Bellingham

Bellingham is a county seat in Whatcom County in the northwest corner of Washington State, where neighborhoods sit between forested hills and the waterfront. Downtown gathers brick buildings from the early 20th century along several cross streets, while harbor facilities and waterfront walkways stretch southward.

Four separate settlements along the southern shore of Bellingham Bay merged in 1903 to form a single city government. Timber extraction and fishing shaped the early economy before paper manufacturing and trade gained ground through the 20th century.

A university shapes city life with a younger crowd moving through small bookshops and family-run cafés along the streets. Several galleries show work by regional artists, while neighborhood markets regularly offer local produce and handcraft items.

Public buses run on several routes between neighborhoods, making it easier to reach main destinations without a car. Footpaths along the water and through downtown are open during daytime and link shops, restaurants and green spaces together.

Historic tunnel passages beneath several downtown blocks recall earlier smuggling routes during Prohibition, when closeness to the Canadian border encouraged illegal trade. Some of these underground passages are accessible on guided tours today and show remains of old storefronts and storage rooms.

Location: Whatcom County

Inception: 1852

Elevation above the sea: 22 m

Part of: North Cascades

Shares border with: Laurel

Website: https://cob.org

GPS coordinates: 48.75439,-122.47883

Latest update: December 12, 2025 20:07