Blaine, Washington | |
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 _-_3.JPG) _-_1.JPG) From top: view of Blaine fromCanada–United States border, view of U.S.Port of entry, Welcome to the United States of America sign | |
 Seal | |
| Nickname: ThePeace Arch City | |
| Motto: Blaine is Where America Begins | |
 Location in the state ofWashington andWhatcom County | |
  Blaine Location in the United States Show map of Washington (state) Blaine Blaine (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:48°59′17″N122°44′37″W / 48.98806°N 122.74361°W /48.98806; -122.74361 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Whatcom |
| Incorporated | May 20, 1890 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager[1] |
| • Mayor | Mary Lou Steward[2] |
| Area | |
• City | 8.62 sq mi (22.33 km2) |
| • Land | 5.58 sq mi (14.45 km2) |
| • Water | 3.04 sq mi (7.88 km2) |
| Elevation | 7 ft (2.1 m) |
| Population | |
• City | 5,884 |
• Estimate (2022)[7] | 6,018 |
| • Density | 1,005.1/sq mi (388.08/km2) |
| • Metro | 234,954 (Bellingham metropolitan area) (US:204th)[4] |
| • Metro density | 109.4/sq mi (42.25/km2) |
| Demonym | Blaineite |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes | 98230 (home delivery) and 98231 (post office boxes) |
| Area code | 360 |
| FIPS code | 53-06505 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2409860[5] |
| Website | ci.blaine.wa.us |
Blaine is a city inWhatcom County,Washington, United States. The city's northern boundary is theCanada–U.S. border; thePeace Arch international monument straddles the border of both countries. It is the fourth largest incorporated city within theBellingham Metropolitan Area.[8] The population was 5,884 at the2020 census.[6] Since Blaine is located adjacent to the border with Canada, it is the northernmost city onInterstate 5.
The area was first settled in the mid-19th century by pioneers who established the town as a seaport for the west coast logging and fishing industries, and as a jumping off point for prospectors heading toBritish Columbia's gold fields. Blaine was officially incorporated on May 20, 1890, and was named afterJames G. Blaine (1830−1893), who was aU.S. senator from the state ofMaine,Secretary of State, and, in1884, the unsuccessfulRepublican presidential candidate. The city has a "turn-of-the-century" theme, marked by remodeled buildings and signs resembling designs that existed during the late 19th century and early 20th century.
The world's largestsalmoncannery[9] was operated by theAlaska Packers' Association for decades in Blaine; the cannery site has been converted to a waterfront destination resort onSemiahmoo Spit. Severalsaw mills once operated on Blaine's waterfront, and much of the lumber was transported from its wharves and docks to help rebuild San Francisco following the1906 fire there. The forests were soon logged but Blaine's fishing industry remained strong into the second half of the 20th century. Into the 1970s Blaine was home to hundreds of commercialpurse seiners andgillnetters plying the waters offshore of British Columbia, between Washington state and southeast Alaska. Blaine's two large marinas are still home to hundreds of recreational sailboats and yachts. Nature lovers have always appreciated Blaine's coastal location, its accessible bike and walking trails, and view of mountains and water. Birdwatchers across the continent have discovered the area's high content ofmigratory birds and waterfowl: Blaine's Drayton Harbor, Semiahmoo Spit and Boundary Bay are ranked as ImportantBirding Areas by theAudubon Society.
The Cains are the most notable family in Blaine's short history, credited with its founding and achievements. At one time owning most of present-day Blaine, the Cain brothers erected the biggest store north of Seattle, a lumber and shingle mill, a hotel (largest in the state at the time), the first public wharf, and donated large public tracts of land.
Nathan Cornish and family moved to Blaine in 1889. He became mayor in 1901; his platform was "twelve miles of wooden sidewalk". His daughter,Nellie Cornish, having failed to open a successful piano teaching business in Blaine, moved to Seattle, where she founded theCornish College of the Arts in 1914, which still exists today.
On May 9, 1970, approximately 450 Canadian protestors demonstrating against theCambodian campaign of theVietnam War crossed the border and conducted a "symbolic invasion" of Blaine.[10] Several buildings' windows were smashed, flags were torn down, and the Peace Arch was vandalized before police officers and vigilantes pushed the protestors back to the Canadian side of the border.[11][12]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.43 square miles (21.83 km2), of which, 5.63 square miles (14.58 km2) is land and 2.80 square miles (7.25 km2) is water.[13] Blaine's motto is "Where America Begins": the community is also known as "The Gateway to the Pacific Northwest", and the "Peace Arch City". All these phrases are commentaries on Blaine's unique locale. It lies at the northernmost point of the north-south U.S.Interstate 5 and next to Drayton Harbor andBoundary Bay (the southward extension of Boundary Bay is officially named and often referred to asSemiahmoo Bay).
