Bellingham is a city in Washington State, USA. It is the main city of Whatcom County. The city is about 21 miles (34 km) south of the border with Canada. It is located between Vancouver, British Columbia, and Seattle, Washington.

In 2020, Bellingham had a population of 91,482 people. By 2023, this number was estimated to be 94,720. Bellingham is home to Western Washington University and the Bellingham International Airport. It is also the southern end of the Alaska Marine Highway, a ferry system. It's the northernmost city in the main part of the United States with over 90,000 people.

The area around Bellingham Bay was named in 1792 by George Vancouver. It was originally home to several Coast Salish groups of Indigenous people. European settlers arrived in the 1850s, and several coal mining towns grew. The city of Bellingham was officially formed in 1903. It combined several smaller towns, including Fairhaven. Over time, the city's main industries changed from coal mining. The old industrial areas along the Bellingham waterfront are now being rebuilt into new neighborhoods.

History of Bellingham

Boatbuilding at Pacific American Fisheries yard in Bellingham, 1916

An old bank building, built in 1900 in the Fairhaven Historic District

For thousands of years, Indigenous people lived in the Bellingham area. The city and its surroundings are where the lands of many Coast Salishan groups meet. The Lummi, Nooksack, Samish, and Nuwhaha peoples fished in Bellingham Bay. They also hunted and gathered food in the nearby forests. Today, Indigenous people still live in and around Bellingham. The Lummi people have a special reservation just west of the city.

The modern city of Bellingham was formed in 1903. It brought together four smaller settlements: Bellingham, Whatcom, Fairhaven, and Sehome. The city got its name from Bellingham Bay. This bay was named by George Vancouver in 1792 after Sir William Bellingham.

The first European settlers came to the area around 1852. Henry Roeder and Russel Peabody started a lumber mill in Whatcom. This area is now the northern part of Bellingham. Lumber cutting and milling are still important in Whatcom County today. Around the same time, Dan Harris arrived. He claimed land along Padden Creek and later planned the town of Fairhaven in 1883. In 1858, the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush brought a quick increase in people, helping the community grow.

Coal was mined in the Bellingham Bay area from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s. Mining began when Henry Roeder's team found coal in Sehome in 1854. This area is now downtown Bellingham. The land was sold to investors who started the Bellingham Bay Coal Company. After 100 years of mining under what is now Bellingham, the last mine closed in 1955.

In the early 1890s, three railroad lines reached the bay cities. This connected them to markets across the country. In 1889, Pierre Cornwall and other investors created the Bellingham Bay Improvement Company (BBIC). The BBIC invested in many different businesses. These included shipping, coal, mining, railroads, and real estate. Even though their big dreams of making the bay cities a huge Pacific Northwest city didn't fully come true, the BBIC greatly helped Bellingham's economy grow.

In 1890, developers from Fairhaven bought the small community of Bellingham. Whatcom and Sehome joined together in 1891 to form New Whatcom. At first, attempts to combine Fairhaven and Whatcom failed. There was a disagreement over the name of the new city. People from Whatcom didn't want a city named Fairhaven, and Fairhaven residents didn't want Whatcom. They finally agreed on the name Bellingham. When they voted a second time to combine Fairhaven and Whatcom, the idea passed easily.

Bellingham officially became a city on December 28, 1903. This happened after the four original towns on Bellingham Bay slowly joined together. Whatcom is now the "Old Town" area. Sehome was a downtown area. The original Bellingham was further south. Fairhaven was a large business area with its own harbor.

In 1907, Bellingham was the site of the Bellingham riots. During this time, a group of white men attacked the homes of South Asian immigrant workers. These workers were mostly Sikhs, but many media outlets called them Hindus. The attackers wanted to stop these immigrants from working in local lumber mills.

Bellingham's location near the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Inside Passage to Alaska helped some fish canning businesses stay open. For example, Pacific American Fisheries (P.A.F.) sent empty cans to Alaska to be filled with fish, then shipped them back.

