Bellingham, Washington

Population: 75,200
Located in Whatcom County
Bellingham, Washington - 2008 Top 100 Winner

Bellingham, Washington

Bellingham, is the most urban area in Whatcom County, with a population of more than 60,000. The city has a diverse economy, with Western Washington University, St. Joseph Hospital, Bellingham School District, City of Bellingham, Whatcom County Government, Bellingham Cold Storage, Sterling Life Insurance Company, and Ershigs, Inc. serving as the area's major employers.

Located on Bellingham Bay with Mt. Baker as its backdrop, Bellingham is the last major city before the Washington coastline meets the Canadian border. Bellingham is 85 miles north of Seattle and an hour south of Vancouver, B.C. Transportation links connect the community to the nearby San Juan Islands and Victoria on Vancouver Island.

Bellingham has an active waterfront port that supports fishing, boat building, shipping and marina operations. Squalicum Harbor is the second largest in Puget Sound, with 1,900 pleasure and commercial boats moored. From Bellingham's ports, passenger ferries leave for whale watch cruises, tours to Victoria on Vancouver Island and cruises to the San Juan Islands.

The downtown area has a mixture of restaurants, art galleries and specialty shops. The cultural district includes the respected Whatcom Museum of History and Art. Originally built in 1892 as city hall, the museum's imposing brick building is the centerpiece of a four-building campus, including a children's museum.

Bellingham is home to Western Washington University on Sehome Hill, from which you have a sweeping view across the bay to the San Juan Islands. Visitors bound for Alaska depart on the Alaska Marine Highway System ferries from the Bellingham Cruise Terminal in the Historic Fairhaven District. Spend the day in Bellingham's renowned district's Victorian-era buildings. Here you can find shops offering hand-crafted products, local restaurants that serve fresh seafood plus art galleries featuring Northwest artisans.

Courtesy of www.bellingham.org

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