Bellingham Neighborhoods
Alabama Hill
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. Most residents in this neighborhood have views of the lake or the city, depending on which side of the hill they live. On the north side of the neighborhood, sidewalk-lined streets wind around the crest of the hill and the well-kept yards in front of large homes. The south side of the neighborhood has a less-planned feel, with older houses and no sidewalks but similarly spectacular views. The popular Railroad Trail winds through the neighborhood to Whatcom Falls Park and Bloedel Donovan Park. The smaller Highland
Heigh ts Park and St. Clair Park are also in this neighborhood, providing grassy fields and playgrounds for
children.
Median home size: 1,782 square feet
Schools: Roosevelt Elementary, Kulshan Middle School, Whatcom Middle School, Squalicum
High School, Bellingham High School
Shopping: Yew Street Center mini-mall, Barkley Village to the northwest
Parks: Bloedel-Donovan and Whatcom Falls parks border the neighborhood; smaller parks are Highland Heights, St. Clair, Big Rock Garden and Railroad Trail
Birchwood
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.
The neighborhood is on the northwest side of town and has wide streets and many tree-covered lots. Shopping areas on Northwest Avenue and Meridian Street offer a variety of retailers and restaurants, and Bellis Fair Mall is a five-minute drive away.
Squalicum Creek borders the neighborhood, giving kids a place to ride bike trails without leaving the neighborhood. Bellingham Technical College, Birchwood Elementary School and Shuksan Middle School are all within neighborhood boundaries, making trips to school relatively easy.
Median home size: 1,230 square feet
Schools: Alderwood Elementary, Birchwood Elementary, Shuksan Middle School, Squalicum High School
Shopping: Park Manor Shopping Center includes Albertson's grocery and Big Lots; Yeager's Sporting Goods and Rite-Aid also anchor the retail district on Northwest Avenue
Parks: Birchwood, Shuksan Meadows, Little Squalicum
Central Business District
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. The area stretches from waterfront industrial property on Squalicum Harbor to the downtown cultural district that includes the Whatcom Museum of History and Art and the Mount Baker Theatre, which is undergoing a $2 million renovation. It includes the 137-acre Georgia-Pacific West Inc. property, which the Port of Bellingham has offered to take over and clean up for redevelopment.
A Waterfront Futures Group has been meeting for two years and recommends sweeping changes on the waterfront from Little Squalicum Beach to Chuckanut Bay. The plan calls for improved public access, trails and parks all along the bay, and for the creation of a new city neighborhood on now-idle industrial land. The new neighborhood would have shops, offices, residences, Western Washington University facilities and many public amenities under the plan.
Meanwhile, the downtown core has welcomed new residents of two condominiums built on opposite corners of Holly Street and Railroad Avenue. More condos are being built at the southern end of Railroad and the city has launched an ambitious plan to renovate an open-air market there.
Maritime Heritage Park, a showcase for Whatcom Creek, and Zuanich Point are the major parks in the area.
Median home size: 1,405 square feet
Schools: Parkview Elementary, Whatcom Middle School, Kulshan Middle School, Bellingham High School
Shopping: Restaurants, clubs and antique shops abound, as do many other independent shops. Bellingham Food Co-Op is the nearest major grocer; open-air Farmer's Market runs April to October
Parks: Maritime Heritage Park, Paper Makers Park, Zuanich Point Park, and Harbor Loop Trail
Columbia
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. The portion of the neighborhood nearest the bay includes many homes recognized by the Eldridge Historical Society. Plaques bearing the names of original owners and years the homes were built hang by the front doors of many of these homes. The northern portion of the neighborhood consists of wider streets and newer developments, mostly from the mid-1900s.
Columbia Elementary School sits in the middle of the neighborhood, serving the many children in the family-friendly community. Elizabeth Park covers two city blocks and has stately trees, a restored water fountain, tennis courts, a playground, and large, open grassy areas. A gazebo in the park hosts several concerts during the summer months. The smaller Carl Lobe and Lorraine Ellis Parks also offer playgrounds and lawns.
