Franklin County
County
Franklin County Courthouse in Pasco
Franklin County Courthouse in Pasco
Map of Washington highlighting Franklin County
Location within the U.S. state of Washington
Map of the United States highlighting Washington
Washington's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 46°32′N 118°54′W / 46.54°N 118.9°W / 46.54; -118.9
Country United States
State Washington
FoundedNovember 28, 1883
Named forBenjamin Franklin
SeatPasco
Largest cityPasco
Area
 • Total1,265 sq mi (3,280 km2)
 • Land1,242 sq mi (3,220 km2)
 • Water23 sq mi (60 km2)  1.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total96,749
 • Estimate 
(2022)
98,678 Increase
 • Density71/sq mi (27/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional districts4th, 5th
Websitewww.co.franklin.wa.us

Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, its population was 96,749.[1] The county seat and largest city is Pasco.[2] The county was formed out of Whitman County on November 28, 1883,[3] and is named for Benjamin Franklin.[4]

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 1,265 square miles (3,280 km2), of which 1,242 square miles (3,220 km2) is land and 23 square miles (60 km2) (1.8%) is water.[5]

Geographic features

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1890696—
1900486−30.2%
19105,153960.3%
19205,87714.1%
19306,1374.4%
19406,3072.8%
195013,563115.0%
196023,34272.1%
197025,81610.6%
198035,02535.7%
199037,4737.0%
200049,34731.7%
201078,16358.4%
202096,74923.8%
2022 (est.)98,678[6]2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[1]

Franklin County, along with Adams County, have the highest per capita percentage of Latino residents in the state.[11]

2020 census

as of the 2020 census, there were 96,749 people in Franklin County.[citation needed]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 78,163 people, 23,245 households, and 18,163 families residing in the county.[12] The population density was 62.9 inhabitants per square mile (24.3/km2). There were 24,423 housing units at an average density of 19.7 per square mile (7.6/km2).[13] The racial makeup of the county was 60.5% white, 1.9% black or African American, 1.8% Asian, 0.7% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 31.8% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 51.2% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 13.1% were German, 6.8% were English, 6.5% were Irish, and 3.3% were American.[14]

Of the 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.[12]

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.[15]

The 2019 county population is estimated to be 95,222, a 21.8% increase since 2010. This far outpaces Washington State's overall growth of 13.2% over the same time interval, and puts Franklin County among the fastest-growing counties in the nation.

In 2018 the county contained 28,647 housing units.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated 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.[16] Other elected county officials include Assessor, Auditor, Clerk, Coroner, Prosecuting Attorney, Sheriff, and Treasurer.[17]

Politics

United States presidential election results for Franklin County, Washington[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 18,039 55.67% 13,340 41.17% 1,025 3.16%
2016 13,206 53.65% 8,886 36.10% 2,522 10.25%
2012 13,748 60.39% 8,398 36.89% 618 2.71%
2008 12,037 60.81% 7,361 37.19% 397 2.01%
2004 10,757 66.57% 5,188 32.11% 214 1.32%
2000 8,594 63.13% 4,653 34.18% 367 2.70%
1996 5,946 49.16% 4,961 41.01% 1,189 9.83%
1992 4,486 41.02% 3,743 34.22% 2,708 24.76%
1988 6,488 56.65% 4,772 41.67% 192 1.68%
1984 7,724 62.96% 4,328 35.28% 216 1.76%
1980 7,327 61.26% 3,719 31.09% 915 7.65%
1976 5,671 54.51% 4,369 42.00% 363 3.49%
1972 5,972 56.75% 3,867 36.75% 684 6.50%
1968 4,234 44.22% 4,038 42.17% 1,303 13.61%
1964 3,615 35.94% 6,375 63.38% 68 0.68%
1960 4,201 44.65% 5,156 54.80% 52 0.55%
1956 3,763 46.51% 4,322 53.42% 5 0.06%
1952 3,291 53.89% 2,798 45.82% 18 0.29%
1948 1,541 37.31% 2,525 61.14% 64 1.55%
1944 1,381 40.97% 1,974 58.56% 16 0.47%
1940 1,084 36.34% 1,868 62.62% 31 1.04%
1936 622 23.98% 1,784 68.77% 188 7.25%
1932 838 33.89% 1,540 62.27% 95 3.84%
1928 1,339 61.96% 799 36.97% 23 1.06%
1924 709 31.15% 237 10.41% 1,330 58.44%
1920 839 44.46% 571 30.26% 477 25.28%
1916 671 35.02% 1,110 57.93% 135 7.05%
1912 293 16.41% 612 34.29% 880 49.30%
1908 643 52.97% 485 39.95% 86 7.08%
1904 572 69.25% 223 27.00% 31 3.75%
1900 52 37.41% 81 58.27% 6 4.32%
1896 38 24.84% 113 73.86% 2 1.31%
1892 28 23.53% 54 45.38% 37 31.09%

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.[19]

See also

Notes

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 131.
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
  5. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  10. ^ "Franklin County, WA". DataUSA. In 2017, there were 1.28 times more Hispanic or Latino residents (46.8k people) in Franklin County, WA than any other race or ethnicity
  11. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  12. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  13. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  14. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  15. ^ "Franklin County Commissioner's Office". Franklin County, Washington. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  16. ^ "Franklin County Elections Department". Franklin County, Washington. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  18. ^ Dave Leip. "Gubernatorial General Election Map Comparison – Washington". Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas.

Further reading

External links

46°32′N 118°54′W / 46.54°N 118.90°W / 46.54; -118.90

Places adjacent to Franklin County, Washington
Municipalities and communities of Franklin County, Washington, United States
State of Washington
Authority control databases
Categories