Blaine lies between the mountains east ofVancouver, the flatlands ofSkagit County, Washington, theNorth Cascades (includingMount Baker), and the south end ofVancouver Island. Blaine has a borderline climate betweenmediterranean (Csb) andmaritime (Cfb), which provides fairly mild weather from the rest of thePacific Northwest. With annual precipitation of about 40 inches (1,000 mm) and its milder location, Blaine enjoys more sunny days and a milder climate than neighboring communities.[citation needed]
| Climate data for Blaine, Washington (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–2021) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 64 (18) | 68 (20) | 72 (22) | 83 (28) | 86 (30) | 98 (37) | 95 (35) | 97 (36) | 87 (31) | 78 (26) | 71 (22) | 63 (17) | 98 (37) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 54.5 (12.5) | 55.4 (13.0) | 60.7 (15.9) | 67.7 (19.8) | 74.8 (23.8) | 77.9 (25.5) | 80.8 (27.1) | 81.3 (27.4) | 75.1 (23.9) | 66.0 (18.9) | 59.1 (15.1) | 54.0 (12.2) | 83.3 (28.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 44.7 (7.1) | 47.7 (8.7) | 52.1 (11.2) | 57.6 (14.2) | 64.0 (17.8) | 68.5 (20.3) | 72.8 (22.7) | 72.7 (22.6) | 66.9 (19.4) | 57.4 (14.1) | 49.6 (9.8) | 44.2 (6.8) | 58.2 (14.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 39.3 (4.1) | 41.1 (5.1) | 44.9 (7.2) | 49.8 (9.9) | 55.7 (13.2) | 60.3 (15.7) | 64.0 (17.8) | 63.8 (17.7) | 58.6 (14.8) | 50.7 (10.4) | 43.8 (6.6) | 39.2 (4.0) | 50.9 (10.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 33.9 (1.1) | 34.6 (1.4) | 37.7 (3.2) | 41.9 (5.5) | 47.3 (8.5) | 52.1 (11.2) | 55.1 (12.8) | 54.9 (12.7) | 50.4 (10.2) | 44.0 (6.7) | 37.9 (3.3) | 34.1 (1.2) | 43.7 (6.5) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 20.5 (−6.4) | 23.7 (−4.6) | 26.5 (−3.1) | 32.3 (0.2) | 36.9 (2.7) | 43.2 (6.2) | 47.8 (8.8) | 47.3 (8.5) | 41.1 (5.1) | 32.9 (0.5) | 25.2 (−3.8) | 21.4 (−5.9) | 16.0 (−8.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −1 (−18) | −9 (−23) | 11 (−12) | 21 (−6) | 21 (−6) | 31 (−1) | 34 (1) | 33 (1) | 25 (−4) | 19 (−7) | 5 (−15) | −1 (−18) | −9 (−23) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 6.17 (157) | 3.37 (86) | 4.21 (107) | 2.97 (75) | 2.57 (65) | 1.93 (49) | 1.14 (29) | 1.13 (29) | 2.22 (56) | 4.39 (112) | 6.08 (154) | 5.63 (143) | 41.81 (1,062) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 3.7 (9.4) | 0.8 (2.0) | 1.0 (2.5) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.4 (1.0) | 3.3 (8.4) | 9.3 (23.55) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 18.6 | 14.8 | 17.8 | 14.6 | 10.9 | 10.2 | 5.8 | 6.3 | 9.0 | 15.7 | 19.0 | 19.1 | 161.8 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 3.1 |
| Source 1: NOAA[14] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service[15] | |||||||||||||
Blaine is home to two main West Coastports of entry between the United States and Canada. ThePeace Arch Border Crossing, which is the northern terminus ofI-5 and southern terminus ofB.C. provincial Highway 99, serves as the primary passenger vehicle port of entry. ThePacific Highway Border Crossing, approximately one mile to the east, serves as the primary point of entry for heavy truck traffic, and thus is also known as the Truck Crossing. The latter is reached viaWashington State Route 543 which departs I-5 on the south side of Blaine and connects at the border to B.C.'s Highway 15 (Surrey's176th Street) and then to theTrans-Canada Highway.