Shopping areas are located primarily on Northwest Avenue and Elm Street, offering furniture and convenience stores, a motel, restaurants and other independent businesses. More shopping is available on the edges of the neighborhood along Meridian and Broadway.
Median home size: 1,180 square feet
Schools: Columbia Elementary, Parkview Elementary, Shuksan Middle School, Whatcom Middle School, Bellingham High School
Shopping: Shops, restaurants and offices cluster along Meridian Street, Broadway and Northwest Avenue. Albertson's and Haggen are nearest major grocers
Parks: Elizabeth, Lorraine Ellis, Carl Lobe, Fountain Square, Peabody Plaza
Cornwall Park
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.
Surrounding the park are a variety of single family homes on comfortable lots. Homes also line Meridian Street until West Illinois Street, where Meridian enters the Fountain District, a shopping area that has some of Bellingham's older established businesses and buildings. The original Haggen grocery store is found here, along with several coffee shops, restaurants, furniture stores and more.
Homes around this area generally are smaller, and many are rentals. The southeastern corner of the neighborhood is home to Broadway Park and the large, older homes that surround it. The Roeder Home, now owned by the Bellingham Parks Department, is a landmark that draws people in for weddings, recitals and craft events. The house was built in 1903 by the grandson of Henry Roeder, who was one of Bellingham's founders.
St. Joseph Hospital is also in the Cornwall neighborhood, taking up most of the eastern side. There are also several medical facilities in this area, including a cancer center and a health education facility.
Even though the neighborhood has some commercial areas, many people settle here to raise families. Kids can walk to school at Parkview Elementary, located just behind Cornwall Park.
Median home size: 1,229 square feet
Schools: Parkview Elementary, Columbia Elementary, Whatcom Middle School, Bellingham High School
Shopping: Small shops and restaurants fill the Fountain District. Haggen grocery store is nearby
Parks: Cornwall, Broadway, Cornwall Rose Garden, and Bug Lake
Edgemoor
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.
Manicured lawns and colorful gardens line the fairly new and large one- and two-story homes. Located on top of a hill, the neighborhood boasts views of Bellingham Bay and Chuckanut Bay along the long western border. The population consists mostly of older adults, although families do enjoy the large lots and open spaces.
A quiet neighborhood, Edgemoor's crime rate is lower than only Whatcom Falls, having very few burglaries, car thefts or misdemeanors. Many people walk along the wide streets, though there are no sidewalks through most of the neighborhood.
Lairmont Manor, a private facility listed on the National Register of Historic Sites, and Bayside Swimming Club, help make the neighborhood unique and attractive to people from all over the city. Fairhaven Middle School is on the edge of the neighborhood.
Median home size: 2,062 square feet
Schools: Larrabee Elementary, Lowell Elementary, Happy Valley Elementary, Fairhaven Middle School, Sehome High School
Shopping: Fairhaven shopping district is to the north; nearest major grocer is Red Apple Market on 12th Street
Parks: Chuckanut Bay Nature Area, Clark's Point, Post Point Dog Park, Cowgill Park
Fairhaven
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.
Fairhaven offers parks, eclectic shops, many restaurants and cafes, historic homes and newer condominiums. Many community activities take place in the Village Green, a grassy square bought by the city behind the much-loved Village Books.
The streets in Fairhaven are small and often congested, and parking is limited, lending the neighborhood its pedestrian-friendly reputation. Many of the older buildings are from the area's boom in the 1890s, when Fairhaven boasted the deepest wharfs and channels in the area.
Being near Western Washington University, many college students live here, as well as young adults in the apartments. The area has been dubbed a place for hippies, college students, or "granola" types - laid back, outdoors oriented, and generally vegetarian.
For boat lovers, the Alaska Cruise Terminal is here, with a boat launch and docks nearby for patrons. In May, the Ski to Sea Race has its finish line in Marine Park, setting off a daylong party called It All Ends in Fairhaven.
