The Bellingham area was originally inhabited by several tribes belonging to the greater Salish Coast peoples. Today, Whatcom County is home to the Samish, Semiahmoo, Lummi, and Nooksack Tribes. The Lummi Reservation is just North of town, and the Nooksack Reservation sits to the West along the Nooksack River.

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    Elements of and inspirations from their cultures can be seen in a lot of local art, and many of the names in this area come from them. To name just a few: Samish, Semiahmoo, Squalicum, Whatcom, and Sumas.

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    Bellingham was first settled by Europeans in the mid-19th century, where it became a trading port for fur, lumber, fishing, and coal. The city grew as settlers from further South made their way North in search of Alaskan gold. There were originally four separate towns around Bellingham Bay: Fairhaven, Sehome, Bellingham, and Whatcom, all of which were eventually combined into one.