West Pasco, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
West Pasco, Washington
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Location of West Pasco, Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Franklin |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.7 sq mi (9.7 km2) |
| • Land | 3.7 sq mi (9.7 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 361 ft (110 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,747 |
| • Density | 466.5/sq mi (180.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
99301
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| Area code(s) | 509 |
| FIPS code | 53-77612 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1867645 |
West Pasco is a special kind of community called a census-designated place (CDP) in Franklin County, Washington, United States. It's not an official city, but it's a recognized area where people live. In 2020, about 1,747 people called West Pasco home. This number was quite a bit lower than in 2010, when 3,739 people lived there.
West Pasco is known for being one of the wealthier areas in Washington State. It ranks very high when looking at how much money people earn on average. In fact, it's the highest-ranked area in Franklin County for this measure. The nearby city of Pasco, Washington has been trying to make West Pasco part of its city, but some people in West Pasco have not wanted that to happen.
Contents
Where is West Pasco Located?
West Pasco is found in the southern part of Franklin County. It's completely surrounded by the city of Pasco. Imagine a smaller area completely inside a bigger one – that's West Pasco!
In 2010, the area of West Pasco was about 9.7 square kilometers (or 3.7 square miles). All of this area is land, meaning there are no large lakes or rivers within its boundaries. This was a smaller area than it was in 2000.
How Many People Live in West Pasco?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 2,894 | — | |
| 1970 | 3,809 | 31.6% | |
| 1980 | 6,210 | 63.0% | |
| 1990 | 7,312 | 17.7% | |
| 2000 | 4,629 | −36.7% | |
| 2010 | 3,739 | −19.2% | |
| 2020 | 1,747 | −53.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The number of people living in West Pasco has changed over the years. The chart above shows how the population has grown and shrunk.
In 2000, there were 4,629 people living in West Pasco. About 26.6% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age of people living there was 42 years old. Most households were families, often with married couples.
A Look at West Pasco's Past
Early Days and Native American Life
The land where West Pasco is today was first home to Native American tribes. These included the Yakama, Walla Walla, and Umatilla peoples. They used the Columbia River for fishing, trading, and travel. Their cultures and traditions were closely tied to the river.
European explorers arrived in the early 1800s. The famous Lewis and Clark Expedition passed through in 1805. This led to more contact between the Native American tribes and European settlers. By the mid-1800s, places like Fort Walla Walla were built. Farms also started to grow, leading to more permanent settlements.
Growth During the Mid-20th Century
West Pasco really started to grow in the mid-1900s. This was mainly because of the Hanford Site. The Hanford Site was a big project started during World War II as part of the Manhattan Project. Its job was to make a special material for nuclear weapons. This brought many new workers and their families to the Tri-Cities area, which includes Pasco. To house all these new people, many new neighborhoods were built, and West Pasco expanded a lot.
Developing After the War
After World War II, more roads, schools, and public buildings were added to support the growing population. Farming remained important in the area. Local farms grew crops like wheat and potatoes. Later, they started growing grapes for wine. The climate and rich soil in the Columbia Basin were perfect for growing grapes. Now, this area is famous for making some of the best wines in the United States.
See also
In Spanish: West Pasco (Washington) para niños
