Pasco, Washington
Encyclopedia
Pasco is a city in and the county seat
of Franklin County, Washington, United States.
Pasco is one of three cities that make up the Tri-Cities
region of the state of Washington. The Tri-Cities is a mid-sized metropolitan area of approximately 230,000 people that also includes the cities of Kennewick and Richland
.
The population was 59,781 at the 2010 census.
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 Peru
vian 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.
Due in large part to the presence of the Hanford Site
, the entire Tri-Cities area grew rapidly from the 1940s through 1950s. However, most of the population influx resided in Richland
and Kennewick
, as Pasco remained primarily driven by the agricultural industry, and to a less 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. Due to its 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, 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.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 30.2 square miles (78.3 km²). In addition, 28.1 square miles (72.7 km²) of it is land and 2.1 square miles (5.5 km²) of it (7.08%) is water.
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 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.
, 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. 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.
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.
, 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, Fidelitas Winery, 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, Denver, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas
, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Phoenix/Mesa
and San Francisco. It is also where the local Amtrak
station is located since 1970, when the national rail passenger service was established. Before this, the Northern Pacific operated the depot and passenger trains in and out of Pasco.
Additional commercial transportation is also done through extensive barge
traffic on the Columbia
and Snake
rivers. The railroad transport is done through the BNSF Railway
and trucking
via Interstate 182, and to a lesser extent through U.S. Route 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 Battelle Pacific Northwest National Laboratories.
, Columbia Basin College
, and Washington State University Tri-Cities.
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 is currently the largest high school in this area of the state. The Pasco Bulldog school colors are purple and white; the Chiawana Riverhawk school colors are navy blue and silver.
Privately, Pasco and the greater Tri-Cities area is served by 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 three 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, and the Isaac Stevens Middle School is in the middle.
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 Gesa 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 short season.
The Pasco School District's renovated Edgar Brown Memorial Stadium
, constructed in a former gravel pit used in the construction of the Blue 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/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.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Franklin County, Washington, United States.
Pasco is one of three cities that make up the Tri-Cities
Tri-Cities, Washington
The Tri-Cities is a mid-sized metropolitan area in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, consisting of three neighboring cities: Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland. The cities are located at the confluence of the Yakima, Snake, and Columbia rivers in the semi-arid region of...
region of the state of Washington. The Tri-Cities is a mid-sized metropolitan area of approximately 230,000 people that also includes the cities of Kennewick and Richland
Richland, Washington
Richland is a city in Benton County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, at the confluence of the Yakima and the Columbia Rivers. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 48,058. April 1, 2011 estimates from the Washington State Office of Financial Management put the...
.
The population was 59,781 at the 2010 census.
History
On October 16, 1805, the Lewis and Clark ExpeditionLewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ″Corps of Discovery Expedition" was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William...
camped in the Pasco area, at a site now commemorated by Sacagawea
Sacagawea
Sacagawea ; was a Lemhi Shoshone woman, who accompanied the Lewis and Clark Expedition, acting as an interpreter and guide, in their exploration of the Western United States...
State Park. The area was frequented by fur trappers and gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
traders. In the 1880s, the Northern Pacific Railway
Northern Pacific Railway
The Northern Pacific Railway was a railway that operated in the west along the Canadian border of the United States. Construction began in 1870 and the main line opened all the way from the Great Lakes to the Pacific when former president Ulysses S. Grant drove in the final "golden spike" in...
was built near the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
, bringing many settlers to the area. Pasco was officially incorporated on September 3, 1891. It was named by Virgil Bogue
Virgil Bogue
Virgil Gay Bogue was born in Norfolk, New York, on July 20, 1846. He received a degree in civil engineering from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, in 1868. Bogue worked consecutively on Oroya Railway in Peru to 1879, the Northern Pacific Railway to 1886...
, a construction engineer for the Northern Pacific Railway after Cerro de Pasco
Cerro de Pasco
Cerro de Pasco is a city in central Peru. It is the capital of the Pasco region, and an important mining center. It is connected by road and by rail to the city of Lima.- Overview :...