Median home size: 1,328 square feet
Schools: Larrabee Elementary, Fairhaven Middle School, Sehome High School
Shopping: Village Books and other independent retailers, restaurants and offices make up Fairhaven Business district; nearest major grocer is Red Apple Market on 12th Street
Parks: Marine Park, Village Green, Padden Creek, Fairhaven Community Gardens
Guide Meridian
Stretching north and west of the Meridian neighborhood, the Guide Meridian neighborhood is an area of major expansion.
As Bellingham expands to the north and more large retail chains move in - such as Costco, Best Buy, and Wal-Mart - more and more apartment complexes, condominiums and housing developments have arisen. The area once boasted large family lots, especially along Bakerview Road, but since Bellis Fair Mall opened in 1988, the area has become more commercial, with multiple-family residences being the standard.
Whatcom Community College is in the neighborhood's center and attracts a younger crowd to the many apartment complexes nearby. Restaurants and hotels line Meridian Street here, making it an easy place for travelers to stay within reach of the other neighborhoods in Bellingham.
There are no parks in this mostly commercial area, but Cornwall Park is a short drive away, and a few single-family homes dot the southern section of the neighborhood. Students who live in the northern end of the neighborhood may attend schools in the Meridian School District, even though they live within Bellingham's city limits.
Median home size: 1,395 square feet
Schools: Alderwood Elementary, Birchwood Elementary, Shuksan Middle School, Squalicum High School. Some families live in Meridian School District
Shopping: Major retailers dominate at Bellis Fair mall, Meridian Village and Costco complex; nearest major grocer is Cost Cutter at Cordata Place
Parks: Cornwall Park is nearest
Happy Valley
College students and the elderly, families and bachelors, homes and apartment buildings, residential and commercial - this densely populated neighborhood is incredibly diverse.
Smaller homes are positioned closely together on smaller lots and large apartment complexes surround Western Washington University's campus. Many of the larger houses have been converted into duplexes and one portion rented out to college students. Families live here too, sending their children to the three public schools in the neighborhood: Larrabee and Happy Valley Elementary Schools, and Sehome High School.
A large section of the neighborhood is reserved as the Connelly Creek Nature Area, and the Connelly Creek trail runs the length of the neighborhood.
The Fairhaven business district is close by, and Sehome Village and the Viking Plaza provide many shopping amenities. Some businesses line Old Fairhaven Parkway and spread into the Happy Valley neighborhood. People walk around the neighborhood, although many of the streets do not have sidewalks.
Median home size: 1,242 square feet
Schools: Happy Valley Elementary, Larrabee Elementary, Fairhaven Middle School, Sehome High School
Shopping: Sehome Village shopping center; several restaurants, hotels and mini-marts on Samish Way. Nearest major grocer is Haggen at Sehome Village
Parks: Happy Valley Park, Connelly Creek Nature Area and Trail
Lettered Streets
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.
Many of the homes in the area were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s for people working at a sawmill at the mouth of Whatcom Creek, now the site of Maritime Heritage Park. Now a mixture of residential and commercial lots, the Lettered Streets tends to attract single people and families on a budget. Many of the homes have been turned into duplexes or are rentals, and most are on small lots
o n quiet, tree-lined streets.
A number of businesses and restaurants line Holly Street, Dupont Street, Girard Street and Broadway, and the neighborhood offers easy access to downtown, the harbor and local schools. The
Bellingham Theatre Guild has its playhouse here.
The most unique part of the neighborhood is Maritime Heritage Park. Home to a salmon hatchery, the park is used for concerts, battle re-enactments, carnivals and other public events. New to the park is an information booth, as well as bathrooms and fountains.
Median home size: 1,211 square feet
Schools: Parkview Elementary, Whatcom Middle School, Bellingham High School
Shopping: Close to downtown and shops, restaurants and offices on Meridian Street. Nearest major grocers are Albertson's on Northwest Avenue and Haggen on Meridian Street
Parks: Maritime Heritage Park, Battersby Field, Faut's Park, Ferenia Johnson Cornwall Tot Lot, Glen Gossage Plaza
Meridian
The Meridian neighborhood, clustered along Meridian Street north of Interstate 5, is the retail center of Bellingham.
