Whatcom County is located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2010 census, the population was 201,140. It is bordered by Metro Vancouver Regional District and Fraser Valley Regional District in Canada on the north, Okanogan County on the east, Skagit County on the south, and the Salish Sea on the west. The county seat and largest city is Bellingham.The county was created from Island County by the Washington Territorial Legislature in March 1854. It originally included the territory of present-day San Juan and Skagit Counties, which were later organized after additional settlement. Its name derives from the Lummi word Xwotʼqom, meaning "noisy water."Whatcom County comprises the Bellingham, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area.