Neighborhoods & Communities

Bellingham, Washington

From the preserved to the modern, Bellingham’s diverse districts and communities are as distinctive as the people who call them home. Here’s a guide to help you discover your home base.

Where is Bellingham?

Bellingham, Washington is located in the northwest corner of the United States, within Whatcom County, and 20 miles south of the U.S.-Canada border. The City of Bellingham is just 90 miles (145 km) north of Seattle, WA and 55 miles (88 km) south of Vancouver, British Columbia. As the largest city and the seat of Whatcom County, Bellingham provides an urban vibe in an otherwise predominantly rural environment.

Fairhaven

Fairhaven is lined with red brick buildings and located on the north end of Chuckanut Drive, within the southern city limits of Bellingham and hugs the southern shoreline of Bellingham Bay. Fairhaven is a lively destination and residential community with a variety of unique local businesses, art galleries, restaurants and pubs and one of the best independent bookstores in the nation.

Happy Valley Neighborhood

The Happy Valley Neighborhood is within close proximity to Western Washington University as well as Fairhaven. There are lots of students there as well as families. Most of the homes in the The Happy ValleyNeighborhood seem to have been built since the 60s, with lots of apartments and duplexes being built near the University in recent years. There is still lots of open space in this neighborhood. This provides habitat for deer and other small animals. Some of the streets don’t even have sidewalks and are more like alleys.

South Hill Neighborhood

The South Hill Neighborhood is one of Bellingham’s most sought after, popular neighborhoods. Many of the homes in this neighborhood have fantastic views of Bellingham Bay, the San Juan & Gulf Islands, the Canadian mountains, and great sunsets. There are many older turn of the century homes in the area that vary in size and architectural style from Victorian Mansions to simple cottages. The Ridgeway area, south of the university has the highest elevations on the hill, it is one of the newer areas of South hill developed after World War II, so you will find a mix of homes from the !950’s to present represented there.