Whatcom County, Washington

thumb|right|Sign at county boundary, 1970

thumb|right|Sheriff's Department vehicle in [[Bellingham, Washington|Bellingham]]

Whatcom County (, ) is a county located in the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Washington, bordered by the Lower Mainland (the Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley Regional Districts) of the Canadian province of British Columbia to the north, Okanogan County to the east, Skagit County to the south, San Juan County across Rosario Strait to the southwest, and the Strait of Georgia to the west. Its county seat and largest population center is the coastal city of Bellingham. Whatcom County is coterminous with the Bellingham, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 226,847.

The county was created from Island County by the Washington Territorial Legislature in March 1854. It originally included the territory of present-day San Juan and Skagit counties, which were later independently organized after additional settlement. Its name derives from the Lummi word Xwotʼqom, also spelled [x̣ʷátqʷəm], perhaps meaning 'noisy' or 'noisy water' and referring to a waterfall. Whatcom County has a diversified economy with a significant agricultural base, including approximately 60% of the nation's annual production of raspberries.

History

The Whatcom County area has had known human habitation for at least twelve millennia. At least three aboriginal tribes have been identified in the area: Lummi (San Juan Islands, between Point Whitehorn and Chuckanut Bay), Nooksack (between Lynden and Maple Falls) and Semiahmoo (the northern portion, near Blaine). During its existence, that provisional government formed the area north of the Columbia River first into the Washington Territory, and then (December 19, 1845) into two vast counties: Clark and Lewis. In 1852, a portion of Lewis County was partitioned off to form Thurston County, and in 1853 a portion of the new county was partitioned off to form Island County.

The Washington Territory was formed as a separate governing entity in 1853. In 1854, that legislature carved several counties out of the existing counties, including Whatcom County on March 9, 1854, with area taken from Island County. The original county boundary was reduced in 1873 by the formation of San Juan County, and again in 1883 by the formation of Skagit County.

In 1855 the settlers erected a blockhouse west of Whatcom Creek, to protect against forays from the aboriginal inhabitants who were attempting to defend their homelands. That year the Treaty of Point Elliott was signed, which assigned the Lummi and Semiahmoo peoples a greatly-restricted reserved area.

the Point Roberts Tyee Dr to Tsawwassen, a neighborhood in Delta, British Columbia
the Peace Arch Border Crossing, where Interstate 5 meets British Columbia Highway 99
the Pacific Highway Border Crossing connecting State Route 543 with British Columbia Highway 15, between Blaine and Surrey
the Lynden–Aldergrove Border Crossing, where SR 539 connects to British Columbia Highway 13
the Sumas–Huntingdon Border Crossing at Sumas (SR 9 connecting to Abbotsford, BC)
An additional unmanned legal crossing connects British Columbia's Skagit Valley Provincial Park to North Cascades National Park in Washington State.

Several shopping malls and other services in Bellingham and elsewhere in the county are geared to cross-border shopping and recreation.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and , or 16%, is covered by water.

Western Whatcom County is part of the Fraser Lowland, the plain of the Fraser River, most of which is in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. At some periods in the past, one of the Fraser River's distributaries may have entered Bellingham Bay near Bellingham at or near the modern-day mouth of the Nooksack River.

The remainder of Whatcom County is in the Cascade Range, including Mount Baker.

In their foothills is Lake Whatcom, which is drained by Whatcom Creek into Bellingham Bay.

A small part of the county, Point Roberts, about , is an extension of the Tsawwassen Peninsula, which is bisected by the Canada–US border along the 49th parallel. The highest point in the county is the peak of the active volcano Mount Baker at above sea level. The lowest points are at sea level along the Salish Sea, an arm of the Pacific Ocean.

