Semiahmoo Spit facts for kids

Semiahmoo Spit is a long, narrow piece of land reaching into the water.

Semiahmoo Spit is a long, narrow strip of land that reaches out from the coast. It sits between Semiahmoo Bay and Drayton Harbor. This special landform is located near Blaine in Whatcom County, Washington state. Today, you can find Semiahmoo Park on the spit.

How Semiahmoo Spit Was Formed and Where It Is

Semiahmoo Spit points towards the northeast. It was created by a natural process called longshore drift. This is when waves push sand and small rocks along the shoreline. The waves hitting Semiahmoo Spit come in at an angle, usually about 30 to 45 degrees. This means the wind pushing the waves also comes from the northeast.

As waves lose energy, they drop the materials they are carrying. Bigger, heavier rocks like cobbles and gravel are dropped first, closer to where the spit begins. Smaller, lighter materials like sand and mud can be carried farther out.

The spit is about 1.25 miles (2 kilometers) long. It covers about 125 acres (0.5 square kilometers) of land. The border between the United States and Canada is just one mile north of the spit's tip. The city of White Rock, British Columbia in Canada is about four miles northeast.

A Look at Semiahmoo Spit's History

The office building for the Semiahmoo cannery in 1918.

Living areas for workers at the Semiahmoo cannery in 1917.

Workers at the Semiahmoo cannery using a filling machine in 1918.

In 1858, people called prospectors came to the Semiahmoo area. They were looking for the Fraser River. The spit seemed like a good place to set up a base to explore the mainland. Soon, a trading post was built on the spit. The owner even planned for a city called Semiahmoo City.

People thought Semiahmoo would become a busy boomtown. But it grew into a fishing town instead. The spit offered a safe harbor for Drayton Harbor and lots of coastal resources.

Whatcom County's first Salmon cannery opened in Semiahmoo in 1881. By 1891, the Alaska Packers Association had the largest salmon cannery in the world right here. Canning salmon was the main way people made money in Semiahmoo until 1980. That's when a company bought the land for development.

More recently, a park was built near the start of the spit. It has a small center that is open in some seasons. The Semiahmoo Resort and Golf Course were also built near the spit.

The Lummi Nation and Old Discoveries

Because of its location, Semiahmoo Spit has many natural resources. These resources grow well in both the calm waters of Drayton Harbor and the ocean currents of the Strait of Georgia.

Long ago, the Lummi Indian Nation used the spit for its natural resources. They even built a major village there. Today, you can still see piles of old shells called shell midden in many places. These are on both sides of the spit. Waves have worn away the shore, showing these old artifacts from the past.