Bellingham Homes For Sale


	Bellingham Houses for Sale

Bellingham

Bellingham is the county seat for Whatcom County and boasts a strong local economy, thanks to its location near the Canadian border, its world-class port, steady population growth and highly educated workforce. Bellingham was recently chosen by Fortune Magazine as "best city to balance work and family life."

The Bellingham School District serves the educational needs of about 13,000 students and provides quality-learning experiences for all ages. As recipients of numerous national, state and regional awards, Bellingham schools have been recognized for excellence across the nation. In addition to having a top nationally-rated public school district, Bellingham is home to the outstanding Western Washington University plus Whatcom Community College and Bellingham Technical College.

The community features an abundance of cultural events and places to visit including the Whatcom Museum of History & Art, American Museum of Radio, the Dutch village of Lynden, the historic Fairhaven District, the Mt. Baker area, Ferndale's Pioneer Parks, three casinos and water charters that explore the sea-life of the San Juan Islands. The Woodland Park Zoo and Grouse Mountain bring life to the area: wildlife that is. Vancouver's Chinatown and the Tulip Festival in Mount Vernon are within an hour's drive and feature unique sights. To the south, the city of Seattle features pro sport franchises including the Mariners, Sonics and Seahawks.

Of course, this part of the Northwest features spectacular natural beauty. From Bellingham's ports, passenger ferries leave for whale watch cruises, tours to Victoria on Vancouver Island, cruises to the San Juan Islands as well as Canada's Gulf Islands. Visitors bound for Alaska depart from the Bellingham Cruise Terminal in the historic Fairhaven District where visitors and residents alike can also spend the day exploring the district's Victorian-era buildings that house shops, restaurants and galleries.

Thanks to its location on the I-5 corridor, the city is a major connecting point for surrounding areas including the Mount Baker National Scenic Byway - a 41-mile drive through the Snoqualmie National Forest that features spectacular beauty. Wildflowers and bright colors line the mountain trails in the spring and summer. In the winter, immaculate mountains make the area a paradise for photographers and skiers. For a beautiful and slow paced alternative to Interstate 5 that connects Bellingham to Skagit Valley, Chuckanut Drive takes drivers through gorgeous farmlands, in and out of the towns of Allen & Bow, with some of the area's best restaurants, bed and breakfasts and antique and art galleries.

Bellingham is an absolute haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Hiking, skiing, golfing, swimming, running and bicycling, are just a few of the activities enjoyed. And Whatcom County features more golf courses than any county in the state as well as Oregon and Idaho.

Local Native American tribes-the Lummi, the Nooksack and the Semiahmoo-were the first settlers in Bellingham. In 1858, the Fraser River Gold Rush lured in more than 10,000 people to the area, nourishing the economy of Whatcom County. Adding to the growth were coal mining, lumber milling and a railroad connecting Bellingham to Canada, which brought plenty of employment opportunities to the area. Fishing, canning and farming also added to the county's development.

In 1903, four towns along the bay Whatcom, New Whatcom, Bellingham and Fairhaven were united to form the city of Bellingham. Today the city continues to focus on expanding the resident population and employment opportunities, while maintaining a family-oriented community lifestyle.