Early Pasco

Pasco originated during the building of the transcontinental railroad's last spur. This southeastern part of Washington was chosen as the site for a railroad bridge over the Snake River because of its proximity to the Columbia River, which created a transportation line for needed supplies. Agriculture, railroads, and the rivers combined to create a livelihood for the people of Pasco amidst the region's desert terrain and sagebrush. By 1940, the area had grown to include nearly 5,000 individuals. Images of America: Early Pasco reveals the streets of historic Pasco and the people that were instrumental in building much more than a railroad town.