West Pasco's dual coastal communities, are best known today as booming retirement centers, but both towns had more basic origins. Port Richey was started in 1883 by Missourian Captain A. M. Richey, who homesteaded on an island at the mouth of the Pithlachascottee River. New Port Richey, once Hickory Hammonds, made the name concession in 1914 when the Port Richey Company began heavy development.
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,117 people, 7,231 households, and 3,962 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,379.8/km² (3,573.3/mi²). There were 8,428 housing units at an average density of 721.5/km² (1,868.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.09% White, 1.00% African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.94% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.46% from other races, and 1.89% from two or more races. 5.25% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 7,231 households out of which 21.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.2% were non-families. 37.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.76.
In the city the population was spread out with 19.1% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 28.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,881, and the median income for a family was $32,172. Males had a median income of $25,318 versus $20,501 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,644. 16.6% of the population and 12.3% of families were below the poverty line. 27.2% of those under the age of 18 and 8.7% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Trivia: The coastline west of New Port Richey served as the location for the 1978 Lee Majors film "The Norseman".
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