1930’s Real Estate Exclusion | Bellingham Racial History Timeline

Bellingham deeds stipulate white-only ownership and residence on the property, except for servants.

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From the 1920s to the 1950s, houses across multiple neighborhoods in Bellingham had covenants restricting who could live in them, based on race. Such covenants are still on many house deeds today, though they are no longer enforceable. A recent study found more than 1500 of these racial covenants on property deeds in Bellingham and other parts of Whatcom County.

This deed, drawn up by the Larabee real estate company on August 4, 1947, stipulates that the lot “shall be owned and occupied only by persons of the White Race except that this covenant shall not prevent occupancy by domestic servants of a different race or nationality employed by an owner or tenant.” (See point 5, with yellow highlight.)

Similarly, this second deed from the same era stipulates “No race or nationality other than the White race shall use or occupy any dwelling on any lot, except that this covenant shall not prevent occupancy by domestic servants or a different race or nationality employed by an owner or tenant.” (See point 3, with yellow highlight.)

These practices were widespread across the state and across the country at this time. In addition, the Bellingham real estate market would have been shaped by other discriminatory practices including racially discriminatory federal and private lending practices.

For an excellent overview of these kinds of racially discriminatory covenants, lending practices, and housing policies, see the short video Segregated By Design.

Finally, it is important to note that current zoning regulations in Bellingham that enforce single-family housing restrictions and minimum lot sizes continue to perpetuate housing discrimination based on race (and class). Refer, for instance, to the analysis of this problem in The “New Redlining.”