Bellingham circa 1909

Bellingham, 2010

Geography of Bellingham

The city is located on Bellingham Bay. This bay is protected by Lummi Island, Portage Island, and the Lummi Peninsula. It opens into the Strait of Georgia. Bellingham is west of Mount Baker and Lake Whatcom, which provides the city's drinking water. It is north of the Chuckanut Mountains. Whatcom Creek flows through the middle of the city. Bellingham is about 18 miles (29 km) south of the US-Canada border.

The city covers about 30.5 square miles (79 square km). About 28.2 square miles (73 square km) is land, and 2.3 square miles (6 square km) is water. The lowest parts of the city are at sea level along the waterfront. Alabama Hill is one of the higher points, about 500 feet (152 meters) high. Some areas near Yew Street Hill and Galbraith Mountain are about 800 feet (244 meters) high. South and east of the city, you can find taller foothills of the North Cascades mountains.

Mount Baker is the biggest peak in the area. Its top is 10,778 feet (3,285 meters) high and is only 31 miles (50 km) from Bellingham Bay. You can see Mount Baker from many parts of the city. Lake Whatcom forms part of the city's eastern border. Many smaller lakes and wet areas are found around the region.

Bellingham is located at 48.75 degrees North latitude. This means that between June 14 and 28 each year, the city experiences astronomical twilight all night long. This is when the sun is just below the horizon, so it never gets completely dark.

Bellingham has many neighborhoods, including Alabama Hill, Barkley, Birchwood, Columbia, Cordata, Cornwall Park, Downtown, Edgemoor, Fairhaven, Happy Valley, and Roosevelt.

Bellingham's Climate

Weather chart for Bellingham, Washington

4.5

2.9

3.4

2.8

2.2

1.6

0.9

1.1

3.9

5.2

4.3

temperatures in °F
precipitation totals in inches
source: NOAA

Metric conversion

J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
114 8 1	72 9 1	85 12 3	70 14 5	57 18 8	41 20 11	22 23 13	29 23 13	51 20 10	98 15 6	132 11 3	110 8 1
temperatures in °C • precipitation totals in mm

Bellingham has a mild climate, typical of the Puget Sound region. It's often described as a warm-summer Mediterranean climate. The Cascade Range to the east and the Olympic Mountains to the west greatly influence the weather. The Cascades block cold air from the continent. The Olympics create a "rain shadow" effect, protecting Bellingham from much of the rain coming from the southwest.

Bellingham gets about 34.84 inches (885 mm) of rain each year. November is usually the wettest month. Rain falls mostly from October through April.

Bellingham has the lowest average sunshine of any city in the U.S. However, it has fewer cloudy days than Seattle. Summer days rarely get hotter than 90°F (32°C). The hottest temperature ever recorded was 100°F (38°C) on August 12, 2021. This is cooler than many other places in Washington.

Sometimes, cold Arctic air from Canada blows through the Fraser River Canyon. This can bring harsh winter weather with very cold temperatures and strong winds. These winds can also mix with moisture from the Gulf of Alaska, causing ice, snow, or heavy rains. This can make roads dangerous.

The opposite weather pattern is called the "Pineapple Express". This brings unusually warm and steady winds from the south in autumn and winter. It often follows cold spells and can quickly melt large amounts of snow, sometimes causing floods.

