Ferndale,
Washington , a small town in Whatcom
County , radiates friendliness and
charm, and has earned a reputation as a fine
place to raise a family. Situated in the far
northwestern corner of the state, Ferndale
lies only six miles north of the thriving
deep-port city of Bellingham
and thirteen miles south of the Canadian
Border .
The 2000 Census registered Ferndale's
population at just under 9,000. Ferndale
residents enjoy all the luxurious natural
beauty of Whatcom County, which stretches
from Puget
Sound to the Cascade
National Forest. About fifty miles
to the east of Ferndale looms the awesome
ice-volcano Mount
Baker, where Washington
State's finest ski resort awaits. Only
minutes from the water, Ferndale residents
can go whale watching, sea kayaking, or take
tours to nearby Vancouver
and San
Juan Islands. The powerful Nooksack
River winds throughout the area,
providing excellent salmon and trout
fishing, along with challenging river
rafting through stunning gorges. Many
shimmering lakes and waterfalls grace the
region, and hiking and biking trails abound.
The town of Ferndale itself contains
thirteen city parks
. A very family-oriented community, many
playing fields exist for the children. The
planned Tosco
Sports Complex , funded by local
business grants and donations, will be a
huge area devoted to sports. Four softball
fields, soccer fields, and nature trails for
jogging are under construction.
The historic Pioneer
Park delights children and adults.
Housed in eleven log cabins dating more than
one hundred years old, this park was
painstakingly erected by moving cabins found
deteriorating in the outlying wilderness,
and reconstructing them in Ferndale. Each
cabin is a museum displaying different
artifacts of Whatcom County's rugged past,
and exhibits the hardships that the original
settlers endured.
Agriculture remains an important industry
in Ferndale, and the area's many surrounding
farms
provide residents with the freshest and
finest produce available. For a taste of
yesterday, the Hovander
Homestead Park is a working historic
farm untouched by modern amenities.
Along with agriculture, Ferndale houses some
of the county's largest employers, with two
oil refineries and the Alcoa
Intalco Aluminum Works.
Children are valued as Ferndale's
finest resource, and education for them is a
top priority. Five Ferndale schools
received National Awards of Excellence. The
U.S. Dept. of Education honored the town's
Native American education program giving
them national recognition. Ferndale is one
of only ten school districts in Washington
to be named as a Level l partner with the Boeing
Company . Three outstanding universities
and colleges provide higher education for
students in nearby Bellingham.
Ferndale, Washington, surrounded by
natural beauty, remains a small town with
strong family values. The area's firm
economy and commitment to future growth make
Ferndale a fine spot to relocate a
business or raise a family.
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