Pacific, Washington
Encyclopedia
Pacific is a city in King
and Pierce
counties in the U.S. state
of Washington. Located primarily in King County, the population was 6,606 at the 2010 census. Like its northern neighbor Algona
, Pacific is sometimes mistaken for a part of Auburn
.
as "C.D. Hillman's Pacific City Addition to the City of Seattle," Pacific was officially incorporated on August 10, 1909.
Record-breaking rains in November 2006 pushed the White River over its river banks along Pacific City Park, creating a temporary 25 acres (101,171.5 m²) lake.
In January 2009, release of stormwaters from the Mud Mountain flood-control dam caused even greater flooding, inundating more than a hundred homes.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.6 km²).The lower White River
, also known as the Stuck River
, runs through the east side of Pacific, between Auburn, Washington
and Sumner, Washington
.
of 2000, there were 5,527 people, 1,992 households, and 1,444 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,158.1 people per square mile (833.6/km²). There were 2,090 housing units at an average density of 816.1 per square mile (315.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.38% White, 1.43% African American, 1.61% Native American, 4.72% Asian, 0.20% Pacific Islander, 2.95% from other races
, and 3.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.48% of the population.
There were 1,992 households out of which 44.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples
living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.2% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 35.2% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 5.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,673, and the median income for a family was $47,694. Males had a median income of $36,594 versus $28,301 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,228. About 7.9% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.4% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
region. A large amount of water was released very quickly, causing rapid and massive flooding in Pacific. Those affected had virtually no notice of the impending disaster. One of those affected by the flooding was noted local and international musician Jerry Miller
, a founding member of Moby Grape
, who had recently moved to Pacific from Tacoma
. Miller lost virtually all of his possessions, including over forty years of memorabilia from his music career. Assistance to those affected by the flooding was provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA).
King County, Washington
King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States....
and Pierce
Pierce County, Washington
right|thumb|[[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]] - Seat of Pierce CountyPierce County is the second most populous county in the U.S. state of Washington. Formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory...
counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Washington. Located primarily in King County, the population was 6,606 at the 2010 census. Like its northern neighbor Algona
Algona, Washington
Algona is a city in King County, Washington, United States, and the Seattle metropolitan area, surrounded by the suburbs of Auburn to the north and east, Pacific to the south, and unincorporated King County to the west...
, Pacific is sometimes mistaken for a part of Auburn
Auburn, Washington
-Parks:Auburn has an extensive system of parks, open space and urban trails comprising 29 developed parks, 5 undeveloped sites under planning, 2 skate parks, 2 water roatary parks, and over of trails , and almost of open space for passive and active recreation.-Environmental Park:The Auburn...
.
History
Platted August 10, 1906 by real estate promoter Clarence Dayton HillmanClarence Dayton Hillman
Clarence Dayton Hillman was a prominent businessman and real estate developer in Seattle, Washington at the beginning of the 20th century.Born in Birmingham, Michigan, his parents both died before he was ten years old...
as "C.D. Hillman's Pacific City Addition to the City of Seattle," Pacific was officially incorporated on August 10, 1909.
Record-breaking rains in November 2006 pushed the White River over its river banks along Pacific City Park, creating a temporary 25 acres (101,171.5 m²) lake.
In January 2009, release of stormwaters from the Mud Mountain flood-control dam caused even greater flooding, inundating more than a hundred homes.
Geography
Pacific is located at 47°15′48"N 122°14′52"W (47.263272, -122.247831).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.6 km²).The lower White River
White River (Washington)
The White River is a white, glacial river in the U.S. state of Washington. It flows about 75 miles from its source, the Emmons Glacier on Mount Rainier, to join the Puyallup River at Sumner...
, also known as the Stuck River
Stuck River (Washington)
The Stuck River in Washington state is a former small stream turned distributary and later final course of the White River, near Auburn to the Puyallup River at Sumner...
, runs through the east side of Pacific, between Auburn, Washington
Auburn, Washington
-Parks:Auburn has an extensive system of parks, open space and urban trails comprising 29 developed parks, 5 undeveloped sites under planning, 2 skate parks, 2 water roatary parks, and over of trails , and almost of open space for passive and active recreation.-Environmental Park:The Auburn...
and Sumner, Washington
Sumner, Washington
Sumner is a city in northern Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 9,451 at the 2010 census. Nearby cities include Puyallup to the west, Auburn to the north, and Enumclaw to the east.-History:...
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,527 people, 1,992 households, and 1,444 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,158.1 people per square mile (833.6/km²). There were 2,090 housing units at an average density of 816.1 per square mile (315.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.38% White, 1.43% African American, 1.61% Native American, 4.72% Asian, 0.20% Pacific Islander, 2.95% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.48% of the population.
There were 1,992 households out of which 44.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.2% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 35.2% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 5.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,673, and the median income for a family was $47,694. Males had a median income of $36,594 versus $28,301 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $18,228. About 7.9% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.4% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
2009 Flooding
On January 8, 2009, the Army Corps of Engineers released water from Mud Mountain Dam into the White River. The action was done to relieve pressure in the reservoir, which had reached its capacity due to heavy rain that was causing flooding around the Puget SoundPuget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
region. A large amount of water was released very quickly, causing rapid and massive flooding in Pacific. Those affected had virtually no notice of the impending disaster. One of those affected by the flooding was noted local and international musician Jerry Miller
Jerry Miller
Jerry Miller is an American songwriter, guitarist and vocalist. He performs as a solo artist and as a member of the Jerry Miller Band. He is also a founding member of the 1960s San Francisco band Moby Grape, which continues to perform occasionally...
, a founding member of Moby Grape
Moby Grape
Moby Grape is an American rock group from the 1960s, known for having all five members contribute to singing and songwriting and that collectively merged elements of folk music, blues, country, and jazz together with rock and psychedelic music...
, who had recently moved to Pacific from Tacoma
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
. Miller lost virtually all of his possessions, including over forty years of memorabilia from his music career. Assistance to those affected by the flooding was provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
Federal Emergency Management Agency
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders...
(FEMA).