Climate data for Bellingham, Washington (Bellingham International Airport) 1991–2020, extremes 1949–present
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	65 (18)	72 (22)	76 (24)	83 (28)	90 (32)	99 (37)	96 (36)	100 (38)	89 (32)	80 (27)	73 (23)	67 (19)	100 (38)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	57.3 (14.1)	58.3 (14.6)	64.0 (17.8)	70.9 (21.6)	77.2 (25.1)	80.8 (27.1)	84.8 (29.3)	84.3 (29.1)	79.2 (26.2)	69.5 (20.8)	61.4 (16.3)	56.9 (13.8)	87.7 (30.9)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	46.3 (7.9)	48.9 (9.4)	52.8 (11.6)	57.7 (14.3)	63.9 (17.7)	67.8 (19.9)	72.7 (22.6)	73.1 (22.8)	68.1 (20.1)	58.9 (14.9)	51.0 (10.6)	45.5 (7.5)	58.9 (14.9)
Daily mean °F (°C)	40.2 (4.6)	41.7 (5.4)	45.1 (7.3)	49.6 (9.8)	55.5 (13.1)	59.8 (15.4)	63.9 (17.7)	63.9 (17.7)	58.4 (14.7)	51.1 (10.6)	44.5 (6.9)	39.8 (4.3)	51.2 (10.7)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	34.0 (1.1)	34.5 (1.4)	37.5 (3.1)	41.6 (5.3)	47.0 (8.3)	51.8 (11.0)	55.0 (12.8)	54.7 (12.6)	49.6 (9.8)	43.2 (6.2)	37.9 (3.3)	34.1 (1.2)	43.4 (6.3)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	19.7 (−6.8)	22.9 (−5.1)	26.9 (−2.8)	32.1 (0.1)	36.4 (2.4)	43.0 (6.1)	46.8 (8.2)	45.9 (7.7)	38.8 (3.8)	30.8 (−0.7)	23.8 (−4.6)	20.6 (−6.3)	15.7 (−9.1)
Record low °F (°C)	−2 (−19)	−2 (−19)	10 (−12)	24 (−4)	25 (−4)	37 (3)	40 (4)	38 (3)	28 (−2)	20 (−7)	3 (−16)	−1 (−18)	−2 (−19)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	4.49 (114)	2.85 (72)	3.36 (85)	2.77 (70)	2.23 (57)	1.61 (41)	0.88 (22)	1.13 (29)	2.01 (51)	3.85 (98)	5.20 (132)	4.33 (110)	34.71 (882)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	3.4 (8.6)	2.4 (6.1)	0.7 (1.8)	trace	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.1 (0.25)	0.9 (2.3)	2.9 (7.4)	10.4 (26)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	18.9	15.8	17.9	15.5	12.3	10.2	5.7	6.2	11.0	16.1	19.6	19.3	168.5
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	1.8	1.4	0.5	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1	0.4	1.5	5.8
Mean monthly sunshine hours	62	84	124	180	217	240	279	248	186	124	60	62	1,866
Source 1: NOAA (snowfall 1981–2010)
Source 2: Weather-US

Bellingham's Population

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1890	8,135	—
1900	11,062	36.0%
1910	24,298	119.7%
1920	25,585	5.3%
1930	30,823	20.5%
1940	29,314	−4.9%
1950	34,112	16.4%
1960	34,688	1.7%
1970	39,375	13.5%
1980	45,794	16.3%
1990	52,179	13.9%
2000	67,171	28.7%
2010	80,885	20.4%
2020	91,482	13.1%
2023 (est.)	94,720	17.1%
U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census

2020 Census Data

In the 2020 census, Bellingham had 91,482 people. There were 39,236 households and 18,252 families living in the city.

**Bellingham, Washington – Racial and ethnic composition**
*Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.*
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	57,684	65,907	68,442	85.88%	81.48%	74.81%
Black or African American alone (NH)	622	1,015	1,253	0.93%	1.25%	1.37%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	899	964	812	1.34%	1.19%	0.89%
Asian alone (NH)	2,832	4,086	5,425	4.22%	5.05%	5.93%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	106	201	280	0.16%	0.25%	0.31%
Other race alone (NH)	176	177	537	0.26%	0.22%	0.59%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	1,741	2,870	6,257	2.59%	3.55%	6.84%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	3,111	5,665	8,476	4.63%	7.00%	9.27%
Total	67,171	80,885	91,482	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

2010 Census Data

In the 2010 census, Bellingham had 80,885 people. There were 34,671 households. The city's population density was about 2,987 people per square mile (1,153 per square km).

