Fairhaven was one of three pioneer settlements on Bellingham Bay that merged to become the City of Bellingham in 1904. Fairhaven's 600 residents live in single-family homes, apartment buildings, and condominium complexes. They can walk to many services, including a grocery store, bookstore, shops, the Fairhaven Village Green, and the Fairhaven Public Library.

At the commercial center of Fairhaven is the Fairhaven National Register Historic District, home to 17 beautiful historic buildings. Many infill buildings, designed to be compatible with local history, have been built in the last several years. The historic and new buildings have provided many local businesses that serve neighbors and folks throughout the Pacific Northwest.

The Alaska Marine Ferry docks twice a week in Fairhaven at the Transportation Center, which also houses the Amtrak Station and Greyhound Bus depot. Padden Creek flows through the neighborhood providing an attractive greenbelt. Marine Park, a 2-acre park on Fairhaven's waterfront, helps to emphasize the neighborhood's marine orientation. The Fairhaven Village Green, in the core of Fairhaven, is a hub of activity in the commercial core with concerts, movies, bocce ball, farmer's market, and folks soaking up the Fairhaven ambience. The South Bay Trail connects Fairhaven with Bellingham's City Center, Fairhaven Park, and the Chuckanut Mountains.