Bellingham, city and seat of Whatcom County, northwestern Washington, a port on Bellingham Bay, about 30 km (19 mi) south of the Canadian border. Manufactures include boats, paper, and wood products. Agricultural products such as poultry, strawberries, raspberries, and dairy products generate substantial income. The city is a gateway to popular recreation areas (including the San Juan Islands and Mount Baker National Forest). In 1989 the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry System began docking ships in Bellingham rather than Seattle, encouraging the growth of tourism and the economy. The city is the seat of Western Washington University (1899), and the Lummi Indian Reservation is near Bellingham. Settled in 1852, the community soon became a prosperous coal-mining and lumbering center. It was incorporated in 1903 with the consolidation of Whatcom, Fairhaven, and Sehome. It was a major salmon-canning center in the early 20th century. The city's name is derived from that of the bay, named in 1792 by the British explorer George Vancouver for Sir William Bellingham, who helped outfit his expedition. Population 45,794 (1980); 52,179 (1990); 67,171 (2000).