The racial makeup of the city was mostly White (84.9%). Other groups included African American (1.3%), Native American (1.3%), Asian (5.1%), and Pacific Islander (0.3%). About 7.0% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age in the city was 31.3 years old. About 15.6% of residents were under 18. Many residents (23.5%) were between 18 and 24, likely due to the university.

Bellingham's Economy

Workers with cut salmon on smoking trays at Whatcom Fish Products in Bellingham, 1916. Photo by John Nathan Cobb.

The average yearly salary for a worker in Bellingham is $49,363. This is less than the average for Washington State, which is $66,870.

In early 2017, the average price for a home sold in Bellingham was $382,763. This was higher than the average for Whatcom County. Strong job growth and fewer homes for sale have made rent more expensive. In February 2017, the average monthly rent was $1,526.

Largest Employers in Bellingham

Boats being built at the Pacific American Fisheries yard in Bellingham, September 1916

Here are some of the biggest employers in Bellingham, based on a 2021 report:

#	Employer	Type of Business	# of Employees	Percentage
1	PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center	Health Care	3,116	2.79%
2	Lummi	Corporation	2,083	1.87%
3	Western Washington University	University	2,060	1.84%
4	Bellingham School District No. 501	Education	1,423	1.27%
5	BP Cherry Point Refinery	Oil and Gas	975	0.87%
6	City of Bellingham	Government	936	0.84%
7	Whatcom County	Government	918	0.82%
8	Matrix Service	Petroleum	870	0.78%
9	Ferndale School District No. 502	Education	847	0.76%
10	LTI, Inc.	Transport of liquid- and dry-bulk commodities	557	0.50%
—	Total employers	—	13,785	12.34%

Arts and Culture in Bellingham

Cornwall Avenue in downtown Bellingham, 1978

Fun Events in Bellingham

The Ski to Sea race is a popular team relay race. It has seven parts: cross country skiing, downhill skiing or snowboarding, running, road biking, canoeing, mountain biking, and kayaking. The race starts at the Mount Baker Ski Area and finishes on Bellingham Bay. It began in 1973 and is based on the 1911 Mt. Baker Marathon.
The Bellingham Bay Marathon is held every year on the last Sunday in September. It includes a full marathon, half marathon, 10K, and 5K races. The marathon starts near Lummi Nation and goes around Bellingham Bay.
The Whatcom Artist Studio Tour happens every October. Local artists open their studios to the public.
The Bellingham Highland Games & Scottish Festival celebrates Scottish culture. It takes place every June at Hovander Park in Ferndale. You can see games, sports, dancing, music, and food.
LinuxFest Northwest is a free conference about the Linux operating system and other open-source projects. It's held at Bellingham Technical College in late April or early May.
The annual International Day of Peace is celebrated in Bellingham on September 21. This day promotes peace and non-violence worldwide.
The Bellingham Festival of Music is a yearly event in July. It features orchestral and chamber music concerts with musicians from across North America.
Bellingham Pride is a parade and festival held in July. It celebrates LGBT people and their history.

Bellingham's Craft Beer Scene

Craft beer is a growing industry in Bellingham. As of 2020, there are at least 15 breweries in the city. Many of them are close to each other in the downtown area. In 2022, these breweries won 23 awards in national and international competitions.

Downtown Bellingham Activities

The Bellingham Farmers Market is open on Saturdays from April to December. It started in 1993 and now has over 50 vendors, music, and community events. There's also a smaller market in Fairhaven on Wednesdays.

During summer, Downtown Sounds is a family-friendly concert series on Bay Street. It has food booths and a beer garden with local breweries.

