Pasco Genealogy Records
Pasco is the county seat of Franklin County and one of the Tri-Cities in southeastern Washington State. Genealogy records for Pasco families are held across several offices — the Franklin County Auditor, the County Clerk, the Washington State Digital Archives, and the Central Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives. Whether you are looking for a marriage certificate from the 1890s, a land deed filed after statehood, or a court record from the early 1900s, this guide covers the key sources and where to find them. Pasco was incorporated in 1891, and records from that period onward are well documented.
Pasco Overview
Franklin County Genealogy Records for Pasco
Franklin County was created from Whitman County on November 28, 1882, and Pasco is its county seat. The Franklin County Auditor holds birth and death records from 1891 to 1910, marriage records from 1891, and land records going back to the county's formation. The County Clerk has divorce, probate, and court records from 1891 as well. These are the core offices for Pasco genealogy research.
One thing to keep in mind with Pasco research: the city sits near the confluence of the Columbia and Snake rivers, right across from Kennewick (Benton County) and near Burbank (Walla Walla County). From early on, residents crossed the rivers to go to church, get married, visit hospitals, and bury their dead. So if you can't find a record in Franklin County, check Benton or Walla Walla County records too. Residents in the northern part of Franklin County sometimes traveled to Connell in Adams County for services, so Adams County records can be worth checking as well.
The FamilySearch Wiki for Franklin County, Washington is a solid starting point. It lists every major record series available, the date ranges covered, and which agency or archive holds them. Statewide registration of births and deaths began in 1907, with general compliance by about 1917. Records before 1907 are held by the county auditor.
Pasco Genealogy in the Digital Archives
The Washington State Digital Archives hosts several key Franklin County collections, all freely searchable online. These cover vital records and land filings that are directly relevant to Pasco family history research.
The Franklin County Auditor, Marriage Records, 1889-Present is a major collection with over 132,000 records. It includes marriage applications and certificates recorded by the Franklin County Auditor from 1889 forward. The digital copies of certificates from 1910 to 1930 were digitized from Central Regional Branch holdings, and electronic copies from 1999 onward were transferred directly from the auditor. You can search by the groom or bride's name (or Person A and Person B for marriages after December 6, 2012), with a year range filter and Soundex options.
The City of Pasco's official website at pasco-wa.gov connects researchers to the City Clerk, who holds municipal records including city council minutes, ordinances, and resolutions. These records can be useful for tracing property ownership, business licenses, and local government actions affecting Pasco families.
The Franklin County Auditor, Recorded Land Records, 1989-Present contains over 527,000 index entries with some images. It covers a wide range of document types: deeds, deeds of trust, easements, federal tax liens, judgments, mortgages, name changes, power of attorney, and more. For land records before 1989, you need to visit the county auditor's office or the Central Regional Branch in person.
The Franklin County Auditor, Miscellaneous Recordings, 1989-Present covers 32,000+ documents including death certificates, decrees, affidavits, and community property agreements. This collection is useful for picking up records that don't fit standard land or vital record categories.
For birth records before 1907, the county auditor held those returns. In 1891, coroners, physicians, and midwives were required to return births and deaths to the county auditor, though many went unrecorded. On July 1, 1907, the State Center for Health Statistics took over statewide registration. The Franklin County Auditor also holds dental license records from 1911 to 1972, which can be useful for tracing professional family members.
The City of Pasco's official portal at pasco-wa.gov is the access point for municipal public records, including city clerk documents and administrative filings that can supplement county-level genealogy research.
State Archives and Pasco Family Research
The Washington State Archives Central Regional Branch is the main archival facility for Franklin County records. It is located on the campus of Central Washington University in Ellensburg. The branch is open for in-person research Wednesdays through Fridays by appointment only. It is closed Mondays and Tuesdays for in-person visits but does accept phone and email requests. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed from 12 to 1 p.m. Phone: (509) 963-2136, email: cebrancharchives@sos.wa.gov.
The Central Branch holds birth and death records from the turn of the 19th century, marriage records from about 1867 to 1997, naturalization records, probate records, pre-statehood county censuses, and schoolchildren censuses from roughly 1890 to 1932. For legal records, it has civil, criminal, and probate case files from Superior Courts going back to about 1889. There is no charge to request and view public archival documents at the branch.
Note: If you are not sure which archive holds the records you need, the Central Branch staff can help you figure out where to look. They serve researchers looking into records from Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, and Yakima counties.
Washington Digital Archives — Pasco Collections
The Washington State Digital Archives hosts collections directly relevant to Franklin County and Pasco ancestry research. The digital archive at digitalarchives.wa.gov provides free online access to indexes and images from the Franklin County Auditor's holdings.
This collection from the Washington State Digital Archives contains Franklin County Auditor records relevant to Pasco family history. Free online search lets you look up records by name and year without visiting in person.
A second Digital Archives collection for Franklin County covers additional Auditor record series. Together these collections form a strong starting point for Pasco genealogy research without leaving your home.
Local Genealogy Resources in Pasco
The Tri-City Genealogical Society is based in Richland and serves the entire Tri-Cities area, including Pasco and Franklin County. Their mailing address is PO Box 1410, 1314 Jadwin Ave, Richland, WA 99352-1410. Local genealogical societies like this one often hold materials that are not found anywhere else: family histories, cemetery records, local obituaries, and personal papers donated by Tri-Cities families. Check the society's website at tricitygensoc.org for meeting schedules and research assistance options.
The East Benton County Historical Society and Museum at 205 West Keewaydin Drive, Kennewick, WA 99336 (phone 509-582-7704) serves the broader Kennewick and Richland area. Though based in Benton County, many of its collections cover the Tri-Cities region, which includes Pasco. The Reach Museum at 1943 Columbia Park Trail, Richland, WA 99353 (phone 509-943-4100) holds historical collections relevant to Native American history, pioneer settlement, and the Manhattan Project-era Hanford site.
The Washington State Genealogical Society at wasgs.org offers statewide resources including a county-by-county research guide. For digital newspaper research, the Washington Rural Heritage project at washingtonruralheritage.org has scanned local papers that include Tri-Cities and Franklin County coverage.
Pasco Vital Records and State Resources
For birth and death records after July 1, 1907, contact the Washington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics, at 101 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA 98501, info line (360) 236-4300. Birth and death certificates cost $25 per copy. Marriage and divorce certificates cost $25 per copy for events since January 1, 1968. You can order through VitalChek online or by mail.
The Washington State Library at washstatelib.libguides.com/genealogy has an excellent guide to genealogy resources statewide. The library holds Ancestry Library Edition, which provides census indexes from 1790 to 1930, vital records databases, the Social Security Death Index, and military, court, land, and probate records. This resource is available on-site at the library only.
FamilySearch at familysearch.org provides free access to many Washington State genealogical collections and maintains a detailed county-by-county wiki for research guidance. For Pasco and Franklin County specifically, the FamilySearch wiki notes record series going back to the territorial period.
Franklin County Genealogy Records
Pasco is the county seat of Franklin County. All vital records, land filings, court cases, and probate records for Pasco are held through Franklin County. The county was organized in 1883 and its records go back to the earliest settlement of the area. For a full guide to Franklin County genealogy resources and record series, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Pasco. Each one files genealogy and vital records through its own county system. Richland is in Benton County; records for both Tri-Cities areas often overlap.