biggest high schools of Washington 2019 |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/seattlenews/slideshow/Biggest-high-schools-of-Washington-2019-184930.php |work=seattlepi.com |accessdate=May 4, 2021}}</ref> The Pasco Bulldog school colors are purple and white; the Chiawana Riverhawk school colors are navy blue and silver.  In spring 2015, Delta High School (or DHS) opened in Pasco. It provides a STEM-based curriculum for students in grades 9–12 from three school districts in the Tri-Cities area. The school is operated as a collaborative effort by the Kennewick School District, Pasco School District, and Richland School District, and in partnerships with a local skill center, colleges, and businesses. The school has been designated by the state as an Existing Innovative School.

Privately, Pasco and the greater Tri-Cities area is served by [[Tri-Cities Prep (Pasco, Washington)|Tri-Cities Prep]], a Catholic high school off of Road 100, and St. Patrick's grade school next door to the campus of Pasco High School.

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.

There are four middle schools in Pasco, serving students ranging from grade six to eight. The easternmost school is [[Ellen Ochoa Middle School]], the westernmost is [[John McLoughlin Middle School]], the one in the central part of town is [[Isaac Stevens Middle School]], and the one in the north-west is [[Ray Reynolds Middle School]].

The school district has 18 elementary schools.

==Recreation==
[[File:Chiawana Park - Pasco, Washington - Entrance 2 (0751).jpg|thumb|upright|Sign for Chiawana Park in Pasco]]
[[File:Chiawana Park (0744) - Pasco, Washington.jpg|thumb|Chiawana Park in Pasco]]

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 in the city.

Pasco's [[Gesa Stadium]] hosts the [[Tri-City Dust Devils]], a minor league [[baseball]] team playing in the [[Northwest League]] and affiliated with the [[Los Angeles Angels]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Morrow |first=Jeff |date=February 16, 2021 |title=Tri-City Dust Devils becoming 'Angels' under this 10-year deal |url=https://www.tri-cityherald.com/sports/mlb/tri-city-dust-devils/article249285920.html |work=Tri-City Herald |accessdate=May 1, 2021}}</ref>

The Pasco School District's renovated [[Edgar Brown Memorial Stadium]], constructed in a former gravel pit used in the construction of the Blue Bridge (Pioneer Memorial Bridge), provides a unique venue for outdoor athletic events.

Pasco is located along a major stretch of the 22-mile [[Sacagawea Heritage Trail]], an interactive educational and recreational hiking/cycling 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 HAPO Center (formerly the TRAC<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article226642159.html|title=Million dollar deal would give TRAC a new name|date=February 22, 2019|work=Tri-City Herald|access-date=August 27, 2019}}</ref>) is a large complex located in Pasco which hosts regional events, including (but not limited to) conventions, meetings, sporting events, and concerts. The HAPO Center is located near the booming Road 68 corridor in Pasco.

Pasco hosts the [[Tri-Cities Pride Festival]], with an estimated attendance of 2,000 in 2022. It began in 2016, and organizers cancelled plans for 2023 as they reorganize as a [[nonprofit organization]] for future planning.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rosane |first=Eric |date=January 31, 2023 |title=Growing pains force cancellation of 2023 Tri-Cities Pride Festival |work=[[Tri-City Herald]] |url=https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article271880032.html}}</ref> In the interim, local businesses and residents planned [[LGBT pride]] events of their own despite harassment, vandalism, threats of violence and lack of support from elected officials.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rosane |first=Eric |date=June 1, 2023 |title=Tri-City, WA Gay Pride events kick off |work=[[Tri-City Herald]] |url=https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article275967971.html}}</ref>

==Transportation==
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2021}}
* [[Pasco Intermodal Train Station]], a stop on [[Amtrak]]'s ''[[Empire Builder]],'' with daily service with its southwest-bound section heading to Portland. Eastbound, it heads to Spokane, St. Paul, and Chicago with many intermediate points. (The train's other section goes from Spokane to Seattle.)
* [[Tri-Cities Airport (Washington)|Tri-Cities Airport]], with commercial service to Burbank, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle-Tacoma.
* [[Ben Franklin Transit]]

==Notable people==
* [[Jeremy Bonderman]], professional baseball player
* [[Kathy Brock]], Chicago television journalist
* [[Arthur Fletcher]], black Pasco city councilmember in 1967 and head of the United Negro College Fund<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/remembering-arthur-fletcher-father-of-affirmative-action/|title=Remembering Arthur Fletcher, father of affirmative action|date=November 9, 2018|website=The Seattle Times|access-date=April 16, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Hawthorne C. Gray]], U.S. Army Captain and record-breaking balloonist
* [[S. T. Gordon]], world Cruiserweight boxing champion
* [[Doc Hastings]], retired United States Congressman<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=h000329|title=HASTINGS, Richard Norman (Doc) - Biographical Information|website=bioguide.congress.gov|access-date=April 16, 2019}}</ref>
* [[James Wong Howe]], [[Academy Award]]-winning [[cinematographer]]
* [[Michael Jackson (linebacker)|Michael Jackson]], professional American football player
* [[Bruce Kison]], professional baseball player, two-time World Series champion
* [[Chuck Palahniuk]], novelist
* [[Jeannie Russell]], "Margaret Wade" in ''[[Dennis the Menace (1959 TV series)|Dennis the Menace]]'' TV series
* [[Joseph Santos]], artist/painter (Pasco High School graduate)
* [[Ron Silliman]], poet
* [[Brian Urlacher]], professional American football player
* [[Kristine W]], singer/songwriter, former Miss Washington
* [[Ray Washburn]], professional baseball player, two-time World Series champion
* [[Maris Wrixon]], film actress
* [[Summer Yates]], professional soccer player

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|auto=y}}
{{Portal|United States}}
* [https://www.pasco-wa.gov/ City of Pasco website]
* [http://www.pascochamber.org/ Pasco Chamber of Commerce]
* [https://www.midcolumbialibraries.org/branch/pasco Pasco Branch] at MidColumbiaLibraries.org
* [https://www.psd1.org/ Pasco School District website]

{{Franklin County, Washington}}
{{Washington}}
{{Washington (state) county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Pasco, Washington| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Franklin County, Washington]]
[[Category:Cities in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Tri-Cities, Washington| ]]
[[Category:World War II Heritage Cities]]
[[Category:County seats in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Washington (state) populated places on the Columbia River]]
[[Category:Superfund sites in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:1891 establishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1891]]