City of Lynden Company Profile

Our Community

Known for its wealth of farms, berries, churches and windmills, the Dutch-influenced Lynden is the second largest city in Whatcom County, Washington. Named and established in 1874 on the site of the Nooksack Indian village Squahalish, the town of Lynden began as a pioneer settlement headed by Holden and Phoebe Judson.

Home to the Northwest Washington Fair, Lynden is approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) south of the U.S.-Canadian border, with Lynden-Aldergrove operation and port of entry. It is also located 15 miles (24 km) north of Bellingham, and about 95 miles (153 km) north of Seattle. Partnering students, parents & the community, Lynden is known for its high quality private and public school systems. Known for its school spirit, the town often gathers in Yakima each year during state tournaments to cheer each other toward victory. This close-knit community has 7 high-performing schools (5 Public and 2 Private) and 6 City Parks.

Each year the City hosts the Farmer’s Day Parade, an annual celebration of the local agricultural community that typically draws 7,500-10,000 people. Lynden recently celebrated its 125-year anniversary by creating the world’s longest strawberry shortcake – running the length of four downtown blocks.

Grand prize winner of the America’s Main Streets contest, Lynden’s downtown has recently drawn nationwide attention. The City is experiencing revitalization with many new businesses opening shop, namely: The Inn at Lynden, Overflow Taps, Avenue Bread, Village Books, Bellingham Baby Company and more.

Our City/Our Values

The City of Lynden operates under a Strong Mayor form of government with 7 City Council Members serving 4-year terms. With 85 regular employees providing services to the area, the City of Lynden’s Vision is “Cultivating Exceptional Service for our Extraordinary Community.”

This vision is accomplished through employees demonstrating the following shared values:

• Communication
• Teamwork
• Community
• Excellence
• Integrity