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Franklin County, Washington

56 topographic sheets cover 33 settlements here, and 8 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

8 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Washington within the United States
Franklin County within Washington

What the record shows

  • 313 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 8 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 5 buildings, 2 structures and 1 district.
  • 2 of the 8 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 33 populated places in this county; 33 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

8

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Franklin County Courthousebuilding197878002740
Kurtzman Park Mini Stationbuilding2022100008491
James Moore Housebuilding197979002532
Morningstar Baptist Churchbuilding2022100008226
Pasco Carnegie Librarybuilding198282004212
Sacajawea State Parkdistrict200707000364
Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway Company-Box Canyon Viaductstructure2018100003280
Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway Company-Box Canyon Viaductstructure2018100003280

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

91 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 91 of them, burning about 95,408 acres. 18 started naturally and 3 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined24
Natural18
Equipment and vehicle use15
Recreation and ceremony14
Debris and open burning9
Firearms and explosives use4
Arson/incendiarism3
Power generation/transmission/distribution2
Smoking2

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
7 September 2020Power generation/transmission/distribution22,000 acresSpokane DistrictKAHLOTUS
13 July 2007Natural17,946 acresHanford Reach National MonumentOVERLOOK
7 October 2019Missing data/not specified/undetermined8,743 acresSpokane DistrictMATSON
29 June 1996Equipment and vehicle use8,480 acresSpokane DistrictJUNIPER
9 August 2005Debris and open burning6,851 acresHanford Reach National MonumentMCLANE
22 August 2016Missing data/not specified/undetermined5,942 acresWashington State Fire Marshal's OfficeKAHLOTUS
6 August 2003Natural5,200 acresSpokane DistrictJUNIPER DU
7 August 2016Missing data/not specified/undetermined4,033 acresWashington State Fire Marshal's OfficePALOUSE FALLS

