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Community Information
Whatcom County and the Bellingham/Lynden area is situated between two of North America’s most
international cities ?Seattle which is 85 miles to the south, and Vancouver B.C which is 60
miles to the north. The county consists of 2,126 square miles and is located in the northwest
corner of Washington State, overlooking Bellingham Bay and the San Juan Islands. The City of
Bellingham is the county seat and largest incorporated city; the other major cities are Ferndale,
Lynden and Blaine (at the Canadian border).
Elevation ranges from sea level (the City of Bellingham and Blaine) to a high of 10,788 feet at
Mt. Baker, considered one of the best ski areas in the Northwest, and a portion of the North
Cascades National Park. The annual rainfall average is 36 inches with the average high and low
temperatures of 72 degrees/53 degrees (F) in July and 43 degrees/31 degrees in January.
The area offers excellent public transportation, both traditional and alternative health care,
educational, religious and entertainment opportunities. Whatcom County is served by the local
transportation system with bus routes throughout the county; an airport with daily flights to
Seattle, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas with connections throughout the world; AmTrak provides
rail service and the water front provides ferry and cruise ship service throughout the Islands
and Canada. Local health care providers are 2nd to none with services provided through St.
Joseph’s Hospital, the Madrona Medical Group, the Northwest Regional Council and the Whatcom
Alliance for Healthcare Access as well as the many independent healthcare services available.
Besides the many K-12 public and private educational facilities, Whatcom County is also home
to Western Washington University with over 11,000 f/t students; Whatcom Community College;
Bellingham Technical College; City University and Northwest Indian College. Mt. Baker
Theatre provides international entertainment in the restored theater, with many movie theaters,
newspaper, radio and TV stations providing mainstream entertainment means. Or, visit one of the
3 casinos within 20 minutes for local entertainment, food and gaming sports.
Outdoor activities are far ranging; snow skiing at Mt. Baker in the winter; hiking thousands
of miles of mountain/coastal trails; kayaking or whale watching in the sound; or, enjoy one of
the golf courses that make Whatcom County the county in Washington State with the most courses
to name a few! All while knowing you are in one of the top 10 areas in the nation with the
cleanest air (American Lung Assoc.) in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 (latest stats available).
General Whatcom County Demographic and Relocation Information:
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Total population
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174,500
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Median age
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34
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Average household size
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2.51
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Average family size
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3.03
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Total housing units
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73,900
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Owner-occupied units
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40,900
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Renter-occupied units
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23,570
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Median family income
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$49,325
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Median h-hold income
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$40,005
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Per capita income
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$20,025
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LOCAL LINKS
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Kulshan - all about Whatcom Co.
kulshan.com
Dustin Brumley, Neighborhood Mortgage, Inc.
licensedtoloan.com
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