Editing Blaine, Washington (section)

==Economy==

Much of Blaine's economy is based on cross-border Canadian trade, which includes parcel shipping services and gas stations.<ref>{{cite news |last=Westneat |first=Danny |date=April 5, 2025 |title=The MAGA 'wall effect,' only now on WA's northern border |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/the-maga-wall-effect-only-now-on-was-northern-border/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=April 6, 2025}}</ref> 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 [[U.S. Customs and Border Protection|Customs and Border Protection]] branch of the [[Department of Homeland Security]] operates two border inspection stations in Blaine. The Blaine Sector Headquarters of the [[US Border Patrol]] employs hundreds of federal law enforcement officers and support staff in the community.

Blaine also has a number of manufacturing companies, including [[Nature's Path]] cereal and [[Totally Chocolate]].

The [[Port of Bellingham]] operates a large [[marina]] in Blaine, serving a variety of pleasure craft and fishing vessels.

As Vancouver, British Columbia is just north of Blaine, across the US-Canada border and where several prime-time television series are recorded, several dozen US actors/actresses have rented houses in Blaine and commute to Vancouver rather than rent houses and apartments in Vancouver, which is much more expensive. Included series are: ''[[Once Upon a Time (TV series)|Once Upon A Time]]'', ''Beauty and the Beast'', ''[[Supernatural (American TV series)|Supernatural]]'' and ''Nikita''. For similar reasons, a significant number of Americans who work for companies in Vancouver are living in Blaine.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gold |first=Kerry |date=February 22, 2013 |title=Some Vancouver workers have been priced right out of the country |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/some-vancouver-workers-have-been-priced-right-out-of-the-country/article8970952/ |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |access-date=June 20, 2018}}</ref>

The United States Consulate in Vancouver has a Blaine address for mail from the U.S.<ref name="usconsulatevancouver">{{Cite web |title=U.S. Consulate General Vancouver |url=http://ca.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/vancouver/ |access-date=June 13, 2021 |website=U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Canada |language=en-US}}</ref> Several [[mail service]] companies have opened branches in Blaine, targeting Canadian residents looking to avoid cross-border shipping costs.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gallagher |first=Dave |date=March 26, 2016 |title=Online sales slow in Whatcom border towns as loonie falters |url=http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article68349052.html |work=Bellingham Herald |access-date=June 20, 2018}}</ref> The local industry grew during the rise of e-commerce in the early 2000s and the city set up a [[sales tax]] that earns $1.7 million in annual revenue.<ref>{{cite news |last=Samuel |first=Alexandria |date=June 20, 2018 |title=Welcome to Blaine, the town Amazon Prime built |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/20/17484052/blaine-washington-amazon-prime-canada-us-mailbox-address |work=[[The Verge]] |access-date=June 20, 2018}}</ref>

Blaine had a small [[Blaine Municipal Airport|airport]], which was popular with [[light aircraft]] owners for its low fuel prices and because it had less fog than other nearby airports. The runway measured {{convert|2539|×|40|ft|m}}. The Blaine city government operated automated fuel pumps. In the spring of 2006 the city government removed several tall trees south of the runway as a safety precaution.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airnav.com/airport/4W6|title=AirNav: Airport Information|website=www.airnav.com}}</ref>  Then in 2007, the City Council voted to close the airport before the end of 2008. The airport was officially closed on December 31, 2008. The land upon which the airport rests is adjacent to a shopping center and light industrial park. The area is now zoned for mixed use development, including light industrial manufacturing and commercial.