, a city in the Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
vian Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
, 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
Grand Coulee Dam
Grand Coulee Dam is a gravity dam on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington built to produce hydroelectric power and provide irrigation. It was constructed between 1933 and 1942, originally with two power plants. A third power station was completed in 1974 to increase its energy...
in 1941 brought irrigation and agriculture to the area.
Due in large part to the presence of the Hanford Site
Hanford Site
The Hanford Site is a mostly decommissioned nuclear production complex on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington, operated by the United States federal government. The site has been known by many names, including Hanford Works, Hanford Engineer Works or HEW, Hanford Nuclear Reservation...
, the entire Tri-Cities area grew rapidly from the 1940s through 1950s. However, most of the population influx resided in Richland
Richland, Washington
Richland is a city in Benton County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, at the confluence of the Yakima and the Columbia Rivers. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 48,058. April 1, 2011 estimates from the Washington State Office of Financial Management put the...
and Kennewick
Kennewick, Washington
Kennewick is a city in Benton County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, near the Hanford nuclear site. It is the most populous of the three cities collectively referred to as the Tri-Cities...
, as Pasco remained primarily driven by the agricultural industry, and to a less 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. Due to its 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, 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.
Geography and climate
Pasco is located at 46°14′19"N 119°6′31"W (46.238507, -119.108534).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 30.2 square miles (78.3 km²). In addition, 28.1 square miles (72.7 km²) of it is land and 2.1 square miles (5.5 km²) of it (7.08%) is water.
As Pasco is located in Southeastern Washington, the city lies in the rain shadow
Rain shadow
A rain shadow is a dry area on the lee side of a mountainous area. The mountains block the passage of rain-producing weather systems, casting a "shadow" of dryness behind them. As shown by the diagram to the right, the warm moist air is "pulled" by the prevailing winds over a mountain...
of the Cascade Range
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
. 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
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
borders the south side of the city, separating it from the neighboring cities of Richland and Kennewick.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 32,066 people, 9,619 households, and 7,262 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,141.9 people per square mile (440.9/km²). There were 10,341 housing units at an average density of 368.2 per square mile (142.2/km²). 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 racesRace (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 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. 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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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 biennially 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. ConAgra FoodsConAgra Foods
ConAgra Foods, Inc. is an American packaged foods company. ConAgra's products are available in supermarkets, as well as restaurants and food service establishments. Its headquarters are located in Omaha, Nebraska...
, Reser's Fine Foods
Reser's Fine Foods
Reser's Fine Foods, Inc. is a United States corporation, based in Beaverton, Oregon, that manufactures and distributes fresh and frozen prepared foods. Over 1,000 products are available in the 50 U.S. states, Canada, Guam, Mexico, and areas of the Far East. Its prepared foods are sold in national...
, 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, Fidelitas Winery, 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
Tri-Cities Airport (Washington)
Tri-Cities Airport is a public airport located 2 miles northwest of Pasco, in Franklin County, Washington, USA. It is the third largest commercial airport in the State of Washington, and has three runways.-History:...
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, Denver, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Phoenix/Mesa
Mesa
A mesa or table mountain is an elevated area of land with a flat top and sides that are usually steep cliffs. It takes its name from its characteristic table-top shape....
and San Francisco. It is also where the local Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
station is located since 1970, when the national rail passenger service was established. Before this, the Northern Pacific operated the depot and passenger trains in and out of Pasco.
Additional commercial transportation is also done through extensive barge
Barge
A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. Some barges are not self-propelled and need to be towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats...
traffic on the Columbia
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
and Snake
Snake River
The Snake is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...
rivers. The railroad transport is done through the BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
and trucking
Truck driver
A truck driver , is a person who earns a living as the driver of a truck, usually a semi truck, box truck, or dump truck.Truck drivers provide an essential service to...
via Interstate 182, and to a lesser extent through U.S. Route 395. Some of the biggest Pasco employers include Hanford nuclear facility
Hanford Site
The Hanford Site is a mostly decommissioned nuclear production complex on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington, operated by the United States federal government. The site has been known by many names, including Hanford Works, Hanford Engineer Works or HEW, Hanford Nuclear Reservation...
, Burlington Northern, Lamb Weston, Boise Cascade
Boise Cascade
Boise Cascade Holdings, LLC, which uses the trade name Boise, is an American pulp and paper company, ranked as the thirteenth largest forest products company in the world....
