Editing Birch Bay, Washington

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Distinguish|Birch Bayh}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Birch Bay, Washington
| settlement_type    = [[Census-designated place|CDP]]
| image_skyline      = BirchBayThanksgivingMorningByJuliusReque.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Birch Bay in 2008
| image_map          = Whatcom_County_Washington_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Birch_Bay_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Birch Bay within Whatcom County, Washington
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Washington|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Whatcom County, Washington|Whatcom]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 
<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_total_km2     = 54.9
| area_land_km2      = 41.0
| area_water_km2     = 14.0
| area_total_sq_mi   = 21.2
| area_land_sq_mi    = 15.8
| area_water_sq_mi   = 5.4
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 10115
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
<!-- General information -->
| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
| utc_offset         = -8
| timezone_DST       = PDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -7
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 0
| coordinates        = {{coord|48|54|56|N|122|44|50|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 98230
| area_code          = [[Area code 360|360]]
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 53-06190<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2407850<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2407850}}</ref>
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Birch Bay''' (Tsan-wuch, Say-wak) is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) along the shore of the bay named Birch Bay in [[Whatcom County, Washington]], United States. The population was 8,413 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]], a 69.6% increase over the 4,961 individuals in the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 10,115.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2023 |title=Census Bureau profile: Birch Bay, Washington |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Birch%20Bay%20CDP,%20Washington |access-date=May 9, 2024 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

==History==
Local indigenous communities named this place ''Say-wak'',<ref>[https://www.historylink.org/File/10995 Tsan-wuch] ([https://www.semiahmoofirstnation.ca Semiahmoo First Nation]) and [https://revisitwa.org/waypoint/birch-bay/ Say-wak] ([https://www.lummi-nsn.gov Lummi Nation / Lhaq'temish])</ref> meaning "people saved from a flood by building a raft."<ref>[https://revisitwa.org/waypoint/birch-bay/#:~:text=The%20birch%20trees%20around%20the,Americans%20called%20it%20Tsan%2Dwuch. "people saved from a flood by building a raft"]</ref>

Captains of Spanish ships from Acapulco and San Blas (Spanish west coast ports in Mexico) were in this area in 1791 and 1792 and named it ''Puerto del Garzon''<ref>[https://www.thenorthernlight.com/stories/spanish-english-and-american-explorers-influence-birch-bay-names,19388 Puerto del Garzon]</ref> in 1791 by captain Jose Maria Narvaez. It was then renamed Birch Bay in 1792 by [[Archibald Menzies]], a member of the [[Vancouver Expedition]]. Vancouver's two ships used Birch Bay as an anchorage for several days. Menzies noted a number of species of birch and gave the name to the bay.<ref>{{cite book |last= Roberts |first= John E. |title= A Discovery Journal: George Vancouver's First Survey Season - 1792 |year= 2005 |publisher= Trafford Publishing |isbn= 978-1-4120-7097-3 |pages= 101}}</ref>

In the 2000s, the development of condominiums and vacation homes became more prominent in Birch Bay due to high demand from wealthier clientele in the United States and Canada.<ref name="NYTimes">{{cite news |last=Hernandez |first=Barbara |date=October 5, 2007 |title=In the Northwest, Hard by Canada, a Secret Is Out |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/05/travel/escapes/05havens.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |accessdate=May 2, 2023}}</ref> A proposal to [[Municipal incorporation|incorporate]] the community as a city was announced in 2023 following earlier attempts and discussion. By 2020, Birch Bay had grown to approximately 10,000 people, making it larger than all but three cities in Whatcom County.<ref>{{cite news |last=McCarthy |first=Grace |date=April 19, 2023 |title=Survey open on Birch Bay incorporation |url=https://www.thenorthernlight.com/stories/survey-open-on-birch-bay-incorporation,25034 |work=[[The Northern Light (Washington)|The Northern Light]] |accessdate=May 2, 2023}}</ref>

==Geography==
Birch Bay is on the [[Salish Sea]] in northwestern Whatcom County, about {{convert|6|mi|km}} south of the [[Canada–United States border]] and {{convert|37|mi|km}} from [[Vancouver]], British Columbia.<ref name="NYTimes"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Borzilleri |first=Meri-Jo |date=April 15, 2007 |title=Annual Birch Bay race made for those who truly love to run |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/annual-birch-bay-race-made-for-those-who-truly-love-to-run/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=May 2, 2023}}</ref> The community that surrounds the bay is connected by [[Washington State Route 548|State Route 548]], a short highway that runs between two interchanges on [[Interstate 5 in Washington|Interstate 5]] near [[Ferndale, Washington|Ferndale]] and in [[Blaine, Washington|Blaine]].<ref>{{cite WSDOT map |year=2014 |accessdate=May 2, 2023}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|21.2|mi2|km2}}, of which, {{convert|15.8|mi2|km2}} of it is land and {{convert|5.4|mi2|km2}} of it (25.45%) is water.

===Geology===
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2025}}
Birch Bay is a headland bay created by the refraction of incoming waves on the headlands that lie on either side of the bay. The headland to the north is Birch Point, and the one to the south is Point Whitehorn. The waves bend as they enter the bay and lose energy in the process. The result is a half-moon-shaped bay with a gentle sloping beach. The shoreline has been modified in past years by the implementation of perpendicular structures called groins, and [[riprap]]. Terrell Creek runs parallel along a section of the beach, eventually flowing into the bay.

==Demographics==

As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 4,961 people, 2,125 households, and 1,417 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|313.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 5,105 housing units at an average density of {{convert|322.8|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.36% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.23% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.19% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.05% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.14% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.91% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.12% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.45% of the population.

There were 2,125 households, out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the CDP, the age distribution of the population shows 23.2% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $40,040, and the median income for a family was $44,280. Males had a median income of $41,198 versus $27,076 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $21,204. About 6.7% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 0.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
The majority of the community is served by the [[Blaine School District]].<!--Census code: UNI 00570--> A piece in the east is in the [[Ferndale School District]]<!--UNI 02850-->.<ref>{{cite map |author=U.S. Census Bureau Geography Division |date=January 14, 2021 |title=2020 Census – School District Reference Map: Whatcom County, WA |scale=1:140,000 |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st53_wa/schooldistrict_maps/c53073_whatcom/DC20SD_C53073.pdf |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |accessdate=March 16, 2025}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Birch Bay State Park]]
* [[Cherry Point Refinery]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Birch Bay, Washington}}
* [https://www.birchbaychamber.com/ Chamber of Commerce website]

{{Whatcom County, Washington}}
{{authority control}}
{{Geographic location
 | Centre =  Birch Bay
 | North =    [[Blaine, Washington|Blaine]]
 | Northeast =
 | East =    [[Custer, Washington|Custer]]
 | Southeast =    [[Ferndale, Washington|Ferndale]]
 | South =
 | Southwest =  [[San Juan Islands]]
 | West = [[Gulf Islands]]
 | Northwest = [[Point Roberts, Washington|Point Roberts]]
 | image =
}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Whatcom County, Washington]]