The neighborhood gained its independence from the Guide Meridian neighborhood in 1995 because of its heavily commercial nature and the fact that it sits at the intersection of the two largest traffic arteries in Bellingham: Interstate 5 and Meridian Street.
Straddling either side of Meridian north of I-5, the neighborhood includes Bellis Fair mall, Cordata Place, Meridian Place and dozens of retail businesses lining Meridian up to Kellogg Road. Restaurants, department stores, specialty stores, hardware stores and bookstores - nearly everything can be found here.
The neighborhood has some apartment complexes scattered along Cordata Parkway and south of Kellogg Road, and some older, established homes. There are no major parks and few trees in the neighborhood but Cornwall Park is just south of the freeway off Meridian Street.
Expansion is occurring to the east of the neighborhood, outside the city limits, but no large housing developments have yet been built.
Median home size: 1,528 square feet
Schools: Alderwood Elementary, Parkview Elementary, Shuksan Middle School, Squalicum High School
Shopping: Major retailers dominate at Bellis Fair mall, Meridian Village and Costco complex. Nearest major grocer is Cost Cutter at Cordata Place
Parks: Ankar Park; Cornwall Park to the south
Mount Baker
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.
This large neighborhood covers many commercial developments, including Sunset Square, Barkley Village, and the industrial areas along Hannegan Road, East Bakerview Road and Irongate Road. The area boasts two large grocery stores, several restaurants, a movie theatre, gas stations, banks and a department store, creating the feel of a second downtown.
The residential areas continue to expand. Apartment complexes surround Sunset Square, line the newly widened Sunset Drive and dot the area along Barkley Boulevard leading to Barkley Village from Sunset Drive. The James Street Estates, a mobile home park, is located behind Sunset Square next to Sunset Pond, and is known for its annual Christmas lights show.
Housing developments also hug the western side of the neighborhood at Barkley Hill. The large homes generally have well-manicured lawns and street traffic is light. At the far northeastern corner are Bellingham's two newest schools: Squalicum High School and Northern Heights Elementary School.
One large park sits atop of Barkley Hill, North Ridge Park, but there are trails leading from there to Whatcom Falls Park and Lake Whatcom.
Median home size: 1,602 square feet
Schools: Parkview Elementary, Northern Heights Elementary, Kulshan Middle School, Whatcom Middle School, Squalicum High School
Shopping: Sunset Square shopping center has K-Mart, Rite-Aid Pharmacy and The Fair Market grocery; across Sunset Drive is Walgreen and Lowe's; Barkley Village Haggen
Parks: North Ridge Park, Pacific Trails Park, Baker Creek, Sunset Pond
Puget
If you don't want to leave your neighborhood for anything, Puget may be the place to live.
Lakeway Drive splits the neighborhood in half, providing gas stations, Cost Cutter, Fred Meyer, numerous restaurants and other small specialty businesses.
Carl Cozier Elementary School sits in the middle, making it easy for kids to get to school from everywhere in the neighborhood. The Civic Athletic Complex provides sporting events and entertainment, from soccer to baseball, ice skating and swimming. 
Housing prices span the spectrum, from a mobile home complex along Lincoln Street to larger housing developments in the northeast and southeast corners of the neighborhood. Apartments are scattered throughout the community, providing college students housing right on a bus line to Western Washington University.
Whatcom Creek runs along the northern border of the neighborhood as it spills out of Whatcom Falls Park.
Median home size: 1,545 square feet
Schools: Carl Cozier Elementary, Lowell Elementary, Kulshan Middle School, Bellingham High School, Sehome High School
Shopping: Fred Meyer Shopping Center on Lakeway Drive; Lakeway Center includes Cost Cutter grocery and some restaurants
Parks: Whatcom Creek, Panorama Heights, Salmon Woods Nature Area, East Meadow Park, Civic Complex, Lincoln Creek, Pacific View Park, W. Fork, E. Fork, Cemetery Creek
Roosevelt
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.
Roosevelt is a compact neighborhood cut in half by Alabama Street, a busy east-west arterial that connects the city center with Lake Whatcom. On the far north side are newer housing developments, while the rest of
the neighborhood north of Alabama Street consists mostly of small houses on small lots. South of Alabama Street are more small single-family homes and apartment complexes. 