From May to September, the Downtown Bellingham Partnership hosts the Commercial Street Night Market. It features local food, artisan vendors, live music, and performances.

Local Attractions to Visit

The waterfront Boulevard Park, with the boardwalk just above, and the Fairhaven waterfront area in the distance. MV Columbia is docked at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal.

The Whatcom Museum of History and Art shows paintings, sculptures, and local history. It also hosts "Gallery Walks" where people can tour historic buildings and learn about art and history.

The SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention has a collection of old electrical items from the 1500s to the 1950s. It teaches about the history of electronics and radio.

Mindport is a private museum that combines art and science.

Upper Falls in Whatcom Falls Park

Whatcom Falls Park is a 241-acre (98 ha) public park. It includes the Whatcom Creek gorge, which runs through the city. The park has four waterfalls and miles of walking trails. In warm weather, people enjoy swimming, fishing, and walking. In 1999, a pipeline explosion happened in the park, which was a very sad event.

East of the city is Lake Whatcom. This lake provides drinking water for the area and is where Whatcom Creek begins.

Bellis Fair Mall, the city's main shopping mall, opened in 1988.

Bellingham's Music Scene

Bellingham has a lively music scene. Its location between two major cities, along with its universities, helps make it a recognized music hub. Many bands that are known regionally and nationally started here. These include Death Cab for Cutie, Odesza, The Posies, and Idiot Pilot. Local independent record labels like Estrus Records and Clickpop Records are also based here.

Bellingham also has a strong classical music scene. It includes the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra and the internationally known Bellingham Festival of Music.

Bellingham's Literary Scene

Bellingham has an active community of writers. Western Washington University's English Department publishes the Bellingham Review. Whatcom Community College and a local bookstore, Village Books, host the annual Chuckanut Writers Conference. The city is home to writers like Steve Martini and George Dyson. The Bellingham Public Library offers free services at its Central, Barkley, and Fairhaven branches.

Local Theater in Bellingham

Mount Baker Theatre

Bellingham has a strong theater culture, supported by Western Washington University's performing arts program. Here are some of the theaters:

Bellingham Theatre Guild is a non-profit community theater that started in 1929.
Mount Baker Theatre is the largest performing arts center north of Seattle. It's a historic building known for its beautiful Moorish architecture.
Upfront Theatre is an improv comedy venue. It was started by Bellingham resident Ryan Stiles, known from Whose Line Is It Anyway?.
Northwest Ballet is a regional ballet company that performs classical ballets.
iDiOM Theater is a non-profit theater that often performs new, locally written plays.
Firehouse Performing Arts Center is an old firehouse in Fairhaven that is now a dance studio and theater.

Community Activism in Bellingham

The Whatcom Peace & Justice Center was started in 2002 by local activists. It works to promote peace and justice.

In 2006, the Bellingham City Council passed a "Troops Home!" resolution. This made Bellingham the first city in Washington to do so. Two years later, the City Council asked the federal government to avoid war with Iran. In 2012, the City Council voted to say that U.S. Constitutional rights apply to people, not to corporations. In 2014, the City Council created Coast Salish Day to celebrate the Native American peoples of the region.

In 2015, protests against Arctic oil drilling spread to Bellingham. In May 2024, students at Western Washington University held a peaceful protest supporting Palestine.

Future Development in Bellingham

Homeless encampment around Bellingham City Hall, 2020

Bellingham has a very low apartment vacancy rate. The city plans to build more multi-family housing to meet future needs. City leaders want to fit new housing within the current city limits. However, building new homes can be difficult due to limited land and neighborhood opposition.

In 2017, the Bellingham City Council started to focus on housing affordability. They held a meeting to discuss housing and homelessness.

Waterfront Redevelopment

The harbor of Bellingham, Washington, filled with logs, 1972

The Bellingham waterfront has been an industrial area for over a century. A company called Georgia-Pacific (G-P) operated a pulp mill there until 2001. G-P also built a facility that caused mercury pollution in the Whatcom Waterway and nearby land.