Construction of a new Land Port of Entry (LPOE) was completed by the U.S.General Services Administration in 2011.[16] A large public art installation entitled "Non-Sign II" was erected near the crossing booths. The art piece is a "blank space" in the shape of abillboard sign, surrounded by a mass of twisted metal rods.[17] On the Canadian side, a new Port of Entry building was constructed by theCanada Border Services Agency. It was officially opened byPublic Safety MinisterPeter Van Loan on August 20, 2009.[18] It was built partly to reduce delays for travelers coming to the2010 Winter Olympics which were held inVancouver andWhistler February 12–28, 2010.[19]
International border intrigue has always been a part of Blaine's ambiance. Smuggling became an underground industry in 1919 with the passage of theVolstead Act banning liquor sale and use in the United States.Rum-running and border jumping thrived along Blaine's shared coastline withBritish Columbia, due in part to the area's largest whiskey still[20] being located onTexada Island, which is located in the northernStrait of Georgia offshore from the city ofPowell River, British Columbia. This continued until Prohibition was repealed in 1933 (coincidentally, the US Congressional law which re-legalized alcohol is named theBlaine Act). In subsequent decades, the situation was reversed due to restrictive drinking and entertainment laws in British Columbia, notably a ban on Sunday drinking, which led to Blaine and its sister border towns ofPoint Roberts andSumas booming with taverns and adult entertainment of various kinds. Those days are long gone and now Blaine's retail sector consists of goods such as gasoline, dairy products and clothing outlets, as these goods are cheaper in the U.S.
In the 1990s, smuggling again reached a zenith with exports of high grade marijuana from neighboring British Columbia, and corresponding flow of cocaine and handguns from the United States into Canada. As the production of 'BC Bud' grew acrossBritish Columbia, a sometimes dangerous game of cat and mouse played out along Blaine's border with Canada. Smugglers used every technique, from backpacks to helicopter aerial drops to bring tons of the marijuana crop into the U.S., while a growing phalanx of local, state, provincial and federal law enforcement from both sides of the border sought ways to stem the tide. Following theterrorist attacks of 2001, the addition of hundreds of federal agents and millions of dollars in enforcement technology have pushed much of the smuggling activity into the rugged interior of Washington.[citation needed]
The International Peace Arch, dedicated September 6, 1921, bySamuel Hill, is located withinPeace Arch State Park in Blaine and is occasionally used as a focal point for peaceful demonstrations and debate, such as the annual setting of crosses for each American killed so far in the Iraq War. But most of the people who visit or pass by the park each year remember it for its beauty and peaceful shoreline setting (although the beach is not officially accessible from the park).
TheInterstate 5 freeway extends from the U.S./Mexico border at San Diego, northward to Canada, and terminates in Blaine at the city'snorthern border. The country's only pedestrian crosswalk to cross an Interstate freeway exists in Peace Arch State Park, the Washington portion of the binationalPeace Arch Park. The Canadian side of the park, designated as Peace Arch Provincial Park, is inDouglas, the Canadian port-of-entry and part of the city ofSurrey, British Columbia. ThePeace Arch monument, located in the park, symbolizes lasting peace and amity between the U.S. and Canada. One innovative feature that has never been abrogated even during the days since 9/11 is that people entering the park from either side may have the unique experience of strolling to the opposite park's boundary amid flowers, ponds, and works of art, without having to go through customs facilities. The park has been described as a place of bi-national mingling and also hosts wedding ceremonies.
In 2006, a local group called the Blaine Peace Alliance unsuccessfully solicited City Council support to formalize a sister-city relationship withPugwash, Nova Scotia, where promotion of world peace had been an ongoing effort for 50 years. Because Pugwash affiliated itself with thePugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, the Council ruled such a connection would be "political". Shortly thereafter, the Alliance disbanded.
Since 1937, an annual celebration known as "Hands Across the Border" has been held at the park, sponsored by the International Peace Arch Association. Hundreds of Scouts from the U.S. and Canada are in attendance and the highways and Ports of Entry on both sides of the border are closed for several hours for the event. There is a procession of Troops and world flags through the Peace Arch, signifying Scout unity around the world. Speeches are made by honored Scouts from Washington and British Columbia, and State, Provincial and local dignitaries attend. On February 28, 2013, after 90 years, the event's former organizers announced that "Hands Across the Border" had been cancelled.[21] However, following public support the annual program was re-established in 2015.[22]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 1,563 | — | |
| 1900 | 1,592 | 1.9% | |
| 1910 | 2,289 | 43.8% | |
| 1920 | 2,254 | −1.5% | |
| 1930 | 1,642 | −27.2% | |
| 1940 | 1,524 | −7.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,693 | 11.1% | |
| 1960 | 1,735 | 2.5% | |
| 1970 | 1,955 | 12.7% | |
| 1980 | 2,363 | 20.9% | |
| 1990 | 2,489 | 5.3% | |
| 2000 | 3,770 | 51.5% | |
| 2010 | 4,684 | 24.2% | |
| 2020 | 5,884 | 25.6% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 6,018 | [7] | 2.3% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[23] 2020 Census[6] | |||
The city's population has been exaggerated at times: "Population now 1,735 as against peak of 14,000 in the 1920s", declared the December 27, 1964 issue of theSeattle Post-Intelligencer.
As of the2020 census, there were 5,884 people, 2,459 households in the city.
