St. Joseph Hospital has a service area of 200,000 people including the city of Bellingham with a population of 80,000. The economic base of the area consists of light manufacturing, service-related industry, wholesale/retail trade, government, and Western Washington University. Bellingham is one of the fastest growing areas of the state with its easy access to the San Juan Islands, close proximity to British Columbia, outdoor recreation opportunities, including the North Cascades, and the cultural events associated with WWU.
