How did Whatcom County in Washington state get its name?
Whatcom County is located in northwest Washington State. It began as a coal mining region and is currently one of the fastest growing counties in Washington.HistoryNative American tribes, including Lummi and Nooksack, originally inhabited the Whatcom County area. Spain, Russia, England and the U.S. each claimed the territory at some point in time.FoundingThe Washington territorial government created Whatcom County on March 9, 1854, from parts of Island County.NamingThe founders named Whatcom County after a Nooksack chief buried near Bellingham Bay Coal Mine.Meaning”Whatcom” comes from the Nooksack word for “noisy water.” The county is home to Whatcom Lake, where settlers built a sawmill in 1852.Fun FactWhatcom County once included a town called Whatcom.
