Whatcom County is a
county located in the
U.S. state of
Washington. As of the
2010 census, the population was 201,140. The
county seat and largest city is
Bellingham. The county was created out of
Island County by the Washington Territorial Legislature on March 9, 1854, and originally included present day
San Juan and
Skagit Counties. Its name ultimately derives from the
Lummi word
Xwot'qom, meaning "noisy water."