COLUMBIA
Historic Craftsman Homes in Bellingham, WA
Columbia is a neighborhood that offers something increasingly rare in the current market: genuine character, a real sense of community, and a central location. Situated in central Bellingham, Columbia is a steady, well-rooted residential area that doesn't shout about itself — but delivers consistently for the people who choose it.
A Bit of History
Columbia is one of Bellingham's oldest neighborhoods, and its heart — Elizabeth Park — has been a gathering place since 1883, when Henry Roeder, one of Bellingham's founding settlers, donated the land to the town. It's the oldest park in Bellingham, and the trees in it tell the story just as well as any plaque. There's a state-record English oak standing 106 feet tall, ancient Pacific yews, and — if local lore is accurate — an American elm descended from the tree in Cambridge, Massachusetts beneath which George Washington assumed command of the Continental Army in 1775. The summer concerts in the gazebo and the Fourth of July celebrations that draw neighbors out every year are continuing a tradition that is, by Bellingham standards, positively ancient.
The housing stock here skews older and that's part of its charm. Many homes date to the early 1900s — Craftsman bungalows, American Foursquares, and classic two-story residences that were built to last and have proven it. You'll find front porches, original woodwork, mature street trees, and the kind of lot sizes that newer developments rarely offer. This is a neighborhood with real architectural history, and buyers who appreciate that tend to feel it immediately.
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Columbia tends to attract a diverse mix — families drawn to the community feel, buyers who love the character of older homes, and people relocating who want central access to all of Bellingham without committing to one end of the city. The current median sale price is around $699k, which reflects both the neighborhood's established appeal and the value of its central location. As with any neighborhood of older homes, a thorough inspection is always worth doing.
Curious about what's available in Columbia right now? I'd love to help you explore it.
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*pricing reflects recent market data and is subject to change.