As of the2010 census, there were 4,684 people, 1,994 households, and 1,291 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 832.0 inhabitants per square mile (321.2/km2). There were 2,346 housing units at an average density of 416.7 units per square mile (160.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 86.5%White, 1.4%African American, 0.9%Native American, 5.1%Asian, 1.3%Pacific Islander, 0.7% fromother races, and 4.2% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 5.0% of the population.
There were 1,994 households, of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% weremarried couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.3% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.85.
The median age in the city was 44.3 years. 21.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22% were from 25 to 44; 30.1% were from 45 to 64; and 19.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.
As of the2000 census, there were 3,770 people, 1,496 households, and 1,036 families residing in the city. The population density was 680.4 people per square mile (262.7 people/km2). There were 1,737 housing units at an average density of 313.5 units per square mile (121.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 87.72%White, 1.19%African American, 1.14%Native American, 4.19%Asian, 0.66%Pacific Islander, 1.33% fromother races, and 3.77% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 4.35% of the population.
There were 1,496 households, out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.7% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 26.5% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,900, and the median income for a family was $45,056. Males had a median income of $36,381 versus $23,561 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $20,333. About 10.2% of families and 15.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 16.6% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.
Much of Blaine's economy is based on cross-border Canadian trade, which includes parcel shipping services and gas stations.[24] The eastern side of the city accommodates a number of import/export warehouses, freight and courier services and gas stations serving long-haul cargo trucks. TheCustoms and Border Protection branch of theDepartment of Homeland Security operates two border inspection stations in Blaine. The Blaine Sector Headquarters of theUS Border Patrol employs hundreds of federal law enforcement officers and support staff in the community.
Blaine also has a number of manufacturing companies, includingNature's Path cereal andTotally Chocolate.
ThePort of Bellingham operates a largemarina in Blaine, serving a variety of pleasure craft and fishing vessels.
As Vancouver, British Columbia is just north of Blaine, across the US-Canada border and where several prime-time television series are recorded, several dozen US actors/actresses have rented houses in Blaine and commute to Vancouver rather than rent houses and apartments in Vancouver, which is much more expensive. Included series are:Once Upon A Time,Beauty and the Beast,Supernatural andNikita. For similar reasons, a significant number of Americans who work for companies in Vancouver are living in Blaine.[25]
The United States Consulate in Vancouver has a Blaine address for mail from the U.S.[26] Severalmail service companies have opened branches in Blaine, targeting Canadian residents looking to avoid cross-border shipping costs.[27] The local industry grew during the rise of e-commerce in the early 2000s and the city set up asales tax that earns $1.7 million in annual revenue.[28]
Blaine had a smallairport, which was popular withlight aircraft owners for its low fuel prices and because it had less fog than other nearby airports. The runway measured 2,539 by 40 feet (774 m × 12 m). The Blaine city government operated automated fuel pumps. In the spring of 2006 the city government removed several tall trees south of the runway as a safety precaution.[29] Then in 2007, the City Council voted to close the airport before the end of 2008. The airport was officially closed on December 31, 2008. The land upon which the airport rests is adjacent to a shopping center and light industrial park. The area is now zoned for mixed use development, including light industrial manufacturing and commercial.
TheBlaine School District has five public schools that serves the city as well as adjacent unincorporated communities, includingBirch Bay andPoint Roberts.[30] The largest share of school services is consolidated on a campus in central Blaine, which has facilities for approximately 2,100 students, includingBlaine High School, Blaine Middle School, and Blaine Elementary School.[31] Students from the small nearbyexclave of Point Roberts above 3rd grade are bused through the border to Blaine to attend school.[32]
Blaine is at the north end ofInterstate 5 (I-5), the main north–south freeway in theWest Coast states. The freeway terminates at thePeace Arch Border Crossing and has a spur route,State Route 543, that serves thePacific Highway Border Crossing to the east; commercial vehicles such as trucks and buses are required to use the eastern crossing.[33][34] Another state highway,State Route 548, travels south from Blaine toBirch Bay and theCherry Point Refinery.[35] The city is also served byWhatcom Transportation Authority buses that connect it to Ferndale andBellingham.[36][37]
TheGreat Northern Railway opened a passenger and freightdepot serving Blaine in 1909, shortly after completing construction of its waterfront railroad.[38][39]Amtrak'sPacific International began serving the station in 1972 and operated daily trains that stopped there until 1981.[40][41] Passengers were initially required to disembark from the train at Blaine station to use a customs station until 1974, when processing was switched to on-board agents.[42] Restoration of the depot and Amtrak service on the modernCascades service has been proposed in the 21st century to serve Blaine and areas of Metro Vancouver.[43][44]
Media from Commons
Travel information from WikivoyagePlaces adjacent to Blaine, Washington | |
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Municipalities and communities ofWhatcom County, Washington,United States | ||
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