, Tyson Foods
Tyson Foods
Tyson Foods, Inc. is a multinational corporation based in Springdale, Arkansas, that operates in the food industry. The company is the world's second largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork only behind Brazilian JBS S.A., and annually exports the largest percentage of beef out of...
, Energy Northwest
Energy Northwest
Energy Northwest is a United States public power joint operating agency formed by State law in 1957 to produce at-cost power for Northwest utilities. Headquartered in Richland, Washington, the WPPSS became commonly knowns as "Whoops"before being renamed Energy Northwest in November 1998...
, Fluor Hanford Inc., Bechtel National Inc.
Bechtel
Bechtel Corporation is the largest engineering company in the United States, ranking as the 5th-largest privately owned company in the U.S...
, and Battelle Pacific Northwest National Laboratories.
Education
Pasco is served by the Pasco School DistrictPasco School District (Washington)
Pasco School District # 1 serves over 11,500 school children from the City of Pasco, Washington and unincorporated Franklin County. It operates eleven elementary schools, three middle schools, a four-year high school, and an alternative secondary school. There are over 700 teachers and 600 support...
, Columbia Basin College
Columbia Basin College
Columbia Basin College is a community college based in Pasco, Washington. The College offers many associate degrees and one baccalaureate business degree in applied management....
, and Washington State University Tri-Cities.
Pasco High School
Pasco High School
Pasco Senior High School, located at 1108 N. 10th Avenue in Pasco, Washington, is the largest high school in the Tri-Cities of Washington. Its mascot is the Bulldog and its colors are purple and white. Pasco High has a very diverse student body and a strong football program...
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 is currently the largest high school in this area of the state. The Pasco Bulldog school colors are purple and white; the Chiawana Riverhawk school colors are navy blue and silver.
Privately, Pasco and the greater Tri-Cities area is served by Tri-Cities Prep
Tri-Cities Prep (Pasco, Washington)
Tri-Cities Prep, a Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Pasco, Washington. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane.-Background:...
, 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 three 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, and the Isaac Stevens Middle School is in the middle.
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
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
culture that lives in the city.
Pasco's Gesa Stadium hosts the Tri-City Dust Devils
Tri-City Dust Devils
The Tri-City Dust Devils are a minor league baseball team in Pasco, Washington, United States. The Dust Devils are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League and have been a farm team of the Colorado Rockies since their inception in 2001. The Devils play home games at Gesa...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
club of the Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
. The Dust Devils are a Class A
Class A
Class A may refer to:* Class A airfield, a standardised design for military airfields built throughout Britain from 1942* Class A airspace, an airspace class defined by the ICAO* class A amplifier, a category of electronic amplifier...
team of the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
. The team plays during summer months during its short season.
The Pasco School District's renovated Edgar Brown Memorial Stadium
Edgar Brown Memorial Stadium
Edgar Brown Memorial Stadium is the home stadium for the Pasco High School Bulldogs of Pasco, Washington. The school's football, soccer and track-and-field teams play their home games at "Edgar Brown", as it is commonly called....
, constructed in a former gravel pit used in the construction of the Blue Bridge, provides a unique venue for outdoor athletic events.
Pasco is located along a major stretch of the 22-mile Sacagawea
Sacagawea
Sacagawea ; was a Lemhi Shoshone woman, who accompanied the Lewis and Clark Expedition, acting as an interpreter and guide, in their exploration of the Western United States...
Heritage Trail
Heritage Trail
Heritage Trail is a long multiuse rail trail connecting Dubuque and Dyersville, Iowa.It is maintained by the Dubuque County Conservation Board, and was converted from a segment of the former Chicago Great Western railroad line between Chicago and Oelwein, Iowa...
, an interactive educational and recreational hiking/biking loop that circles the Tri-Cities area.
Pasco has several waterfront parks along the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
, 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
- Pasco Intermodal Train StationPasco Intermodal Train StationPasco Intermodal Train Station is a station stop for the Amtrak Empire Builder located in Pasco, Washington, USA. The station stop serves the Tri-Cities of Richland, Pasco, and Kennewick. The station and parking are owned by the City of Pasco. The track and platforms are owned by BNSF Railway....