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1955 to 2020

45 of 45 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 45 reports for this county, causing 1 death, 4 injuries and about $3,817,000 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind31
Hail5
Lightning3
Tornado2
Flood2
Dust Devil1
Funnel Cloud1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
May 2020Thunderstorm WindJoso1 killedA small recreational fishing vessel with 3 people on board capsized in rough seas created by a severe thunderstorms on the Snake River. 2 people (one male and one female) were able to make it safely to shore. One male was missing until Sunday morning (5/31) when he was located deceased by Search and Rescue.
May 2020LightningPasco4 hurt, $12,000Cattle company near Pasco lost 6 registered Charolais cattle during a lightning storm.
February 2017FloodSagehill$3,000,000Mild temperatures February 9 -13 allowed an initial snow melt and heavy rain caused rapid melting and increased runoff across Franklin County. This area had a snow pack of 5-10 inches on February 15, with much of it melted by February 21. Rain amounts of 0.50 to 0.75 were seen on February 16 and temperatures remained above freezing through February 22 with additional rain amounts of 0.50 to 1.00 inches on February 21-22. Numerous county roads had washouts, erosion, slides and undermining. In Connell, the ground was saturated with the melting snow pack and heavy rain to the north of town ( Lind, Washington had about 1 inch of rain over the 2 day period, February 15 and 16). The Esquatzel Coulee at Connell was over-topped with water and ice running through streets. A large sinkhole/erosion area was noted near Eltopia. Damage is estimated at 3 million dollars for Franklin County, for mainly roads.
July 2002Thunderstorm WindPasco$770,000Strong wind gusts from a thunderstorm flipped two small airplanes at the Tri-Cities airport in Pasco. Five feeding bunks at DeVries Dairy were also destroyed. The winds knocked out power to thousands of residents in the county, and toppled many trees.
April 1983Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
June 2008Thunderstorm WindPasco$5,000Trees down and shingles taken from roofs.
June 2008LightningPasco$5,000Lightning struck radio tower and knocked station off air.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindPasco-Measured at mesonet station HPASC.
May 2020FloodConnell-Connell PD. reported roads flooded in town.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindKahlotus-A severe thunderstorm produced wind gusts up to 67 mph at Kahlotus in Franklin county.
June 2015Thunderstorm WindLevey-Juniper Dunes mesonet.
September 2013Thunderstorm WindSagemoor-A 68 mph wind gust measured by Hanford Mesonet.
September 2013Thunderstorm WindConnell-A 60 mph wind gust was measured by a trained storm spotters weather station.
September 2013Thunderstorm WindConnell-Spotter called to update that trees are down and they are at least 12 inches in diameter.
September 2013Thunderstorm WindConnell-At Scooteney park several 3 to 4 inch diameter tree branches down from thunderstorm winds.
September 2013Thunderstorm WindConnell-A trained spotter estimated 60 mph winds and 10 inch diameter tree was blown down.
September 2013Thunderstorm WindMesa-Washington Ag Wx Net observation.
May 2010Funnel Cloud(Psc)Tri-Cities Arpt-Spotter observed wall cloud with small funnel cloud about 2000 feet above ground.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindPasco West-Plywood signs 4 feet by 6 feet knocked over.
May 2006HailRedd-Wind and hail destroyed up to 50 percent of this year's apple crop at Broetje Farms.
July 2002HailPasco-Hail from this storm severely damaged thousands of acres of crops in Pasco. Some of the hardest hit crops were tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, green beans, and peppers.
June 2001HailMesa-Dime-sized hail fell for around 15 minutes.
May 1999Dust DevilPasco-A dust devil tore shingles and tarpaper off the roof of the Physician's Medical Center in Pasco.
February 1998LightningPasco Arpt-A thunderstorm moved through Pasco that produced lightning and hail up to one half inch. A resident reported that a tree was stuck by lightning.
May 2020Thunderstorm WindKahlotus-no account filed
August 2014Thunderstorm WindPasco West-no account filed
August 2013Thunderstorm Wind(Psc)Tri-Cities Arpt-no account filed
April 2012Thunderstorm Wind(Psc)Tri-Cities Arpt-no account filed
April 2012Thunderstorm WindSagemoor-no account filed
July 2012HailLevey-no account filed
June 2008Thunderstorm Wind(Psc)Tri-Cities Arpt-no account filed
May 2006Thunderstorm WindConnell-no account filed
May 2006Thunderstorm WindEltopia-no account filed
May 2006Thunderstorm WindPasco Arpt-no account filed
April 2006Thunderstorm WindEltopia-no account filed
April 2005Thunderstorm WindPasco-no account filed
June 2005Thunderstorm WindPasco-no account filed
October 2004Thunderstorm WindPasco-no account filed
July 2002Thunderstorm WindPasco-no account filed
July 1998Thunderstorm WindPasco Arpt-no account filed
June 1992Thunderstorm Windnot stated-no account filed
May 1989Thunderstorm Windnot stated-no account filed
May 1987Thunderstorm Windnot stated-no account filed
July 1978Tornado (F1)not stated-no account filed
July 1955Hailnot stated-no account filed

Mines and quarries

80 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 80 workings inside this county. 2 still produce and 78 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction65
Stone, Crushed/Broken11
Gemstone1
Clay1
Aluminum1
Silica1
Pumice1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Columbia River ClaysClay, AluminumOccurrence
RichlandPumiceOccurrence
Ringold GravelSilicaOccurrence
White BluffsGemstoneProspect
Anderson QuarrysStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Developed Rock PitStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Kuney PitStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Mesa QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Stock Gravel Crushing, Inc., KeithStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed PitStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed QuzrryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Ambacher PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Borrow PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Borrow PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Borrow PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Borrow PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Borrow PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Borrow PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Connell PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Eltopia PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Glade PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Goodfellow PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Hanford PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Kahlotus PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Levey PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Mesa PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Mesa PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Muir PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Pasco PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Pit No. 11147Sand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Rickerts PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Ringold PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Smith Canyon Hazardous Waste SiteSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Sulphur PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed Pit IncSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Unnamed PituntySand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Vale PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer

Every populated place in the county

33

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

The vanished settlements of Franklin County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.