A key factor in Andromeda Pendragyn’s decision to move her two children from Sacramento, California, to Bellingham this past June was fire.
A native Washingtonian from south of Seattle, Pendragyn is one of several hundred people — exactly 512 — who switched driver’s licenses or ID cards from California to a Whatcom County address last year, according to data from the Washington State Department of Licensing.
“It felt as if I was drying up like one of the forests on fire,” Pendragyn said, as her family felt the impact of the wildfires in the state each year. “If you’re in a place that is wrong for you, it’s never going to go well.”
Nearly 3% of the 18,080 people who moved to Washington were from California this year, data shows.
Whatcom County’s population grew by 0.6% in 2023, the third-highest growth rate for counties with over 200,000 residents in the state. As of April 1, Whatcom County’s population sat at 238,000 and Skagit County had a population of 133,300, according to figures from the state Office of Financial Management.
A large part of this growth has come from out of state, with California as the top state that most people move from to Whatcom County. The other states include Oregon, Texas, Colorado and Arizona, data shows.
Peter Ahn, a real estate agent for the Muljat Group and Western Washington University alum, noted that tracking down this data isn't always easy.
“I think people just have a natural tendency, right? If they’re relocating, they kind of see places they’re somewhat familiar with,” he said, noting a large influx of people moving from the I-5 corridor.
Housing affordability in comparison to California home prices is a huge component, Ahn added, but also for those with a natural affinity for the outdoors.
Cascadia Daily News asked new residents about their reasons for moving and the transition process.
In a family of creatives, Pendragyn's 14-year-old daughter Valkyrie is an avid painter and illustrator. For a self-taught artist it’s an "exciting opportunity," for her daughter to attend figure drawing classes at the Karate Church community center, Pendragyn said.
A a board game publisher and vice chair for the Rose Gauntlet Foundation, Pendragyn runs the foundation's education programs for those who want to pursue a career in the tabletop gaming industry. Pendragyn said she is learning to knit and has "kind of crashed a knitting circle."
Building a strong network of friends in Bellingham, one of them encouraged Pendragyn to come out on a “whirlwind tour” of the area, starting out at Boulevard Park, lunch at Storia Cucina and then an afternoon at Whatcom Falls Park.
From Texas to Washington
Originally from Argentina, Liliana Buscio sold her house in Houston, Texas, and sought a teaching job in July 2023. Last year, at least 363 people switched driver's licenses or ID cards from Texas to Washington state, according to Washington State Department of Licensing data.
"After a vacation to this area two summers ago, we knew we had to come back and stay," Buscio said.
Now living in a Ferndale townhome, Buscio is a full-time substitute teacher and Spanish language interpreter for Bellingham Public Schools. She said she spends time outside the classroom joining weekly water aerobics sessions at the Arne Hanna Aquatic Center.
Buscio and her husband, William, typically spend their weekends on a variety of adventures throughout the county, from Lake Whatcom's Chanterelle Connector Trail to Point Roberts' Lighthouse Marine Park.
Another former Texan, Patrick Nash, also relocated to the area.
Nash resided in Arlington for the last 35 years. But ever since he can remember, he's had an inclination to pack up his belongings and move to the Pacific Northwest.
“I’ve loved this area ever since I first visited here in 1977,” said Nash, who was 17 at the time of the first visit.
The 64-year-old software engineer works remotely for an auto insurance company, and is set to move into a townhome this month.
A myriad of factors propelled his longstanding desire to finally relocate last September: remote work, his children out of school and the sweltering Texas weather.
“I hated summers all my life,” he said, out of appreciation for the cooler weather in comparison to Arlington’s track record of hot, humid summers.
In 2015, Nash started to research other West Coast cities in preparation for his new home, scouring maps and real estate websites. “I had made my mind up by October 2021,” he said, a nod to his two-year-long decision prior to the move. “I was tired of talking about it.”
Nash’s experience lines up similarly with what Western Washington University economics professor Hart Hodges has observed over the years.
“It’s an interesting mix of 50- to 60-year-olds,” Hodges said. “Maybe they’re still working with their previous employer, but remotely? It’s more hobby work, and I’m finding that to be fairly interesting, especially post-COVID, a lot more hybrid work.”
Hiking is a huge part of Nash's life, where he explores the area around Lake Padden with his son Ian, along with several Anacortes trails. In his mind, Bellingham "checked off a lot of boxes," these “boxes” including breweries, proximity to mountains and political beliefs.
“Living in Texas, it was always, ‘Where do I want to go next summer?’ to get out of the state for that one or two weeks you’re on vacation,” he said. “Here, all week long I’m thinking, 'Where do I want to go this weekend?'”
Californian finds peace here
Nash is not the only one who researched his move years in advance.
Prior to her relocation to South Hill this past January, 69-year-old Ruth Peeples was on a quest to find a place to retire in the future. The California resident recalled flipping through various lifestyle magazines back in 2016 and stumbled across Bellingham.
It prompted her to visit and meet up with Wendy Cole, a cousin of Peeples' longtime childhood friend.
“Los Angeles has so much it can drive you crazy, and the reason I left now is because it’s become too expensive and too crazy in terms of traffic,” said Peeples, whose former paralegal job resulted in a two-hour commute.
Peeples started volunteering for the local radio station KMRE, drawing from her past experience as a broadcast journalist. She is still in search of an administrative position, but in the meantime volunteers with organizations such as the Bellingham Senior Activity Center and League of Women Voters.
Peeples describes herself as a “much calmer person," after settling down in Bellingham.
“I can just go put my hiking boots on and go for a walk, and I feel my whole body relax,” Peeples said. “There’s just something about this place.”
A previous version of this story misstated Patrick Nash's age and occupation. The story was updated to reflect the changed at 4 p.m. on Sept. 17, 2024. Cascadia Daily News regrets the error.
Olivia Capriotti is a Dow Jones summer news intern, specializing in data journalism. Reach her at oliviacapriotti@cascadiadaily.com.
