Blaine, Washington
Encyclopedia : B : BL : BLA : Blaine, Washington
Blaine is a city in Whatcom County, Washington, United States. The city is near the Canadian border and the Peace Arch. The population was 3,770 at the 2000 census.
History
Blaine was officially conceived on May 20, 1890, and was named after James G. Blaine (1830–1893), who was a U.S. senator from the state of Maine, Secretary of State, and, in 1884, the unsuccessful Republican presidential candidate.
In 1971, Blaine achieved notoriety when it was the site of the first hostile invasion of the contiguous United States since Canadian/British forces burned the White House to the ground in 1814 during the War of 1812. In May, 1971, at the height of the Vietnam War, several hundred Canadians, protesting the U.S. invasion of Cambodia and the National Guard's murder of students at Kent State and Jackson State Universities, charged across the border, claiming that they intended only to penetrate 22 miles into the U.S., just as far as then U.S. President Richard Nixon claimed the U.S. was penetrating Cambodia. They made it to Blaine, where they burned a U.S. flag, then retreated back to the border, skirmishing with the Washington State police and bands of right-wing militia. Once back at the border, the invaders ripped the gates off the Peace Arch and chained them shut.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.0 km² (8.5 mi²). 14.3 km² (5.5 mi²) of it is land and 7.6 km² (3.0 mi²) of it (34.57%) is water.
Immediately north of Blaine is Peace Arch Park, and the city of Surrey, British Columbia. The Park straddles the U.S./Canada border. The Peace Arch monument, located in the Park, symbolizes lasting peace between the U.S. and Canada.
Blaine is often referred to as "The Gateway to the Pacific Northwest". It lies at the northernmost point of the North-South U.S. Interstate 5 and next to Boundary Bay.
Resources and Travel
Blaine has a small airport, popular with light aircraft owners for its low fuel prices. The runway measures 2539 x 40 ft. / 774 x 12 m. The Blaine city government operates the automated fuel pumps. Link — http://www.airnav.com/airport/4W6Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there were 3,770 people, 1,496 households, and 1,036 families residing in the city. The population density was 262.7/km² (680.4/mi²). There were 1,737 housing units at an average density of 121.1/km² (313.5/mi²). 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% from other races, and 3.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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, 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 population was spread out with 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. The per capita income for the city was $20,333. About 10.2% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.6% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.
In the 2004 US presidential election, Blaine cast 49.33% of its vote for Democrat John Kerry[link].
Economy
Much of Blaine's economy is based on trade across the Canadian border. 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. The Department of Homeland Security operates two border inspection stations in Blaine.The Port of Bellingham (http://www.portofbellingham.com/) operates a large marina 1 km south of the border, serving a variety of pleasure craft and fishing vessels.
School district
All grades (K-12) attend school at buildings located on just one city block, which itself is just eight city blocks south of the U.S.-Canadian border. Students from the nearby exclave of Point Roberts, Washington above 3rd grade are also bussed to Blaine to attend school, as there are none in that town.Blaine High School is the alma mater of Luke Ridnour, a flashy, nationally-known point guard for the NBA's Seattle Supersonics.
External links
- http://www.blainewashington.com
- http://www.blaine.net
- http://www.ci.blaine.wa.us
- [Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism]
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