White Bear Lake, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
White Bear Lake
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| Nickname(s):
Beartown, WBL
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| Motto(s):
City of Lakes and Legends
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Location of the city of White Bear Lake
within Ramsey and Washington Counties in the state of Minnesota |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| Counties | Ramsey, Washington |
| Founded | 1858 |
| Incorporated (village) | February 18, 1881 |
| Incorporated (city) | October 11, 1921 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.63 sq mi (22.36 km2) |
| • Land | 8.04 sq mi (20.84 km2) |
| • Water | 0.59 sq mi (1.53 km2) |
| Elevation | 942 ft (287 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 24,883 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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23,588 |
| • Density | 3,092.98/sq mi (1,194.24/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
55110, 55127
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| Area code(s) | 651 |
| FIPS code | 27-69970 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2397299 |
| Sales tax | 8.375% |
White Bear Lake is a city in Minnesota, a state in the United States. It is mostly in Ramsey County, but a small part reaches into Washington County. In 2020, about 24,883 people lived there.
The city is located right next to White Bear Lake. This is one of the biggest lakes in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area. The lake is home to many kinds of fish, like largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and northern pike.
Contents
- What's in a Name? The Legend of White Bear Lake
- A Look Back: The History of White Bear Lake
- Where is White Bear Lake?
- Who Lives in White Bear Lake?
- Businesses in White Bear Lake
- Learning in White Bear Lake: Schools and Colleges
- Private Schools
- Fun Things to Do in White Bear Lake
- Famous People from White Bear Lake
- See also
What's in a Name? The Legend of White Bear Lake
The city gets its name from the large lake it sits beside. There are different old stories about how White Bear Lake got its name.
A Sioux Maiden and a Chippewa Brave
One legend tells of a Sioux maiden who fell in love with a Chippewa brave. When she learned her father, the Chief, planned to fight the Chippewa, she warned her lover. The brave bravely went to the Sioux village alone. He asked for peace and for the maiden's hand in marriage.
The Chief said the brave had to do something very brave first. The lovers often met on Manitou Island. One day, the brave saw a huge white bear attacking his beloved! He rushed to save her. She ran to get help from her father and the Sioux people.
When they returned, they saw the brave stab his knife into the bear. But it was too late; both the brave and the bear fell to the ground, dead. As everyone watched, the spirits of the brave and the bear rose from their bodies. People say that even today, as night falls, their spirits wander the island, always searching for each other.
Mark Twain's Version of the Legend
The famous writer Mark Twain shared a slightly different ending to the story in his book Life on the Mississippi. In his version, the warrior kills the bear.
That night, everyone celebrated! The young and old danced around the dead bear. The brave warrior received a special feather. Soon after, he married the maiden. Their children played on the white bear's skin for many years. The maiden and the brave never forgot the scary event that brought them together.
A Look Back: The History of White Bear Lake
White Bear Lake has a rich history, especially as a popular resort town.
Early Days and the Railroad
The arrival of the railroad was a huge event for White Bear Lake. On September 10, 1868, the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad officially opened its line to White Bear Lake. This was a big celebration! Hundreds of people traveled from St. Paul by train for the occasion.
By 1874, White Bear Lake was so well-known that Mark Twain mentioned it as a resort in his book. In 1881, the "American Travelers Journal" called it "One of the most popular resorts in the magic northlands." Many hotels and resorts opened around the lake, offering ballrooms, bowling, and boats.
Growth and Community Life
Wealthy summer residents built a clubhouse in 1881. Here, they ate meals, enjoyed entertainment, and socialized. The Manitou Implement Co. developed Manitou Island for cottages, adding important features like water systems.
The "Fillebrown" house, now a historic site, was built in 1879 by C.P. Noyes. It was later owned by Judge George Young and then the J. Walter Fillebrown family. They donated the house to the White Bear Lake Area Historical Society in the 1970s.
The City of White Bear Lake officially became a city on October 11, 1921.
In 1940, an artist named Nellie Geraldine Best painted a mural called Early Voyageurs at Portage for the White Bear Lake post office. This was part of a national art project.
Changes in Schools
In 1983, White Bear Lake High School and Mariner High School joined together. They formed White Bear Lake Area High School. Today, there are still two main buildings: the North Campus and the South Campus. The North Campus is White Bear Lake High School, and the South Campus is now Mariner Middle School.
Community Arts and History
The Lakeshore Players Community Theater started in 1953. They used to perform in an old church building. In 2018, they moved to a new building next to the White Bear Center for the Arts.
The White Bear Center for the Arts began in 1968. They moved to their current location in 2013. The White Bear Lake Area Historical Society was formed in 1970. It works to collect and share stories from the five communities around White Bear Lake.
Where is White Bear Lake?
White Bear Lake covers about 8.66 square miles (22.43 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with about 0.64 square miles (1.66 square kilometers) being water.
