Bellingham

Bellingham, also known as the “City of Subdued Excitement�, is the tenth largest city in Washington. It is the county seat as well as the largest city of the Whatcom County, Washington. Bellingham is located on the Bellingham Bay, which opens onto the Strait of Georgia. The city gets its drinking water from Lake Whatcom that lies to its east. The city is located west of Mount Baker and north of the Chuckanut Mountains.

The city was first explored and named by George Vancouver in June 1792. It was in the year 1854 that the first white settlers arrived here. According to local legend, Bill Jarman was the first white man to settle in Bellingham. Initially, the original settlement was known as Whatcom after the Whatcom creek that runs right through the middle of the city. In November, 1903, the four towns located around the Bellingham Bay - Whatcom, Bellingham, Sehome, and Fairhaven - were consolidated and finally, Bellingham was officially incorporated.

Bellingham has a mild climate. The rainy season here usually lasts for six to eight months and the average annual low and high temperatures are 410F (5oC) and 570F (14oC) respectively. The peculiar harsh weather pattern of Bellingham is popularly known as a “Nor’easter�. High winds, road ice, snow, and heavy rains are caused when the cold sub-arctic air, driven down from the Canadian interior by an inverted jet stream, collides with the cold front of the Gulf of Alaska. “Chinook wind� is yet another weather phenomenon that is generally seen in the autumn.

Bellingham is known for its famous educational institutes like the Bellingham Technical College, the Whatcom Community College, and the Western Washington University. The most important event held in the city is the “Ski to Sea Race�. It is organized by the Whatcom Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This marathon includes cross country skiing, snowboarding, running, biking, canoeing, mountain biking, and kayaking. This event attracts thousands of people from all over the world and thus, helps to enhance the local economy of the County.

The other major attractions of the city are the American Museum of Radio and Electricity, the Whatcom museum of History and Art, Bellingham Farmers Market, Whatcom Falls Park, Village Books, the Community Food Co-op, Pickford Cinema, Mount Baker Ski Area, Lake Samish, Larrabee State Park, Chuckanut Drive, Whale Watching tours, Bellis Fair Mall, and the Bellingham Railway Museum.

Bellingham is about 55 miles (88.5 km) from Vancouver and about 80 miles (128.7 km) north of Seattle. Passenger rail service, provided by Amtrak Cascades, is regularly scheduled to Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Regularly scheduled commuter flights, jet services, and seasonal services are offered by the Bellingham International Airport. Several bus services like the WTA bus service are also a common mode of travel.