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Bellingham, WA


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Bellingham, Washington

Introduction to Bellingham, Washington

Bellingham, Washington, in Whatcom county, is 80 miles N of Seattle, Washington. About 67,171 people live in Bellingham.

Bellingham History

The name of this area was derived from the bay on which it is situated. George Vancouver, who landed here in June 1792, named the bay after Sir William Bellingham who worked for the Royal Navy as a controller of the storekeeper's account. The earliest white settlers arrived in 1854. In November 1903, the four towns around Bellingham Bay, Whatcom, Sehome, Bellingham, and Fairhaven, were consolidated and incorporated as Bellingham.

Bellingham and nearby Attractions

  • Whatcom Falls Park
  • American Museum of Radio and Electricity
  • Bellingham Railway Museum
  • Larrabee State Park
  • Lake Whatcom

Things To Do In Bellingham

Those interested in outdoor recreation can visit the Whatcom Falls Park which encompasses the Whatcom Creek Gorge. It has many miles of walking trails and four sets of waterfalls. Visitors can enjoy fishing, swimming, and hiking. There are also several interesting museums in the area which are dedicated to various subjects such as local history, art, the railways, etc. Skiing is another activity which can be enjoyed at Mount Baker Ski Area.

Bellingham Transportation

Bellingham International Airport is nearby.

Bellingham Higher Education

Western Washington University, Whatcom Community College, and Northwest Indian College provide higher education.

High Points

Bellingham strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Washington):

CategoryTrophy
Walking and Biking to Work
(vs. Peers)		Top 4%trophyBellingham Walking and Biking to Work
Short Commute Times
(vs. Peers)		Top 14%Bellingham Short Commute Times
College Educated Adults
(vs. State)		Top 17%Bellingham College Educated Adults
Public Transportation Use
(vs. State)		Top 18%Bellingham Public Transportation Use

Comparative Profile of Bellingham, WA

Comparing Bellingham to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Washington (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Female Share of the Population78
Senior Citizens65
Well-Paid Single Women68
Male Share of the Population43
Well-Paid Single Men45
Racial Diversity47
Age of the Population22
Children Under 5 Years Old22

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Portion of People Married21
Average Household Size12

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
College Educated Adults89
Median Family Income47
People in Middle Class or Better34
People Above Poverty22

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Walking and Biking to Work1010
Short Commute Times99
Working at Home98
Public Transportation Use79

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
People Living Alone99
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals99
Seasonal and Vacation Housing75
Housing Recently Built66
Affordability of Rents65
Affordability of Property Taxes64

Crime

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Low Violent Crime75
Low Property Crime12

Detailed pages on related topics: Bellingham colleges • Bellingham travel • Bellingham mortgage and property.

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Additional Details

Bellingham CareersBellingham Careers
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Bellingham Hotels & TravelBellingham Hotels & Travel
Bellingham hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation.
Bellingham MortgageBellingham Mortgage
Bellingham property, mortgage, and real estate.

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