Bellingham
City in Whatcom County, Washington

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.
- 91,482residents (2020 Census)
- 72 ftelevation · 22 m
- 28.2 sq miland area · 73.0 km²
- 3,246 / sq mipopulation density
- 98225main ZIP code (2 in total)
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
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Live webcams in Bellingham
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Living in Bellingham
- Median household income
- $66,755
- Median home value
- $627,500
- Median rent
- $1,577/mo
- Median age
- 34.1
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Map of Bellingham
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Open in Google Maps ›Bellingham, WA population
Bellingham had 91,482 residents in the 2020 Census.
| 2020 Census | 91,482 |
|---|---|
| Density | 3,246 per sq mi (1,253 per km²) |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.
Bellingham at a glance
| State | Washington (WA) |
|---|---|
| County | Whatcom County |
| Type | City |
| Population | 91,482 (2020) |
| Land area | 28.18 sq mi (73.0 km²) |
| Water area | 2.33 sq mi (6.04 km²) |
| Elevation | 72 ft (22 m) |
| Coordinates | 48.7534° N, 122.4702° W |
| ZIP codes | 98225, 98226 |
| Official website | cob.org |
| Census code (GEOID) | 5305280 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.
Towns near Bellingham
- Geneva3.1 mi E
- Marietta-Alderwood4.5 mi NW
- Sudden Valley6.1 mi E
- Ferndale8.8 mi NW
- Alger11.8 mi SE
- Deming11.9 mi NE
- Acme12.1 mi E
- Everson12.2 mi NE
- Edison12.9 mi S
- Custer13.4 mi NW
- Lynden13.5 mi N
- Bow13.6 mi S
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).
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