Washington

Whatcom

226,847
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Whatcom

Whatcom, Washington, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 352. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 226,847.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 75 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020226,847
2010201,140
2000166,814
1990127,780
1980106,701
197081,950
196070,317
195066,733
194060,355
193059,128
192050,600
191049,511
190024,116
189018,591
18803,137
1870534
1860352
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Whatcom

National Register of Historic Places listings in Whatcom, Washington.

Peace Arch
Blaine
MV PLOVER (ferry)
Blaine
Roth, Lottie, Block
Bellingham
Fairhaven Historic District
Bellingham
Devil's Corner Cliff Walk
Newhalem
Skagit River and Newhalem Creek Hydroelectric Projects
Newhalem
Perry Creek Shelter
Hozomeen
Wild Goose Pass Tree
Glacier
Bellingham Herald Building
Bellingham
Bacon, George H., House
Bellingham
B. P. O. E. Building
Bellingham
Daylight Building
Bellingham
Copper Mountain Fire Lookout
Newhalem
Winchester Mountain Lookout
Sedro Wooley
Beaver Pass Shelter
Diablo
Immanuel School of Industries-Department of Public Welfare
Bellingham
Donovan, J. J., House
Bellingham
Richards, T.G., and Company Store
Bellingham
Nooksack Falls Hydroelectric Power Plant
Glacier
Mount Baker Theatre
Bellingham
Flatiron Building
Bellingham
Hotel Laube
Bellingham
Axtell, Dr. William H. and Frances C., House
Bellingham
Bellingham National Bank Building
Bellingham
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Other counties in Washington

Explore census history and historic records for more Washington counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Whatcom County, Washington

This page charts the census history of Whatcom County, Washington. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Whatcom

When does Whatcom first appear in the US census?
Whatcom, Washington first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 352.
What is the population of Whatcom?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Whatcom had a recorded population of 226,847.
How many historic places are in Whatcom?
75 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Whatcom, Washington.
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