The Port of Bellingham bought the G-P site to clean it up and create a marina. The Port and the City of Bellingham are working together to redevelop the area. Contaminated soil was removed in 2011 and 2013. Work continues to clean up the rest of the site. The Granary Building was remodeled in 2017, and plans for new buildings are underway.

Sports in Bellingham

Club	Sport	League	Stadium
Bellingham Bells	Baseball	West Coast Collegiate Baseball League	Joe Martin Stadium
Bellingham Slam	Basketball	International Basketball League, West Conference	Whatcom Pavilion
Bellingham Blazers	Hockey	USPHL	Bellingham Sportsplex
Bellingham Roller Betties	Roller derby	WFTDA	Whatcom Pavilion
Bellingham Bulldogs	Football	Pacific Football League	Civic Stadium (Washington) and Lummi High School
Bellingham United FC	Soccer	EPLWA	Civic Stadium (Washington)
Chuckanut Bay Geoducks	Rugby Union	Pacific Northwest Rugby Football Union	Bellingham Rugby & Polo Fields
Bellingham Jr. Blazers	Youth Ice Hockey	PCAHA & PNAHA	Bellingham Sportsplex
Bellingham Figure Skating Club	Figure Skating	USFSA Recreational and Competitive Club	Bellingham Sportsplex
Bellingham United FC (indoor soccer)	Indoor Soccer	WISL	Bellingham Sportsplex

People in Bellingham enjoy many amateur sports. Skiing and snowboarding are popular at the Mount Baker Ski Area in winter. Kayaking and cycling are popular in summer. Mount Baker holds a world record for the most snowfall in a season.

Western Washington University (WWU) has very successful sports teams. Their women's Rowing team has won many NCAA Division II National Championships. The WWU men's basketball team won the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2011-2012. In 2016, the WWU women's soccer team also won the NCAA Division II National Championship.

WWU also has a college road cycling program that has placed high in national competitions.

Famous baseball player Ken Griffey Jr. started his professional career in Bellingham in 1987 with the Bellingham Mariners.

Education in Bellingham

Old Main, Western Washington University in winter

The Bellingham School District serves the local area. There are four public high schools: Bellingham High School, Options High School, Sehome High School, and Squalicum High School. Bellingham also has four public middle schools.

Private schools in Bellingham include Whatcom Hills Waldorf School, Whatcom Day Academy, St. Paul's Academy, Assumption Catholic School, and The Franklin Academy.

WWU Campus, looking north to downtown Bellingham

Western Washington University is located in Bellingham. It has over 16,000 students. The Northwest Film School offers a one-year certificate in Video Production, working with Western Washington University.

Bellingham has two community colleges:

Whatcom Community College
Bellingham Technical College

Lummi Nation School is located on the Lummi reservation, outside the city limits, but has a Bellingham postal address.

Media in Bellingham

Newspapers

The Bellingham Herald is published daily in Bellingham. Other newspapers include Whatcom Watch and The Front, which covers news about Western Washington University. In 2020, the Salish Current started as an online news source. Cascadia Daily News began in 2022 as an online daily and weekly print publication.

Television

Bellingham is part of the Seattle television market. Many homes in the area have had cable television since the 1950s. This means there haven't been many local TV stations.

You can sometimes watch TV stations from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with an antenna. Seattle stations are usually too far away. The City of Bellingham also runs BTV, a public access channel available on YouTube and Xfinity channel 10.

Magazines

Bellingham on Tap is a monthly magazine about nightlife, events, and local interest.
Bellingham Alive Magazine is a magazine about lifestyle in the local counties.
Frequency: The Snowboarder's Journal is a snowboarding magazine published quarterly in Bellingham.
What's Up! was a monthly music magazine that covered local music.
Business Pulse has covered Bellingham business news since 1975.
Southside Living is mailed to residents in certain Bellingham neighborhoods.
Trails Magazine is a quarterly magazine about backpacking and hiking.

