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COMMUNITIES

Bellingham sits on a saltwater bay, within a stone's throw of snow-capped peaks, old-growth forests and miles of hiking trails. It has a top-rated regional university, a diverse retail climate and a lively entertainment scene.

Those quality-of-life factors have put the city on numerous top 10 lists for best places to live, but what truly defines Bellingham is the people who live here - a mix of old-timers and newcomers, urbane and uncomplicated, outdoor enthusiasts and homebodies.

The city has 23 distinct neighborhoods and thousands of neighbors. Many of the neighborhoods have active citizen groups that help city planners define future growth and transportation projects.

In 2004, Bellingham has celebrated the 100th anniversary of its founding, when four small towns merged to form a city. Take a look at how 23 neighborhoods, and the people who live in them, join forces to give Bellingham its identity.

- THE EDITORS

	neighborhoods and neighbor profiles
	neighborhoods and neighbor profiles

ALABAMA HILL: Views are tops atop this hilltop
This neighborhood is perched at the top of Alabama Hill and is home to Alabama Street, the steep arterial most people take to get to Lake Whatcom from the city center. [full story]

BIRCHWOOD: Large lots, lots to do on city's edge
This family-oriented neighborhood boasts large, deep lots - many of which were once small farms on the edge of the city - with single-family homes, apartment complexes, three public schools, a grocery store, The Bellingham Golf and Country Club, numerous shopping centers, a park, churches and ready access to Bellingham Bay. [full story]

CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT: Pulse rising in heart of downtown
Spurred by a civic interest in redevelopment, portions of the Central Business District are undergoing rapid change after years of commercial idleness - with big plans for the future. [full story]

COLUMBIA: A home for history and beauty
The second oldest neighborhood in Bellingham, the Columbia neighborhood is a quiet, mostly residential haven. Situated on a bluff above Bellingham Bay, the neighborhood boasts several tree-lined streets, turn-of-the-century homes and multiple parks. [full story]

CORNWALL PARK: A park and a good place for families
The Cornwall Park neighborhood is best known for its namesake - a large, forested park that contains a playground, baseball fields, spray water park, trails, hills, horseshoe pits, tennis courts, picnic shelters and a Frisbee golf course. The combination of open fields and forested hills makes the park a great place for outdoor outings. [full story]

EDGEMOOR: Elegant homes and stunning views
Edgemoor is located on the semi-peninsula in the far southwestern corner of Bellingham, and boasts some of the largest, best-maintained houses and lots in the city. [full story]

FAIRHAVEN: Fairhaven revels in 'laid back' life
This historic neighborhood is located on the south side of town along Bellingham Bay. One of the original four towns that merged to create Bellingham in 1903 - along with Bellingham, Whatcom and Sehome - the district maintains an independent spirit. [full story]

GUIDE MERIDIAN: Commercial growth brings changes
Stretching north and west of the Meridian neighborhood, the Guide Meridian neighborhood is an area of major expansion. [full story]

HAPPY VALLEY: Finding a balance with a wide mix
College students and the elderly, families and bachelors, homes and apartment buildings, residential and commercial - this densely populated neighborhood is incredibly diverse. [full story]

LETTERED STREETS: A place where history runs deep
To live in the Lettered Streets neighborhood, it helps to memorize which direction the many one-way streets run. Located in the valley between the Columbia neighborhood and downtown, the Lettered Streets neighborhood was one of the first areas people settled in Bellingham. [full story]

MERIDIAN: Business drives Meridian's growth
The Meridian neighborhood, clustered along Meridian Street north of Interstate 5, is the retail center of Bellingham. [full story]

MOUNT BAKER: Sweeping views and rapid growth
The Mount Baker neighborhood is one of the fastest growing residential areas of Bellingham, offering sweeping views of the city and Bellingham Bay from atop Barkley Boulevard on the north side of town. [full story]

PUGET: All you need just outside the door
If you don't want to leave your neighborhood for anything, Puget may be the place to live. [full story]

ROOSEVELT: Diverse area on the upswing
Once regarded as the most dangerous place to live in Bellingham, this diverse neighborhood is making major improvements with a lower crime rate, a new Boys and Girls Club, improved parks and plans to create a community center. [full story]

SAMISH: Quiet seclusion and a popular lake
The Samish neighborhood is tucked away from much of the city, east of Interstate 5 and on the southern end of Bellingham. [full story]

SEHOME: A friendly mix of families, students
The neighborhood next to Western Washington University atop Sehome Hill is home to an eclectic mixture of retirees, college students and families. [full story]

SILVER BEACH: At home at the lake and the park
Lake Whatcom is the main drawing point of this sprawling neighborhood. [full story]

SOUTH: A little bit of country in the city
The South neighborhood is about as close as the city comes to a pastoral lifestyle. Most homes sit on large lots, sometimes large enough for horses, and the area is heavily wooded. Much of the neighborhood has been left undeveloped to allow for trails up Chuckanut Mountain and through Arroyo Park. [full story]

SOUTH HILL: Sweeping view from classic homes
Situated between Western Washington University and Bellingham Bay, the South Hill neighborhood boasts some of the more elegant historic homes in Bellingham, as well as schools and churches. [full story]

SUNNYLAND: Neighborly mix of homes, businesses
The Sunnyland neighborhood is a diverse mix of residential and commercial developments. [full story]

WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: Excellent and affordable education
The Western Washington University neighborhood encompasses the campus of one of the state's most popular four-year public universities, with about 13,000 students enrolled this fall. [full story]

WHATCOM FALLS: Trails, trout and a beautiful park
This neighborhood is lightly populated but offers what is arguably the best park in the city. [full story]

YORK: A small town feeling amid the city
Located in the heart of Bellingham, the York neighborhood is close to many amenities including parks, downtown shopping and Interstate 5. [full story]

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