Franklin County, Washington

Franklin County, Washington
County	Franklin County
State	Washington
Founded	November 28, 1883
Seat	Pasco
Largest city	Pasco
Area total sq mi	1,265
Area land sq mi	1,242
Area water sq mi	23
Population as of	2020
Population total	96,749
Population density sq mi	auto
Time zone	Pacific
Named for	Benjamin Franklin
Ex image cap	Franklin County Courthouse in Pasco

Franklin County, Washington is a county located in the south-central part of the U.S. state of Washington. It was created by the Washington Territorial Legislature in 1883 and named for Benjamin Franklin. The county seat and largest city is Pasco, which forms part of the Tri-Cities metropolitan area along with Kennewick in Benton County and Richland. The county's economy is heavily based on agriculture, supported by the Columbia Basin Project, and is home to significant scientific and industrial facilities related to the Hanford Site.

History

The area that is now Franklin County has been inhabited for millennia by Native American peoples, including the Wanapum, Yakama, and Umatilla tribes. The Lewis and Clark Expedition passed through the region in 1805, and later explorers and fur traders from the Hudson's Bay Company traversed the area. Franklin County was carved from a portion of Whitman County on November 28, 1883, by the Washington Territorial Legislature. Its early development was tied to ranching and the arrival of the Northern Pacific Railway, which established a station at Pasco. The 20th century brought transformative change with the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam and the initiation of the Columbia Basin Project, which enabled large-scale irrigation and turned the arid land into a major agricultural center. During World War II, the federal government established the Hanford Site as part of the Manhattan Project, bringing a massive influx of workers and cementing the county's role in nuclear research and environmental management.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,265 square miles, of which 1,242 square miles is land and 23 square miles is water. The county lies within the Columbia Plateau ecoregion and is characterized by its semi-arid climate and flat to rolling terrain of sagebrush steppe. The primary geographic feature is the Columbia River, which forms much of its western border with Grant County. The Snake River also flows along part of its southern border before joining the Columbia at Sacagawea State Park. Major waterways within the county include the Yakima River, which flows into the Columbia at Pasco. The landscape has been dramatically altered by the Columbia Basin Project, a vast irrigation network fed by water from Banks Lake.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 96,749, making it one of the fastest-growing counties in Washington. The racial makeup was diverse, with significant Hispanic or Latino communities, largely of Mexican descent, comprising a substantial portion of the population. Other major groups include White non-Hispanic, Black or African American, and Asian residents. The population is relatively young, with a median age below the state average. The majority of residents live in the urbanized area around Pasco, while the remainder are distributed in smaller communities and rural areas engaged in farming. The growth is largely attributed to the agricultural economy and employment at the Hanford Site, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and related industries.

Economy

Franklin County's economy is dominated by agriculture and federal science and environmental management. It is a national leader in the production of potatoes, apples, corn, onions, wine grapes, and hops. Major agricultural processors and distributors, such as Lamb Weston and JR Simplot Company, have significant operations in the area. The Columbia Basin Project provides essential irrigation water for over 600,000 acres of farmland. The Hanford Site, managed by the U.S. Department of Energy, is a major employer, focusing on nuclear waste cleanup, with contractors like Hanford Mission Integration Solutions and Central Plateau Cleanup Company. Research is conducted at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland. Other economic drivers include food processing, logistics and transportation centered around the Port of Pasco, and a growing wine industry in the Columbia Valley AVA.

Government and politics

Franklin County operates under a commission-manager form of government, with three elected county commissioners. The county is part of Washington's 4th congressional district, represented in the U.S. House by Dan Newhouse. At the state level, it lies within the 16th legislative district, represented in the Washington State Legislature by Perry Dozier, Mark Klicker, and Skyler Rude. Historically, the county leaned Democratic due to union influence at the Hanford Site but has trended strongly Republican in recent decades in federal and statewide elections. However, local elections, particularly in the city of Pasco, often see more competitive races. The county is served by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office and the Franklin County District Court.

Education

Primary and secondary education is provided by several public school districts, the largest being the Pasco School District, which includes Pasco High School and the innovative Delta High School, a STEM-focused school operated in partnership with the Kennewick School District and Richland School District. Other districts include the Kahlotus School District and Connell School District. Higher education is served by Columbia Basin College, a community college in Pasco that offers associate degrees and workforce training programs. The Washington State University Tri-Cities campus, located in neighboring Richland, provides four-year and graduate degree programs. The Tri-Tech Skills Center in Kennewick offers career and technical education to high school students from the region.

Category:Franklin County, Washington Category:Washington (state) counties Category:1883 establishments in Washington Territory Category:Populated places established in 1883