Greater New Whatcom: Two Bayside Towns Talk Merger to Save Money
Fairhaven and New Whatcom weigh becoming one city on Bellingham Bay — swapping rivalry for a single harbor, a broader tax base, and room to grow.
In the interest of economy and better local governments, the citizens of Fairhaven and New Whatcom are discussing again the proposition of consolidation, under the name of the latter, which is the older place and more populous, by reason of its having already swallowed one corporate city. The Greater New Whatcom, while it will embrace an area as large as many of the large Eastern cities, will be rather sparsely populated, but the advantage of having plenty of breathing room will count. This leaves but one city on Bellingham Bay, where three formerly aspired for supremacy. The movement is regarded as a wise one, and a united city with united people can accomplish great results. With a magnificent harbor, a splendid timber, coal and agricultural country back of it, there is nothing in the way of New Whatcom.
“The movement is regarded as a wise one, and a united city with united people can accomplish great results.”
The merger went through, and in 1903 New Whatcom, Fairhaven and their neighbors were folded into a single city: Bellingham. More than a century later the same argument — that a fragmented harbor's towns should pool their tax base and speak with one voice — still shapes regional politics from the waterfront to the county line.
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