Pasco County is located in west-central Florida along the Gulf Coast, just north of Tampa Bay. Pasco County was officially formed on June 2, 1887 and now contains 745 square miles of land area and 123 square miles of water surface. The county seat is Dade City but virtually all county functions are duplicated in New Port Richey in secondary county government offices and a second county courthouse.

Pasco County was named in honor of Samuel Pasco, newly elected to the US Senate from Florida at the time of county formation. These days, Pasco County is one of the fastest growing counties in Florida.