[4] Pacific was platted on April 10, 1906, by real estate promoter Clarence Dayton Hillman as "C.D.

The development would take advantage of the nearby Puget Sound Electric Railway, which provided connections to Seattle and Tacoma.

On January 8, 2009, the Army Corps of Engineers released water from the 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 Sound region.

[8] A large amount of water was released very quickly, causing rapid and massive flooding in Pacific.

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.

[9] Assistance to those affected by the flooding was provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

[14] In 2013, mayor Cy Sun was recalled by voters and replaced by a city councilmember following his firing of most of the government's department heads.