Bellingham

City in Whatcom County, Washington

View of Bellingham, Washington
Photo: Nick Kelly / Faithlife Corporation · CC BY-SA 4.0

Bellingham is a city in Whatcom County, Washington, with 91,482 residents (2020 Census). It sits at 72 ft (22 m) above sea level. The nearest town is Geneva, 3.1 miles E.

About Bellingham

Bellingham ( BEL-ing-ham) is a city in and the county seat of Whatcom County in the U.S. state of Washington. It lies 21 miles (34 km) south of the Canada–United States border, between Vancouver, British Columbia, 52 miles (84 km) to the northwest and Seattle 90 miles (140 km) to the south.

The population was 91,482 at the 2020 census, and estimated to be 99,030 in 2026. It is the site of Western Washington University, Bellingham International Airport, and the southern terminus of the Alaska Marine Highway. Bellingham is the northernmost city with a population of more than 90,000 people in the contiguous United States.

The area around Bellingham Bay, named in 1792 by George Vancouver, is the ancestral home of several Coast Salish groups. European settlement in modern-day Bellingham began in the 1850s and several coal mining towns grew in later years. The city of Bellingham was incorporated in 1903 through the consolidation of several settlements, among them Fairhaven. Local industries shifted away from coal in the mid-20th century; the industrial areas on the Bellingham waterfront have undergone redevelopment into a mixed-use neighborhood since the 2000s.

Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Bellingham weather: 7-day forecast

Loading the National Weather Service forecast…

Hourly forecast & alerts ›

Source: National Weather Service (NOAA).

Live webcams in Bellingham

All 24 webcams near Bellingham ›

Webcams: Windy.com

Living in Bellingham

Median household income
$66,755
Median home value
$627,500
Median rent
$1,577/mo
Median age
34.1
Cost of living and demographics of Bellingham ›

Do you know Bellingham? Tell us about it

Help other travelers: share what makes Bellingham special. We review every message before publishing it.

Map of Bellingham

Tap any street on the map to see it in Street View below. Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Bellingham Street View

Loading Street View…

Drag the image to look around and tap the arrows on the ground to move. If it says there is no imagery, tap a nearby street on the map above.

Open in Google Maps ›

Bellingham, WA population

Bellingham had 91,482 residents in the 2020 Census.

2020 Census91,482
Density3,246 per sq mi (1,253 per km²)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.

Bellingham at a glance

StateWashington (WA)
CountyWhatcom County
TypeCity
Population91,482 (2020)
Land area28.18 sq mi (73.0 km²)
Water area2.33 sq mi (6.04 km²)
Elevation72 ft (22 m)
Coordinates48.7534° N, 122.4702° W
ZIP codes98225, 98226
Official websitecob.org
Census code (GEOID)5305280

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.

Towns near Bellingham

Straight-line distance between town centers.

Frequently asked questions about Bellingham

What county is Bellingham in?

Bellingham is in Whatcom County, Washington.

What is the population of Bellingham, WA?

91,482 people lived in Bellingham at the 2020 Census.

What is the ZIP code of Bellingham, WA?

The main ZIP code is 98225. Other ZIP codes: 98226.

What is the elevation of Bellingham?

72 feet (22 m) above sea level.

What towns are near Bellingham?

Geneva (3.1 mi), Marietta-Alderwood (4.5 mi), Sudden Valley (6.1 mi), Ferndale (8.8 mi), Alger (11.8 mi).

Last updated: