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Whatcom County, Washington facts for kids

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This article is about Whatcom (disambiguation)|Whatcom. For other uses, see Whatcom County, Washington (disambiguation).
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Whatcom County
U.S. county
Whatcom County Courthouse in Bellingham
Whatcom County Courthouse in Bellingham
Official seal of Whatcom County
Seal
Map of Washington highlighting Whatcom County
Location within the U.S. state of Washington
Map of the United States highlighting Washington
Washington's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Washington
Founded March 9, 1854
Named for Chief Whatcom
Seat Bellingham
Largest city Bellingham
Area
 • Total 2,503 sq mi (6,480 km2)
 • Land 2,107 sq mi (5,460 km2)
 • Water 397 sq mi (1,030 km2)  16%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 226,847
 • Estimate 
(2022)
 230,677 Increase
 • Density 103/sq mi (40/km2)
Time zone UTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional district 2nd
Website https://www.whatcomcounty.us/
Entering-Whatcom-County sign at county line in Washington, 1970
Sign at county boundary, 1970
Whatcom County, Washington - Sheriff Vehicle
Sheriff's Department vehicle in Bellingham

Whatcom County is a county in the northwestern part of Washington state. It shares a border with British Columbia, Canada, to the north. To its east is Okanogan County, and to the south is Skagit County.

The county's main city and government center is Bellingham. In 2020, about 226,847 people lived here.

Whatcom County was created in March 1854. Its name comes from the Lummi word Xwotʼqom. This word might mean "noisy" or "noisy water," possibly referring to a waterfall. The county has a varied economy. It is especially known for growing raspberries. About 60% of all raspberries grown in the United States come from Whatcom County.

History of Whatcom County

People have lived in the Whatcom County area for at least 12,000 years. Three main Native American tribes lived here: the Lummi, Nooksack, and Semiahmoo peoples.

In the early 1800s, this area was part of the Oregon Country. Both Canadian fur traders and American settlers were interested in the land. Since both countries claimed the area, they agreed to share control in 1818. The Hudson's Bay Company even set up a trading post called Fort Langley in 1827.

The Washington Territory was formed in 1853. In 1854, Whatcom County was officially created from parts of Island County. Over time, parts of Whatcom County were used to form other counties, like San Juan County in 1873 and Skagit County in 1883.

In 1855, settlers built a blockhouse (a small fort) to protect themselves. That same year, the Treaty of Point Elliott was signed. This treaty set aside smaller areas of land for the Lummi and Semiahmoo peoples.

A gold rush in the Fraser Canyon (1857–1858) brought many people to the county for a short time. The population grew to over 10,000, but then it quickly went back down. In 1857, the US government began marking the border with Canada. This border, the 49th parallel, also became the northern line of Whatcom County.

Border Crossings

Whatcom County shares its northern border with British Columbia, Canada. Many people cross this border for travel and shopping.

Here are the main border crossing points, from west to east:

  • The Point Roberts–Boundary Bay Border Crossing connects Point Roberts to Tsawwassen, British Columbia.
  • The Peace Arch Border Crossing is where Interstate 5 meets British Columbia Highway 99.
  • The Pacific Highway Border Crossing connects Washington State Route 543 with British Columbia Highway 15.
  • The Lynden–Aldergrove Border Crossing connects SR 539 to British Columbia Highway 13.
  • The Sumas–Huntingdon Border Crossing is at Sumas, connecting SR 9 to Abbotsford, British Columbia.
  • There is also an unmanned crossing between British Columbia's Skagit Valley Provincial Park and North Cascades National Park.

Many stores and services in Bellingham are popular with people who cross the border from Canada.

Geography of Whatcom County

Whatcom County covers about 2,503 square miles. About 2,107 square miles are land, and 397 square miles (16%) are covered by water.

The western part of Whatcom County is a flat area called the Fraser Lowland. This plain is mostly in British Columbia. The rest of Whatcom County is in the Cascade Range, which includes Mount Baker.

