Bear, Delaware facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bear, Delaware
CDP
White Hall
Location in New Castle County and the state of Delaware.
Bear, Delaware Location in Delaware Show map of Delaware Bear, Delaware Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Delaware
County	New Castle
Area
• Total	5.78 sq mi (14.98 km2)
• Land	5.78 sq mi (14.98 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	69 ft (21 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	23,060
• Density	3,986.86/sq mi (1,539.25/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	19701
Area code(s)	302
FIPS code	10-04130
GNIS feature ID	216026

Bear is a community in New Castle County, Delaware, in the United States. It's known as a "census-designated place" (CDP). This means it's an area identified by the U.S. Census Bureau for statistics. However, it is not officially a city or town with its own local government. In 2020, about 23,060 people lived here.

Bear started as a small farming area. It was about 14 miles south of Wilmington. Farmers grew corn and raised cattle. In the late 1980s and 1990s, Bear grew a lot. Many new housing areas and shopping centers were built along U.S. Route 40. Much of Bear is located along this highway. It also reaches near Delaware Route 896.

History of Bear, Delaware

A popular story tells how Bear got its name. There was a tavern along the road from Wilmington to Dover, Delaware. This road is now where U.S. Route 40 and Delaware Route 7 meet. The tavern's sign had a picture of a large bear. It is said that George Washington even visited this tavern.

In 1890, Bear had a population of 50 people. By 1900, it had grown slightly to 59 people. Over the years, Bear has continued to develop. It has become a center for shopping areas and neighborhoods, especially along U.S. Route 40.

A historic building called White Hall is in Bear. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. This means it is an important place for history.

Geography and Location

Bear is located at coordinates 39°37′45″N 75°39′30″W / 39.62917°N 75.65833°W / 39.62917; -75.65833. The United States Census Bureau says that Bear covers about 5.7 square miles (14.98 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the CDP.

Bear is about 14 miles south of Wilmington. It is also about 44 miles from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

People and Population

In 2010, Bear had 19,371 people. The population included people from many different backgrounds. About 50.5% were White, and 34.5% were African American. About 4.2% were Asian, and 0.3% were Native American. People from two or more races made up 3.7% of the population. About 14.2% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.

In 2000, there were 17,593 people living in Bear. There were 6,027 households and 4,544 families. Many households (46.6%) had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.92 people. The average family had 3.30 people.

The population was spread out by age. About 33.0% were under 18 years old. About 36.7% were between 25 and 44 years old. The average age was 33.8 years.

The average income for a household in Bear in 2014 was $60,647. The average income for males was $62,474, and for females it was $48,706. About 13.2% of the population lived below the poverty line. This is lower than the national average.

Many people in Bear have served in the military. The most common times of service were during the Vietnam War and the Gulf Wars in the 1990s and 2000s.

Education in Bear

Students in Bear attend public schools from two different districts. These are the Christina School District and the Colonial School District. There are also many private schools in the area.

Christina School District

The Christina School District has several schools in Bear. May B. Leasure Elementary School is one of them. It was first called Eden School and opened in 1879. It became a K-6 school when Newark High School started taking older students. A fire damaged the school in 1934, so classes moved temporarily. A new building opened in 1935. The school got its current name in 1970, and the current building opened in 1998.

William A. Oberle, Jr. Elementary School is also in Bear. It opened in 2009 as Porter Road Elementary School. It changed its name in 2011. Its name honors a person who was a member of the Delaware House of Representatives.

Students in the Christina district part of Bear go to Leasure, Oberle, or Keene elementary schools for grades K-5. For middle school, they go to Gauger/Cobbs Middle School or Kirk Middle School. For high school, they attend Glasgow High School or Christiana High School.

Other Education Options

The Colonial School District operates William Penn High School.

Some well-known private schools in Bear include Caravel Academy, Red Lion Christian Academy, and Fairwinds Christian School. Delaware has a high number of students who attend private schools.

There are no major universities directly in Bear. However, Wilmington University's main sports complex is located along U.S. Route 40.

Economy and Jobs

In Bear, the most common jobs are in healthcare and social assistance. Other popular fields are finance and insurance, and retail trade. The jobs that pay the most are in utilities, transportation and warehousing, and professional, scientific, and technical services.

The average value of a home in Bear is $173,200. Most homes are valued between $200,000 and $250,000. About 68.5% of homes are owned by the people who live in them. This is higher than the national average.

Diversity in Bear

People in Bear come from many different countries. The most common countries of origin are Mexico, India, and China. There are also many people who were born in Kenya. About 92.4% of the population are U.S. citizens.

After English, Spanish is the most spoken language in Bear. Arabic is the next most common non-English language.

Transportation in Bear

U.S. Route 40 eastbound in Bear

Bear is located where two important roads meet. These are the east-west U.S. Route 40 and the north-south Delaware Route 7. U.S. Route 40 goes west to Glasgow and Elkton, Maryland. It goes east to New Castle and the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Delaware Route 7 goes north to Christiana and south to Red Lion.

The Delaware Route 1 freeway also passes through Bear. It has an exit with U.S. Route 40. Delaware Route 1 goes north to Interstate 95 in Christiana. This road connects to Wilmington and other major cities. To the south, Delaware Route 1 goes toward Dover and the Delaware Beaches.

DART First State provides bus service in Bear. Route 40 runs between downtown Wilmington and Glasgow. Route 54 runs between Churchmans Crossing station and the Walmart on Wilton Boulevard. Route 64 runs between the Christiana Mall and Glasgow.

The Norfolk Southern Railway operates freight trains through Bear. These trains use the Delmarva Secondary line and the New Castle Secondary line. In Bear, Norfolk Southern has its Del Pro Yard. Amtrak also has a maintenance facility here.

Most people in Bear use cars to get around. The most common number of cars per household is two, followed by three. The average time people spend commuting to work is about 26.4 minutes. This is a bit longer than the state and national averages. Most drivers travel alone during their commute.

Notable People

• Angelo Blackson, an American football defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears. He used to live in Bear.
• Ami Parekh, an Indian-American figure skater. She represented India in competitions and was an eight-time Indian ladies' champion. She lives in Bear.

See also

In Spanish: Bear (Delaware) para niños