Franklin County, Washington

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Franklin County, Washington
County
Franklin County Courthouse in Pasco, Washington.JPG
The Franklin County Courthouse in Pasco
Map of Washington highlighting Franklin County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Washington
Washington in United States.svg
Washington's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 46°32′15″N118°54′14″W / 46.537502°N 118.903891°W / 46.537502; -118.903891
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Washington.svg Washington
FoundedNovember 28, 1883
Named after Benjamin Franklin
Seat Pasco
Largest cityPasco
Government
 • SheriffMarcus Conner
Area
 • Total
1,264.959 sq mi (3,276.23 km2)
 • Land1,241.596 sq mi (3,215.72 km2)
 • Water23.363 sq mi (60.51 km2)  1.85%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
96,749
 • Estimate 
(2024)
101,238 Increase2.svg
 • Density77.923/sq mi (30.086/km2)
Time zone UTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−7 (PDT)
Area code 509
Congressional districts 4th, 5th
Website franklincountywa.gov

Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, its population was 96,749, [1] and was estimated to be 101,238 in 2024. [2] The county seat and largest city is Pasco. [3]

Contents

The county was formed out of Whitman County on November 28, 1883, [4] [5] and is named for Benjamin Franklin. [6]

Franklin County is included in the Tri-Cities metropolitan area. Together, Kennewick, Richland and Pasco comprise Washington's Tri-Cities.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,264.959 square miles (3,276.23 km2), of which 1,241.596 square miles (3,215.72 km2) is land and 23.363 square miles (60.51 km2) (1.85%) is water. [7] It is the 27th largest county in Washington by total area. [8]

Geographic features

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1890 696—
1900 486−30.2%
1910 5,153960.3%
1920 5,87714.1%
1930 6,1374.4%
1940 6,3072.8%
1950 13,563115.0%
1960 23,34272.1%
1970 25,81610.6%
1980 35,02535.7%
1990 37,4737.0%
2000 49,34731.7%
2010 78,16358.4%
2020 96,74923.8%
2024 (est.)101,238 [9] 4.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [10]
1790–1960 [11] 1900–1990 [12]
1990–2000 [13] 2010–2020 [2]

As of the second quarter of 2025, the median home value in Franklin County was $416,327. [14]

As of the 2024 American Community Survey, there are 31,564 estimated households in Franklin County with an average of 3.09 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $81,604. Approximately 17.8% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Franklin County has an estimated 58.1% employment rate, with 21.3% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 80.0% holding a high school diploma. [2] There were 32,687 housing units at an average density of 26.33 per square mile (10.2/km2).

The median age in the county was 32.5 years.

Franklin County, Washington – racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic)Pop. 1980 [15] Pop. 1990 [16] Pop. 2000 [17] Pop. 2010 [18] Pop. 2020 [19]
White alone (NH)27,502
(78.52%)		23,784
(63.47%)		23,470
(47.56%)		33,804
(43.25%)		37,225
(38.48%)
Black or African American alone (NH)1,441
(4.11%)		1,251
(3.34%)		1,120
(2.27%)		1,339
(1.71%)		1,603
(1.66%)
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)234
(0.67%)		217
(0.58%)		235
(0.48%)		357
(0.46%)		437
(0.45%)
Asian alone (NH)330
(0.94%)		805
(2.15%)		767
(1.55%)		1,384
(1.77%)		1,796
(1.86%)
Pacific Islander alone (NH)——32
(0.06%)		92
(0.12%)		195
(0.20%)
Other race alone (NH)106
(0.30%)		100
(0.27%)		39
(0.08%)		96
(0.12%)		338
(0.35%)
Mixed race or multiracial (NH)——652
(1.32%)		1,087
(1.39%)		2,710
(2.80%)
Hispanic or Latino (any race)5,412
(15.45%)		11,316
(30.20%)		23,032
(46.67%)		40,004
(51.18%)		52,445
(54.21%)
Total35,025
(100.00%)		37,473
(100.00%)		49,347
(100.00%)		78,163
(100.00%)		96,749
(100.00%)

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 96,749 people, 28,748 households, and 22,355 families residing in the county. [20] The population density was 77.92 inhabitants per square mile (30.1/km2). There were 29,740 housing units at an average density of 23.95 per square mile (9.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 47.38% White, 1.85% African American, 1.45% Native American, 1.97% Asian, 0.24% Pacific Islander, 30.45% from some other races and 16.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 54.21% of the population. [21]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 78,163 people, 23,245 households, and 18,163 families residing in the county. The population density was 62.95 inhabitants per square mile (24.3/km2). There were 24,423 housing units at an average density of 19.67 per square mile (7.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 60.48% White, 1.88% African American, 0.68% Native American, 1.83% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 31.83% from some other races and 3.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 51.18% of the population.