Geographic features

Bellingham Bay
Birch Bay
Cascade Mountains
Chuckanut Mountains
Mount Baker, highest point in Whatcom County
American Border Peak
Sumas Mountain
Mount Shuksan
Chilliwack River/Chilliwack Lake
Eliza Island
Lake Whatcom
Lummi Island
Lummi Bay
Nooksack River
North Lookout Mountain, known locally as Galbraith Mountain
Portage Island
Semiahmoo Bay
Semiahmoo Spit
Skagit River/Ross Lake
Sumas River

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

Birch Bay State Park
Lake Terrell Wildlife Refuge
Larrabee State Park
Lookout Mountain (DNR)
Lummi Island (part) (DNR)
Stewart Mountain (DNR)
Lake Whatcom Watershed

Major highways

Interstate 5 connecting with Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego and points south.
SR 20 connecting US 101 and Sidney, British Columbia with Newport, Washington via the North Cascades Highway. Farthest north highway thru the Cascade Mountains in USA. Note that this highway does not connect to most of Whatcom County – Instead, a person would have to travel south to Sedro-Woolley in Skagit County to connect to Highway 20.
Alaska Marine Highway connecting Alaska highways to the Interstate Highway System.

Adjacent counties

Metro Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia – north
Fraser Valley Regional District, British Columbia – northeast
Cowichan Valley Regional District, British Columbia – west
Capital Regional District, British Columbia – west
Okanogan County – east
San Juan County – southwest
Skagit County – south

Demographics

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities and towns provide municipal services. Each city or town has an elected council and mayor.

Special-purpose districts

Special-purpose districts include cemetery, fire, hospital, library, school, and water and sewer districts. Each special district is governed by officials elected by voters within that jurisdiction.

Fire districts

Eleven fire districts, two city fire departments, and a regional fire authority provide fire prevention, fire fighting, and emergency medical services. Each fire district is governed by an elected board of commissioners. Most districts have three commissioners. Fire districts receive most of their revenue from property taxes. All of the fire districts and the regional fire authority have volunteer or paid-call firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMTs), as does the City of Lynden Fire Department.

The City of Bellingham is an all-career department. Some of the districts also have full-time firefighter/EMTs. All fire districts use 9-1-1 for emergency calls. Whatcom County has one 9-1-1 call center located in Bellingham. Fire/EMS calls are processed and dispatched at a second public safety answering point called Prospect, located at a fire station in Bellingham. Additional dispatching locations provide backup capacity to answer emergency calls.

Whatcom County Fire Districts are:

Fire District 1 serves Deming, Everson, Nooksack, and Nugents Corner.
Fire District 2 was amalgamated into South Whatcom Regional Fire Authority.
Fire District 3 was merged to form Fire District 21.
Fire District 4 contracts for service with Fire District 21.
Fire District 5 serves Point Roberts.
Fire District 6 was amalgamated into South Whatcom Regional Fire Authority.
Fire District 7 serves areas near Ferndale and Cherry Point.
Fire District 8 serves Bellingham International Airport, the Lummi Nation, and Marietta.
Fire District 9 was amalgamated into South Whatcom Regional Fire Authority.
Fire District 10 was amalgamated into South Whatcom Regional Fire Authority.
Fire District 11 serves Lummi Island
Fire District 13 was merged to form Fire District 21.
Fire District 14 serves areas around SR 542 between Deming and Maple Falls, SR 547, and Sumas.
Fire District 16 serves communities along SR 9 south of SR 542.
Fire District 17 serves Sandy Point.
Fire District 18 serves southern Lake Whatcom and Glenhaven Lakes.
Fire District 19 serves Glacier.
Fire District 21, North Whatcom Fire and Rescue serves northwest Whatcom County including Birch Bay, Blaine, Laurel, and Lynden (outside Lynden city limits only; the Lynden Fire Department serves Lynden), Hayne, Delta, and Greenwood
The South Whatcom Regional Fire Authority serves Geneva, Sudden Valley, Chuckanut Drive, Lake Samish, and Yew Street Road.

Law enforcement

thumb|left|A Whatcom County Sheriff's office vehicle pictured in 2015

The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office is responsible for maintaining the county jail, providing security at the Whatcom County Superior Court, serving civil processes, coordinating emergency management among the county's emergency services, and maintaining law and order in rural areas.