The neighborhood used to be considered a renter's world, but more and more people are moving into the neighborhood permanently.
On the south edge of the neighborhood is Iowa Street, known for its row of car dealerships. The northwest corner is home to a new commercial development containing Lowe's and Walgreens stores. Residents also have easy access to Interstate 5 and the nearby Sunset Square shopping complex.
To help alleviate the compact feeling of the neighborhood, Roosevelt Park and the Railroad Trail offer great places to unwind. Newly renovated Roosevelt Park has a playground, large fields, basketball courts and bathrooms. The Railroad Trail can be walked all the way to Whatcom Falls Park.
Median home size: 1,242 square feet
Schools: Roosevelt Elementary, Sunnyland Elementary, Northern Heights Elementary, Kulshan Middle School, Whatcom Middle School, Bellingham High School, Squalicum High School
Shopping: Several mini-marts on Alabama Street. Major grocery stores are Red Apple Market on James Street, Haggen at Barkley Village
Parks: Roosevelt Park, Roosevelt Nature Area, Whatcom Falls Park and Railroad Trail
Samish
The Samish neighborhood is tucked away from much of the city, east of Interstate 5 and on the southern end of Bellingham.
This neighborhood is home to the smallest of the three freshwater lakes in the region, Lake Padden. A popular swimming spot for people from all over Whatcom County, Lake Padden also has some homes with views of the lake, as well as many walking and biking paths.
The neighborhood is very hilly and has many windy, tree-lined roads. New housing developments sprawl on the eastern side of the neighborhood, while older houses are scattered along the western side. The southern part, near the lake, tends to be more rural in character. The closer you get to the city center, the more suburban it feels. Few businesses are in the neighborhood, offering residents a quiet, secluded lifestyle.
Median home size: 1,688 square feet
Schools: Happy Valley Elementary, Fairhaven Middle School, Kulshan Middle School, Sehome High School
Shopping: Sehome Village and Samish Way, across I-5, have numerous restaurants, hotels, shops and offices; Fred Meyer Shopping Center and Lakeway Center are to the north. A major grocer is Food Pavilion on Old Fairhaven Parkway
Parks: East Meadow Park, Ridgemont Park, Lake Padden Recreation Area, Padden Creek, Samish Crest Nature Area
Sehome
The neighborhood next to Western Washington University atop Sehome Hill is home to an eclectic mixture of retirees, college students and families.
The area was used in the early 1850s for coal mining and was one of the four original towns that now make up Bellingham. The Sehome neighborhood is a hilly section of town, offering sweeping views of Bellingham Bay and the city and nestling against the Sehome Hill Arboretum.
Parking restrictions now keep students and other commuters from parking along many of the narrow streets lined with owner-occupied homes. Close to campus along North Forest, North Garden, and High streets are small apartment complexes and older homes that have been converted into duplexes for rent to students.
The center of the neighborhood is called the Sehome Historic District and is recognized by the National Register. It is quieter and more family oriented than the rest of the neighborhood. The old houses are on small lots, but two parks offer open grassy areas for people to play Frisbee or soccer.
Pine and Cedar Park and Laurel Park are both small, but the arboretum offers trails, trees, and views for those who enjoy the outdoors. Most of the neighborhood has sidewalks, and people can be seen on family walks or running up the hill to class.
Median home size: 1,345 square feet
Schools: Lowell Elementary, Fairhaven Middle School, Sehome High School
Shopping: Sehome Village to the south has a Haggen grocery, restaurants, shops and offices
Parks: Sehome Hill Arboretum, Laurel Park, Forest and Cedar Park
Silver Beach
Lake Whatcom is the main drawing point of this sprawling neighborhood.
The neighborhood surrounds the northern tip of the lake and provides upscale lakeside property to those living along Northshore Drive. The southern part of the neighborhood is heavily wooded and populated with mostly smaller homes.
The windy streets don't have sidewalks, but traffic is light, making walking safe and easy.
