Whatcom County, Washington
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Template:Infobox U.S. County Whatcom County (IPA: Template:IPA) is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. It is named after Chief Whatcom of the Nooksack tribe of Native Americans. As of 2000, the population is 166,814. The county seat is at Bellingham, which is also the county's largest city. Whatcom County's northern border is the international boundary with the Canadian province of British Columbia; adjoining the county on the north are four of metropolitan Vancouver's suburbs, with several shopping malls and other services in Bellingham and elsewhere in the county geared to cross-border shopping and recreation.
Whatcom County was created on March 9, 1854.[1]
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Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 6,484 km² (2,504 mi²). 5,490 km² (2,120 mi²) of it is land and 995 km² (384 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 15.34% water. Physiographically Whatcom County is an extension of the Fraser Valley or "Lower Mainland" area of the British Columbia, which is essentially the lowland delta plain of the Fraser River; at times in the past one of the Fraser's arms entered Puget Sound near Bellingham via what is now the mouth of the Nooksack River. A very small part of the county, Point Roberts, about 2 sq. mi., is an extension of the Tsawwassen Peninsula, which is bisected by the international boundary along the 49th Parallel.
Agriculture
Whatcom County is the #1 producer of raspberries in the state. According to the Seattle Times, in 2004 Whatcom County growers produced 46 million pounds of raspberries, 85% of the state's crop. Given that the state itself is the #1 producer of raspberries in the country, with over 87.8% of the crop in 2002, this makes Whatcom County responsible for over half the nation's supply.
Geographic features
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Okanogan County, Washington - east
- Skagit County, Washington - south
- San Juan County, Washington - southwest
Whatcom County also shares a border with British Columbia, Canada. Within British Columbia Whatcom County adjoins two administrative units -- Greater Vancouver Regional District and Fraser Valley Regional District, which together comprise the region known as the Lower Mainland.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 166,814 people, 64,446 households, and 41,116 families residing in the county. The population density was 30/km² (79/mi²). There were 73,893 housing units at an average density of 13/km² (35/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.41% White, 0.69% Black or African American, 2.82% Native American, 2.78% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 2.49% from other races, and 2.66% from two or more races. 5.21% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 64,446 households out of which 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.20% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.20% were non-families. 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the county, the population was spread out with 24.10% under the age of 18, 14.20% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 11.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 97.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,005, and the median income for a family was $49,325. Males had a median income of $37,589 versus $26,193 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,025. 14.20% of the population and 7.80% of families were below the poverty line. 14.20% of those under the age of 18 and 8.30% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Census-recognized communities
- Acme
- Bellingham
- Birch Bay
- Blaine
- Custer
- Deming
- Everson
- Ferndale
- Geneva
- Glacier
- Kendall
- Lynden
- Maple Falls
- Marietta-Alderwood
- Nooksack
- Peaceful Valley
- Sudden Valley
- Sumas
Other communities
- Bakerview
- Chuckanut
- Clearbrook
- Newhalem
- Pleasant Valley
- Point Roberts
- Saxon
- Snug Harbor
- Strandell
- Van Buren
- Welcome