In 1863 James Kavanaugh served as sheriff. Kavanaugh, who married Princess Tol Sol of the Swinomish tribe, had previously served as the first United States Marshal in the Pacific Northwest.

Economy

Coal mines, a sawmill, and a military fort were established on Bellingham Bay in the 1850s. Logging was the principal economic activity at first, and agriculture developed as land was cleared by logging activity. Canneries, both of fish and crops, shipped the county's products far and wide.

Pacific American Fisheries organized in 1899 in Fairhaven, and became the world's largest canning operation, employing over 5,500 residents. Smaller canneries at Semiahmoo also produced 2,000 cases of canned salmon daily. The Fairhaven Shipyard constructed fleets of fishing ships, and also produced freighters during World War I.

Whatcom County has a large agricultural industry that dates back to the late 19th century, when communities transitioned from logging after the removal of forests in the Nooksack Valley. The local dairy and egg industries also contribute to $200 million in annual sales; the county had an estimated 48,964 dairy cows in 2007.

Cross-border activity is also a significant driver of the economy.

Education

Primary and secondary education

Whatcom County residents are served by public and private schools, providing preschool, primary (K-5), and secondary (6–12) education. Public schools are operated by eight school districts. Each school district is an independent local government managed by an elected school board. Seven districts serve the western portion of Whatcom County. One district serves the southeast corner of Whatcom County. The remaining portion of the county is national forest or national park land, which has no permanent residents.

These districts (including any with any portion in the county, even if the schools are not in the county) are:

Bellingham School District serves Bellingham, Chuckanut, Lake Samish, and Sudden Valley.
Blaine School District serves Blaine, Birch Bay, and Point Roberts.
Concrete School District serves the county's southeast corner, including Newhalem and Diablo.
Ferndale School District serves Ferndale, Custer, Lummi Island, and the Lummi Nation.
Lynden School District serves Lynden and surrounding areas.
Meridian School District serves rural communities between Bellingham and Lynden.
Mount Baker School District serves communities along the Mount Baker Highway and Nooksack River.
Nooksack Valley School District serves Everson, Nooksack, and Sumas.
Sedro-Woolley School District

Numerous private schools operate in Whatcom County, including Assumption Catholic School, St. Paul's Academy, Lynden Christian Schools, Bellingham Christian Schools, and the Waldorf School.

Higher education

Whatcom County hosts five institutions of higher education. Western Washington University (Western) is the third-largest public university in Washington. Western offers bachelor's and master's degrees through seven colleges and enrolls more than 15,000 students. Whatcom Community College is a public community college offering academic certificate programs and associate degrees. Two universities and two colleges are located in Bellingham. One college is located on the Lummi Nation (Lummi Reservation) west of Bellingham. Bellingham Technical College is a public technical and vocational college located in Bellingham. Trinity Western University (TWU) is a private, Christian university based in Langley, BC, about north of Bellingham. TWU operates a branch campus in Bellingham, offering undergraduate courses and supports TWU's bachelor's degree completion program.

Northwest Indian College is a college supported by the Lummi Nation and serves the Native American community. Northwest Indian College is located on the Lummi Nation (Lummi Reservation), about west of Bellingham.

Communities

Cities

Bellingham (County Seat)
Blaine
Everson
Ferndale
Lynden
Nooksack
Sumas

CDPs

Acme
Birch Bay
Custer
Deming
Geneva
Glacier
Kendall
Maple Falls
Marietta-Alderwood
Peaceful Valley
Point Roberts
Sudden Valley

Indian nations

Lummi
Nooksack

Unincorporated communities

Beach
Blue Canyon
Cedarville
Clipper
Diablo
Greenwood
Laurel
Lawrence
Lummi Island
Maple Beach
Mountain View
Newhalem
Noon
Van Wyck
Van Zandt
Welcome

Ghost towns

Barron
Goshen
Park
Standard

Notable people

Steve Alvord, defensive tackle in the NFL in 1987–88
Tim Soares (born 1997), basketball player for Ironi Ness Ziona of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
Ryan Stiles, Emmy Award-nominated actor and comedian
Hilary Swank, award-winning movie actress