Bloedel-Donovan Park - which has a boat ramp and public swimming area - sits on the north end of the lake, and the only retail center in the neighborhood is a mini-mart.
The area was home to the White City Amusement Park in the early 1900s, which had a large wooden rollercoaster, a Ferris wheel and the Silver Beach Hotel.
Median home size: 1,700 square feet
Schools: Silver Beach Elementary, Geneva Elementary, Whatcom Middle School, Kulshan Middle School, Squalicum High School, Bellingham High School
Shopping: Silver Beach Grocery and nearby mini-mall; Barkley Village and Sunset Square are to the west
Parks: Big Rock Garden, Bloedel-Donovan Park, and Lake Whatcom
South
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.
Homes in the southern region vary from older farm houses to small, one-story houses. At the northern end of the hilly neighborhood are some new housing developments, where the city is expanding into the woods.
Access can be a challenge because many of the streets are dead ends or gravel roads. The only through streets are Chuckanut Drive, Old Samish Highway and 24th Street.
Although there are no major businesses to attract people to this area of town, the Interurban Trail and Fairhaven Park add to the appeal of this quiet and remote neighborhood.
Median home size: 1,330 square feet
Schools: Larrabee Elementary, Lowell Elementary, Fairhaven Middle School, Sehome High School
Shopping: Fairhaven Business District has shops, restaurants and galleries; Sehome Village, downtown Bellingham are nearby. Major grocers are Food Pavilion on Old Fairhaven Parkway and Haggen at Sehome VIllage
Parks: Arroyo Park, Chuckanut Creek, Interurban Trail, Hoag's Pond, Hoag's creek, Fairhaven Park
South Hill
 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.
At the northern edge are a few college rentals, but most of the neighborhood consists of quiet, family homes with sweeping views of the bay. Because of its proximity to the university, many WWU professors call this neighborhood home.
The neighborhood is lined with sidewalks, and people can be seen out walking at any time of the day. Small, sloping yards boast colorful flower gardens because there isn't enough room to do much of anything else with them. At the top of the hill are some more secluded homes set in the woods. Driving in the neighborhood can be difficult due to the very steep and narrow roads.
Along the water's edge is Boulevard Park, one of the city's most popular parks. A long strip of grass with trails leading to and from it, Boulevard Park is popular for sports, sun bathing, fishing, art and walking.
Lowell Elementary School is also in the neighborhood, making walking to school possible. Although there aren't many businesses in South Hill, the Fairhaven business district is just to the south, and downtown isn't far to the north.
Median home size: 1,637 square feet
Schools: Lowell Elementary, Fairhaven Middle School, Sehome High School
Shopping: Fairhaven Business District has shops, restaurants and galleries, plus Red Apple Market on 12th Street; Sehome Village, downtown Bellingham are nearby
Parks: Boulevard Park, South Bay Trail, Taylor Street Dock, Forest and Cedar Park
Sunnyland
The Sunnyland neighborhood is a diverse mix of residential and commercial developments.
The southern end of the neighborhood is home to several local businesses and restaurants lining busy James Street, from hardware and tire stores to an open-air market. Shopping is easy, with downtown to the south, Sunset Square to the north and a host of businesses along James Street.
Moving north, businesses and warehouses give way to quaint houses on the typical small lots found in the center of Bellingham. The homes vary between rentals and permanent residences, and the condition of the old homes also varies. Lots and homes become larger toward the northwestern side of the neighborhood.
Sunnyland is home to two schools - Sunnyland Elementary School and the recently renovated Bellingham High School - as well as Assumption Catholic Church, whose white spire is visible from much of central Bellingham.
Two parks offer playgrounds: large Memorial Park next to Sunnyland Elementary School, and the newer Sunnyland Park on the other side of Alabama Street. Community members rallied together to get the park built, providing kids from the other side of the neighborhood a safe place to play.
For a larger recreational area, Cornwall Park is a few minutes walk away. The neighborhood is also convenient for anyone needing quick access to St. Joseph's Hospital, which is a few blocks north of the neighborhood.
