Newhalem, Washington

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Newhalem is a small unincorporated community in northwestern Washington, USA, located in the western foothills of the Cascade Mountains along the Skagit River. It is located within Whatcom County.

Newhalem is a company town owned by Seattle City Light and populated entirely by employees of the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project, or in local county, state or federal agencies. The town is not open to permanent residents who do not work for these certain agencies. The Ross Lake National Recreation Area surrounds Newhalem on all sides, and the North Cascades National Park boundary is approximately one mile to the north and south of the town. The name Newhalem has its roots in a local Native American language as meaning 'Goat Snare'.