Lynden
, Washington shines! This jewel of a city is
found in the northwestern tip of the state.
Located twelve miles north of the bustling
seaport of Bellingham, and one hundred miles from
Seattle,
Lynden is a tiny community committed to
retaining its small-town charm and tradition.
Originally settled by the Dutch, and still Washington's
largest Dutch community, windmills grace the
historic downtown area and the residents have a
strong resolve to keep their city beautiful.
Lynden is known as one of the cleanest cities in
the state. Many tourists love to visit this
unique place, during the many festivals and
celebrations held here, or just as a quick
escape from the city.
According to the Census 2000 data, Lynden's
population stood at just over 9,000. The main
industries of the town are dairy and
agriculture, and many farms surround the city.
The largest of these is Darigold
, one of the most prominent dairy producers in
the state, and the chief supplier of dairy
products to the famous coffee chain Starbucks
.
Lynden residents know how to celebrate.
People come from Canada
and all over Whatcom
County to experience Lynden festivals.
July's Raspberry
Festival delights all the senses, displaying
the rich red berries along with fine music and
crafts. Sixty-five percent of the nation's red
raspberry crop grows here. Lynden plays host to
the giant Northwest
Washington Fair . More than a county fair,
this event highlights the talents and traditions
of the entire Pacific
Northwest . The Holland
Days Festival highlights the Dutch ancestry
of the town and the beautiful historic buildings
along the downtown district are dressed with
gorgeous bouquets of tulips, Lynden's signature
flower. Residents dressed in traditional Dutch
clothing carry baskets of multi-colored tulips,
and the Klompen
Dancers perform their lively dances while
wearing their traditional wooden shoes.
Children delight in celebrating both the usual Christmas
season, with the phenomenal light
display and Christmas
Parade , and the Dutch Sinterklaas
custom, where their version of Santa Claus
arrives in town on December 6. He rides a white
horse and his helper is Zwart Piet (Black Peter)
who passes out small gifts and toys to the
waiting children. Tradition has it that if a
child has been bad that year, he might find a
bag of salt in his wooden shoe, and if very bad,
a lump of coal.
Being agriculturally inclined, Lynden also
hosts the annual Puget Sound Antique
Tractor Show and Threshing bee. While
attending the show, many visitors stop at the Lynden
Pioneer Museum , full of artifacts from the
past, including 44 horse-drawn buggies and many
vintage automobiles. The town's hard-working
residents know how to play, too. The Mushball
Tournament exemplifies that - the town turns
out to play volleyball in pits filled with
fourteen inches of mud.
<<Back
to Our Community