Mount Baker is an active volcano and the highest point in the county. It stands at 10,778 feet above sea level. The lowest points are at sea level along the Salish Sea, which is part of the Pacific Ocean.

Geographic Features

National Protected Areas

  • Mount Baker National Recreation Area
  • Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest (part)
  • North Cascades National Park (part)
  • Ross Lake National Recreation Area (part)
  • Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (part)

State Protected Areas

Major Highways

  • Interstate 5 connects to cities like Seattle, Portland, and Los Angeles.
  • SR 20 connects to U.S. Route 101 and goes through the North Cascades Highway. This is the farthest north highway through the Cascade Mountains in the USA.
  • Alaska Marine Highway connects Alaska highways to the Interstate Highway System.

Adjacent Counties

Population of Whatcom County

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1860 352 —
1870 534 51.7%
1880 3,137 487.5%
1890 18,591 492.6%
1900 24,116 29.7%
1910 49,511 105.3%
1920 50,600 2.2%
1930 59,128 16.9%
1940 60,355 2.1%
1950 66,733 10.6%
1960 70,317 5.4%
1970 81,950 16.5%
1980 106,701 30.2%
1990 127,780 19.8%
2000 166,814 30.5%
2010 201,140 20.6%
2020 226,847 12.8%
2022 (est.) 230,677 14.7%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010–2020

In 2010, Whatcom County had 201,140 people living there. The population density was about 95.5 people per square mile. Most people (85.4%) were White. About 3.5% were Asian, and 2.8% were American Indian. People of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 7.8% of the population.

The average age of people in the county was 36.6 years old.

Economy of Whatcom County

In the 1850s, coal mines, sawmills, and a military fort were built in Whatcom County. At first, logging was the main business. As land was cleared, farming also grew. Canneries, which packaged fish and crops, sent the county's products to many places.

Pacific American Fisheries became the world's largest canning company in 1899. It employed thousands of people. Smaller canneries also produced a lot of canned salmon. The Fairhaven Shipyard built many fishing ships and even freighters during World War I.

Today, Whatcom County is famous for its raspberries. It produces 60–80 million pounds of raspberries each year. This is about 99% of Washington's raspberry crop and around 85% of the entire United States' harvest.

Activity across the Canadian border also plays a big part in the county's economy.

Education in Whatcom County

Whatcom County has many public and private schools for students from preschool to high school. Public schools are run by eight different school districts. Each district has its own elected school board.

Here are some of the school districts:

  • Bellingham School District serves Bellingham and nearby areas.
  • Blaine School District serves Blaine, Birch Bay, and Point Roberts.
  • Ferndale School District serves Ferndale, Custer, Lummi Island, and the Lummi Nation.
  • Lynden School District serves Lynden and its surrounding areas.
  • Mount Baker School District serves communities along the Mount Baker Highway.
  • Nooksack Valley School District serves Everson, Nooksack, and Sumas.

There are also many private schools, such as Assumption Catholic School and Lynden Christian Schools.

Higher Education

Whatcom County is home to several colleges and universities:

  • Western Washington University (Western) is a large public university. It offers many bachelor's and master's degrees.
  • Whatcom Community College is a public college that offers certificate programs and associate degrees.
  • Bellingham Technical College is a public college focused on technical and vocational training.
  • Trinity Western University (TWU) has a branch campus in Bellingham. It offers undergraduate courses.
  • Northwest Indian College is a college supported by the Lummi Nation. It serves the Native American community.

Communities in Whatcom County

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost Towns

  • Barron
  • Chancellor
  • Gold Hill
  • Goshen
  • Park
  • Semiahmoo
  • Shuksan

Notable People

See also: List of people from Bellingham, Washington
  • Steve Alvord, a football player in the NFL
  • Tim Soares, a basketball player
  • Ryan Stiles, an actor and comedian
  • Hilary Swank, an award-winning movie actress

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Whatcom para niños

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