Median home size: 1,088 square feet
Schools: Sunnyland Elementary, Parkview Elementary, Lowell Elementary, Kulshan Middle School, Whatcom Middle School, Bellingham High School, Sehome High School
Shopping: Red Apple Market, other retail stores and offices line James Street south of Alabama. Sunset Square is nearby
Parks: Sunnyland Park, Memorial Park
Western Washington University
 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.
About 3,800 students moved into Western's residence halls and campus apartments in September. Thousands more live in the surrounding neighborhoods, particularly in Sehome and Happy Valley.
Western has placed consistently high in annual rankings of excellence and affordability by magazines such as U.S. News and World Report and Consumer Digest. Yahoo! has named Western among the 100 "most wired" universities in the U.S. for its technological capabilities.
The university is one of Whatcom County's leading employers, with nearly 1,500 workers, and has an acclaimed outdoor sculpture collection, art galleries, performing arts center and sports facilities.
The campus has undergone a building boom in recent years, adding a Campus Services Facility and the Wade King Recreation Center since 2002. New this year is the Communications Building, which houses the physics, computer science, communications and journalism programs.
The WWU neighborhood is a mix of institutional, public and mixed-use zoning. Campus officials have said they may seek to expand south into the Happy Valley neighborhood if the need for more student housing and classrooms arises.
The main campus covers 195 acres, including 38 acres in the Sehome Hill Arboretum, a popular urban hiking spot.
Median home size: Not available
Schools: Happy Valley Elementary, Fairhaven Middle School, Sehome High School
Shopping: Viking Bookstore on campus; Sehome Village to the west. Major grocers are Bellingham Food Co-Op on Forest Street, Haggen at Sehome Village or Fred Meyer and Cost Cutter on Lakeway
Parks: Sehome Hill Arboretum
Whatcom Falls
 This neighborhood is lightly populated but offers what is arguably the best park in the city.
Whatcom Falls Park occupies of the northern third of the neighborhood, with trails, swimming and a trout hatchery operated by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Most neighborhood residents live on the other side of Lakeway Drive from the park. Sidewalk-lined streets wind between large houses with clean lawns and gardens. Other parts of the neighborhood feature older houses with larger lots.
Kulshan Middle School is tucked away in this quiet neighborhood, which also is home to Bayview Cemetery, the only memorial park in the city. The lone commercial section of the neighborhood is across the street from Whatcom Falls on Electric Avenue. A small strip mall with a gas station and the popular Lafeen's Donuts and Ice Cream provides the only shopping in the neighborhood.
Median home size: 1,550 square feet
Schools: Carl Cozier Elementary, Kulshan Middle School, Bellingham High School, Sehome High School
Shopping: Whatcom Falls Mini-Mart is a popular neighborhood spot; Fred Meyer Shopping Center and Lakeway Center, which includes Cost Cutter grocery, are on Lakeway Drive
Parks: Whatcom Falls Park, Hannah Creek, Park Creek, Clearbrook Park, Lookout Mountain Park, Cemetary Creek
York
Located in the heart of Bellingham, the York neighborhood is close to many amenities including parks, downtown shopping and Interstate 5.
The small, dense neighborhood was established in 1888 and attracts people of all ages and occupations. Businesses and apartments line the western edge of the neighborhood next to downtown, but the area east of Ellis Street is full of victorian and Craftsman-style homes. The narrow, tree-lined streets and sidewalks are often busy with family life.
Two small parks are available on either side of Lakeway. Businesses also line Lakeway Drive, which runs through the neighborhood, but the York neighborhood is saved from the commercial development on the other side of the freeway. The neighborhood has a small-town feeling, especially around Nelson's Market, a classic mom-and-pop grocer on the corner of Potter and Humboldt streets.
Median home size: 1,234 square feet
Schools: Lowell Elementary, Kulshan Middle School, Sehome High School
Shopping: Nelson's Market is neighborhood mini-mart; Fred Meyer Shopping Center and Lakeway Center, including Cost Cutter grocery, are on Lakeway Drive; adjacent to downtown
Parks: Rock Hill Park, Franklin Park
Article
Written by Kira Millage
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