AM Radio Stations

Frequency (kHz)	Call Sign	kW (day)	kW (night)	Owner
790	KGMI	5	1	Saga Communications
1170	KPUG	10	5	Saga Communications

FM Radio Stations

Frequency (mHz)	Call Sign	kW	Owner
89.3	KUGS	0.1	Western Washington University
91.7	KZAZ	0.12	Washington State University
92.9	KISM	50	Saga Communications
102.3	KMRE-LP	0.1	American Museum of Radio and Electricity
104.1	KAFE	60	Saga Communications
106.5	KWPZ	63	Crista Ministries

Transportation in Bellingham

A local bus in the Fairhaven District, operated by the Whatcom Transportation Authority

M/V Columbia at Bellingham Cruise Terminal

Interstate 5 (I-5) runs through Bellingham. This highway connects the city to Seattle, Vancouver, and Portland, Oregon. Bellingham also has three state highways:

State Route 11 is a scenic road through the Chuckanut Mountains.
State Route 539 connects to Lynden and the Canadian border.
State Route 542 goes east to the Mount Baker Ski Area.

The Bellingham International Airport has flights to Seattle and Friday Harbor. It also has regular jet service to other West Coast airports. The airport is home to a center that helps the US Department of Homeland Security with border security.

The Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) provides bus service within Bellingham and nearby cities. They have bus hubs downtown, at Western Washington University, and near Bellis Fair Mall. Some bus routes have frequent service every 15 minutes. WTA also offers bus service to Mount Vernon.

The city's main train station, Fairhaven Station, has Amtrak Cascades train service. Trains go to Vancouver and Seattle twice a day. The Bellingham Cruise Terminal is next to the Amtrak station. It is the southern end of the Alaska Marine Highway, a state-run ferry system. These ferries carry passengers and vehicles to places like Ketchikan and Juneau. The terminal also has seasonal ferry service to the San Juan Islands.

Notable People from Bellingham

Jon Auer – musician, founding member of the Posies
Steve Baker – professional motorcycle racer
Billy Burke – actor, known for Twilight
Misha Collins – actor, known for Supernatural
Ben Gibbard – lead singer for Death Cab for Cutie
Ryan Hietala – professional golfer
Paul Jessup – world record holder for discus
Jake Locker – former NFL quarterback
Dana Lyons – folk musician and environmentalist
Jason McGerr – drummer for Death Cab for Cutie
Finn McKenty – internet personality and music journalist
Stephen Oswald – former NASA astronaut
Doug Pederson – head coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL)
Taylor Rapp – NFL safety for the Buffalo Bills
Ryan Stiles – comedian on Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Ken Stringfellow – musician, founding member of the Posies
Hilary Swank – actress
Phoebe Wahl – artist and author

Sister Cities of Bellingham

Bellingham has special "sister city" relationships with five port cities around the Pacific Ocean and one city in Finland. These relationships help promote cultural exchange and understanding.

City	State / Prefecture / Region	Country	Year
Tateyama	Chiba	Japan	1958
Port Stephens	New South Wales	Australia	1982
Nakhodka	Primorsky Krai	Russia	1989
Punta Arenas	Magallanes	Chile	1996
Cheongju	Chungcheongbuk-do	South Korea	2008
Vaasa	Ostrobothnia	Finland	2009
Tsetserleg	Arkhangai	Mongolia	2011

Tateyama and Port Stephens are also sister cities with each other.

The Bellingham Sister Cities Association helps support these relationships. The connection with Tateyama, Japan, is very active. It includes yearly staff exchanges and cultural visits. Tateyama often sends a team or representatives to Bellingham's annual Ski to Sea race.

Images for kids

Bellingham circa 1909
Bellingham, 2010

Bellingham, Washington facts for kids

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