- Tri-Cities AirportTri-Cities Airport (Washington)Tri-Cities Airport is a public airport located 2 miles northwest of Pasco, in Franklin County, Washington, USA. It is the third largest commercial airport in the State of Washington, and has three runways.-History:...
, with commercial service to Seattle/Tacoma, Las Vegas, Mesa/Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Los Angeles, and Denver.
Famous citizens
Pasco is the birthplace of- Arthur FletcherArthur FletcherArthur Fletcher was an American government official, widely referred to as the "father of affirmative action" as he was largely responsible for the Revised Philadelphia Plan....
, First Black Pasco Councilmember, Head of the United Negro College Fund and coined term, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste." - Brian UrlacherBrian UrlacherBrian Keith Urlacher is an American football player for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League . He attended the University of New Mexico, where he was one of the school's most decorated athletes. In addition to setting multiple university records, Urlacher earned consideration for the...
, Chicago BearsChicago BearsThe Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
Pro BowlPro BowlIn professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
linebackerLinebackerA linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen... - Bruce KisonBruce KisonBruce Eugene Kison is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched from 1971-1985 for three different teams, the Pittsburgh Pirates , California Angels and Boston Red Sox...
, Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh PiratesThe Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
World SeriesWorld SeriesThe World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
pitcherPitcherIn baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the... - Chuck PalahniukChuck PalahniukCharles Michael "Chuck" Palahniuk is an American transgressional fiction novelist and freelance journalist. He is best known for the award-winning novel Fight Club, which was later made into a film directed by David Fincher and starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter...
, novelist - Jeremy BondermanJeremy BondermanJeremy Allen Bonderman is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher who currently is a free agent. Bonderman is six feet and two inches tall and weighs 220 pounds. He bats and throws right-handed...
, Detroit TigersDetroit TigersThe Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
World SeriesWorld SeriesThe World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
pitcherPitcherIn baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the... - Joseph SantosJoseph SantosJoseph Santos is a contemporary American artist/watercolorist. He is known for his watercolor paintings of urban and industrial objects. His work has garnered many awards nationally, including the Paul B. Remmey award at the prestigious American Watercolor Society 138th international exhibition in...
, Artist/Painter (Pasco High School graduate) - Kristine WKristine WKristine W, born Kristine Weitz, is an American singer-songwriter. She has released seven albums, three of them through major labels, plus an early recording she sells to fans through her website...
, (Weitz) singer/songwriter, former Miss Washington - Jeannie RussellJeannie RussellJeanne K. Russell is an actress best known for playing Dennis's playmate, Margaret Wade, in the television series Dennis The Menace, which was based on the Hank Ketcham comic strip of the same name and aired from 1959 to 1963 on CBS.Russell was chosen at the suggestion of Jay North, who starred...
, "Margaret Wade" Dennis the Menace (1959 TV series) - Michael JacksonMichael Jackson (linebacker)Michael Jackson is a former professional American football player who played linebacker in eight NFL seasons for the Seattle Seahawks....
, Seattle SeahawksSeattle SeahawksThe Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
linebackerLinebackerA linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen... - Ray WashburnRay WashburnRay Clark Washburn is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Washburn, a right-hander, pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals from to and the Cincinnati Reds in ....
, ex-Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcherPitcherIn baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. - Ron SillimanRon SillimanRon Silliman is an American poet. He has written and edited over 30 books, and has had his poetry and criticism translated into 12 languages. He is often associated with language poetry. Between 1979 and 2004, Silliman wrote a single poem, The Alphabet...
, poet - Shauna O'BrienShauna O'BrienShauna O'Brien is a model, actress in B-movies and an erotic actress.She is sometimes credited as Steve Jean, Shana O'Brien or Shawna O'Brien....
, actress/model (nearby Burbank) - Pasco is also the early childhood home of James Wong HoweJames Wong HoweJames Wong Howe, A.S.C. was a Chinese American cinematographer who worked on over 130 films...
, Academy Award winning cinematographerCinematographerA cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera . The title is generally equivalent to director of photography , used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image...
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