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Lynden
, Washington shines! This jewel of a city is found in the
northwestern tip of the state. Located twelve miles north
of the bustling seaport of Bellingham,
and one hundred miles from Seattle,
Lynden is a tiny community committed to retaining its
small-town charm and tradition.
Originally settled by the Dutch, and still Washington's
largest Dutch community, windmills grace the historic downtown
area and the residents have a strong resolve to keep their
city beautiful. Lynden is known as one of the cleanest cities
in the state. Many tourists love to visit this unique place,
during the many festivals and celebrations held here, or just
as a quick escape from the city.
According to the Census 2000 data, Lynden's population
stood at just over 9,000. The main industries of the town are
dairy and agriculture, and many farms surround the city. The
largest of these is Darigold
, one of the most prominent dairy producers in the state, and
the chief supplier of dairy products to the famous coffee
chain Starbucks
.
Lynden residents know how to celebrate. People come from Canada
and all over Whatcom
County to experience Lynden festivals. July's Raspberry
Festival delights all the senses, displaying the rich red
berries along with fine music and crafts. Sixty-five percent
of the nation's red raspberry crop grows here. Lynden plays
host to the giant Northwest
Washington Fair . More than a county fair, this event
highlights the talents and traditions of the entire Pacific
Northwest . The Holland
Days Festival highlights the Dutch ancestry of the town
and the beautiful historic buildings along the downtown
district are dressed with gorgeous bouquets of tulips,
Lynden's signature flower. Residents dressed in traditional
Dutch clothing carry baskets of multi-colored tulips, and the Klompen
Dancers perform their lively dances while wearing their
traditional wooden shoes.
Children delight in celebrating both the usual Christmas
season, with the phenomenal light
display and Christmas
Parade , and the Dutch Sinterklaas
custom, where their version of Santa Claus arrives in town on
December 6. He rides a white horse and his helper is Zwart
Piet (Black Peter) who passes out small gifts and toys to the
waiting children. Tradition has it that if a child has been
bad that year, he might find a bag of salt in his wooden shoe,
and if very bad, a lump of coal.
Being agriculturally inclined, Lynden also hosts the annual
Puget Sound Antique
Tractor Show and Threshing bee. While attending the show,
many visitors stop at the Lynden
Pioneer Museum , full of artifacts from the past,
including 44 horse-drawn buggies and many vintage automobiles.
The town's hard-working residents know how to play, too. The Mushball
Tournament exemplifies that - the town turns out to play
volleyball in pits filled with fourteen inches of mud.
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