* Whatcom County is the 21st fastest growing metropolitan area in the United States. From 1990 to 1998, the county's population grew by 27.7 percent (U.S. Census Bureau, The Dallas Morning News, December 1999)

* Mount Baker has been voted numerous times as one of the best places to snowboard, by such publications as Snow Country Magazine and Northwest Travel Magazine.

* Bellingham is listed as one of the best college towns in the United States to retire in the book, "Choose A College Town for Retirement,"(1999)

* AARP's Modern Maturity rated Bellingham as one of the best 50 towns in which to retire and live. We were ranked 4th in their 'clean and green' category (May/June 2000).

* Bellingham is the best small city in Washington state to do business and is ranked 19th in the country (Forbes magazine, May 2000).

* The Bellingham/Whatcom County area is among the 25 cleanest cities in terms of air pollution, according to data collected by the E.P.A. as reported by the American Lung Association (May 2000).

* Bellingham leads the nation in the amount of green space available with 15 percent of the city's total land area utilized as a park or natural reserve.

* Bellingham has been designated as a "Trail Town USA," by the American Hiking Society and the National Park Service. We are one of only 30 cities nationwide and the only city in Washington and Oregon, to be so honored. We are a "city of greenways" with twenty-nine miles of pedestrian, bicycle and equestrian trails and more than 600 acres of open space. (June 1, 1996)

* With 14 public golf courses, Whatcom County has more golf courses per capita than any other county in the Pacific Northwest (Golf Digest). The region is frequently referred to as "Monterey North."

* Nooksack Falls Plant is the second oldest and smallest hydroelectric generating plant in Washington. It is run by just one operator. (Lynden Tribune, May 1993)

* No fewer than four national magazines have singled Bellingham out as one of the country's best small towns. Magazines and publications include "Swing Magazine, " "Money," "Sunset" and "Rand McNally."

* Numerous spots around Bellingham/Whatcom County have been listed as the "Best Places to Kiss in the N.W.," including Schnauzer Crossing Bed and Breakfast and Chuckanut Drive.

* Bellingham was picked by Fortune Magazine as the "Best city to balance work and family life."

* Western Washington University is Washington's third largest institution of higher education with over 11,000 full-time students and 77 permanent buildings on an 189 acre campus. WWU has nationally acclaimed educational opportunities.

* Mt. Baker has the longest ski season in Washington state (Nov.-April).

* Whatcom Museum is one of the largest museums in Washington state.

* The Lummi Reservation hosts the nations fastest growing Indian college in the United States.

* Bellingham has been rated the third best place to retire in America. (Rand McNally's Retirement Places Rated, New York, 1996)

* In 1996, Bellingham moved from 170th to 67th best place to live in the United States. (Money Magazine).

* Pioneer Park represents one of the finest collections of original pioneer log cabins and artifacts in the world.

* Whatcom County is the first in the state of Washington in the production of milk. In 1994, dairy farmers in the county tended to more cows than anywhere else in the state. (Cities of the United States, 1998)

* During 1994, workers in Whatcom County's berry farms produced more blueberries, raspberries and strawberries than any other county in Washington.

(Cities of the United States, 1998)

* Nooksack River has been listed as one of the most challenging rivers to raft in Washington, attracting thousands of experienced rafters each year. (Bellingham Herald, July 15, 1996)

* Squalicum Harbor is one of the largest marinas in the Puget Sound.

* Hovander Park's elaborate, turn-of-the-century farmhouse, located in Ferndale, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as one of the biggest barns in the Pacific Northwest.