In terms of ancestry, 13.1% were German, 6.8% were English, 6.5% were Irish, and 3.3% were American.

There were 23,245 households, 49.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 21.9% were non-families, and 16.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.28 and the average family size was 3.68. The median age was 28.4 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,749 and the median income for a family was $52,218. Males had a median income of $40,604 versus $29,517 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,660. About 16.5% of families and 19.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.6% of those under age 18 and 13.7% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Former communities

Government

Franklin County has a Board of County Commissioners which is the governmental authority of the county. The board consists of three commissioners; they are elected by the voters and serve four-year terms. [22] Other elected county officials include Assessor, Auditor, Clerk, Coroner, Prosecuting Attorney, Sheriff, and Treasurer. [23]

Politics

United States presidential election results for Franklin County, Washington [24]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1892 2823.53%5445.38%3731.09%
1896 3824.84%11373.86%21.31%
1900 5237.41%8158.27%64.32%
1904 57269.25%22327.00%313.75%
1908 64352.97%48539.95%867.08%
1912 29316.41%61234.29%88049.30%
1916 67135.02%1,11057.93%1357.05%
1920 83944.46%57130.26%47725.28%
1924 70931.15%23710.41%1,33058.44%
1928 1,33961.96%79936.97%231.06%
1932 83833.89%1,54062.27%953.84%
1936 62223.98%1,78468.77%1887.25%
1940 1,08436.34%1,86862.62%311.04%
1944 1,38140.97%1,97458.56%160.47%
1948 1,54137.31%2,52561.14%641.55%
1952 3,29153.89%2,79845.82%180.29%
1956 3,76346.51%4,32253.42%50.06%
1960 4,20144.65%5,15654.80%520.55%
1964 3,61535.94%6,37563.38%680.68%
1968 4,23444.22%4,03842.17%1,30313.61%
1972 5,97256.75%3,86736.75%6846.50%
1976 5,67154.51%4,36942.00%3633.49%
1980 7,32761.26%3,71931.09%9157.65%
1984 7,72462.96%4,32835.28%2161.76%
1988 6,48856.65%4,77241.67%1921.68%
1992 4,48641.02%3,74334.22%2,70824.76%
1996 5,94649.16%4,96141.01%1,1899.83%
2000 8,59463.13%4,65334.18%3672.70%
2004 10,75766.57%5,18832.11%2141.32%
2008 12,03760.81%7,36137.19%3972.01%
2012 13,74860.39%8,39836.89%6182.71%
2016 13,20653.65%8,88636.10%2,52210.25%
2020 18,03955.67%13,34041.17%1,0253.16%
2024 19,08659.84%11,88437.26%9272.91%

Franklin is a strongly Republican county in Presidential elections. No Democratic presidential candidate has carried Franklin County since Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1964 landslide, and the last Democratic gubernatorial candidate it backed was Dixy Lee Ray in 1976. [25]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Franklin County, Washington". www.census.gov. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties . Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Washington: Individual County Chronologies". publications.newberry.org. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  5. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  131.
  6. ↑ "2025 County Gazetteer Files – Washington". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Franklin County, Washington". www.census.gov. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  8. ↑ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024" . Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  11. ↑ Forstall, Richard L. (April 20, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 19, 1999. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  13. ↑ "County Median Home Price". National Association of Realtors . Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Franklin County, Washington — Population by Race". CensusScope. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  15. ↑ "1990 Census of Population: General Population Characteristics Washington" (PDF). www.census.gov. October 6, 2022. p. 30. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  16. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Franklin County, Washington". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  17. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Franklin County, Washington". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  18. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Franklin County, Washington". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  19. ↑ "U.S. Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  20. ↑ "How many people live in Franklin County, Washington". USA Today . Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Board of County Commissioners : Franklin County Commissioner's Office". Franklin County, Washington. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Elections (English) : Franklin County Elections Department". Franklin County, Washington. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  23. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  24. ↑ Dave Leip. "Gubernatorial General Election Map Comparison – Washington". Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas.

Further reading

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