Several main roads run through the city. These include U.S. Highway 61, Ramsey County Highway 96, Minnesota State Highway 96, Interstate 35E, and Interstate 694.
Who Lives in White Bear Lake?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 435 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,356 | 211.7% | |
| 1900 | 1,288 | −5.0% | |
| 1910 | 1,505 | 16.8% | |
| 1920 | 2,022 | 34.4% | |
| 1930 | 2,600 | 28.6% | |
| 1940 | 2,858 | 9.9% | |
| 1950 | 3,646 | 27.6% | |
| 1960 | 12,849 | 252.4% | |
| 1970 | 23,313 | 81.4% | |
| 1980 | 22,538 | −3.3% | |
| 1990 | 24,704 | 9.6% | |
| 2000 | 24,325 | −1.5% | |
| 2010 | 23,797 | −2.2% | |
| 2020 | 24,883 | 4.6% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 23,588 | −0.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 23,797 people living in White Bear Lake. There were 9,945 households and 6,304 families. The city had about 2,967 people per square mile.
Most people (90.1%) were White. About 2.5% were African American, 0.4% Native American, and 3.5% Asian. About 3.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 28% of households had children under 18. Almost half (48.2%) were married couples. About 30% of households were single individuals. The average age in the city was 40.6 years.
Businesses in White Bear Lake
Several interesting companies have their homes in White Bear Lake.
Smarte Carte is a company based here. They make and provide baggage carts for many airports around the world. You might have seen their carts if you've traveled!
International Paper, a very large company that makes paper and pulp, has a big facility in northern White Bear Lake. Right next door is Magnepan, which makes special high-end audio loudspeakers.
Learning in White Bear Lake: Schools and Colleges
The White Bear Lake school system has many schools for students of all ages. It includes elementary, middle, and high schools.
Elementary Schools (Grades K–5)
- Birch Lake (opened 1966)
- Hugo (opened 1961), located in Hugo
- Lakeaires (opened 1960)
- Lincoln (opened 1952)
- Oneka (opened 2006), located in Hugo
- Otter Lake (opened 1988), located in White Bear Township
- Matoska International (opened 1962), originally Parkview Elementary
- North Star (opened 2022), located in Hugo
- Vadnais Heights (opened 1950), located in Vadnais Heights
- Willow Lane (opened 1965)
Middle Schools (Grades 6–8)
- Central (built 1918 as WBL High School)
- Sunrise Park (opened 1959), which became Mariner Middle School in 2024.
High Schools (Grades 9–12)
- White Bear Lake Area High School, North Campus (opened 1964): This building now serves grades 9-12.
- White Bear Lake Area High School, South Campus (opened 1972): This building is now Mariner Middle School.
- White Bear Lake Area Learning Center (opened 1964), located at the former Golfview Elementary School.
Colleges in the Area
- Century College is a local college where students can continue their education.
Private Schools
White Bear Lake also has several private schools:
- White Bear Montessori School (for ages 16 months through sixth grade)
- Frassati Catholic Academy (Preschool through 8th grade)
- Liberty Classical Academy (Pre-K through 12th grade)
- Magnuson Christian School (K through 8th grade)
- St. Anne's Academy (1st through 12th grade)
Fun Things to Do in White Bear Lake
There are many activities to enjoy in White Bear Lake throughout the year.
Summer Fun
In the summer, families often go sailboat riding or tubing on the lake. There's also a special event called Marketfest every Thursday night in Downtown White Bear. It has many food trucks and games for everyone!
Winter Activities
During the colder winter months, ice fishing is very popular on the lake. People also enjoy snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. If the ice is smooth, you might even see iceboats sailing very fast! The downtown area is a great place to visit, with restaurants, cafes, and unique shops.
Famous People from White Bear Lake
Many notable people have connections to White Bear Lake, including athletes, musicians, and more.
- Tony Benshoof, an Olympic athlete in luge.
- Brian Bonin, a hockey player who won the Hobey Baker Award in 1996.
- Justin Braun, an NHL defenseman.
- Jim Brunzell, a retired professional wrestler.
- Bill Butters, a retired NHL defenseman.
- Ryan Carter, an NHL center.
- Josh A. Cassada, a NASA Astronaut.
- Moose Goheen, a famous NHL hockey player and Hall of Famer.
- Nora Greenwald (also known as Molly Holly), a former WWE Diva.
- Trent Hafdahl, lead guitarist for the band After the Burial.
- Matt Henderson, a former NHL player.
- Steve Janaszak, a hockey goalie who was part of the 1980 U.S. Olympic "Miracle on Ice" Team.
- Bradley Joseph, a composer and keyboardist.
- Paul M. Nakasone, a United States Army General.
- Jeff Parker, a former NHL player.
- Alice Peacock, a folk singer.
- Elwyn "Doc" Romnes, a former NHL player.
- David Tanabe, a hockey player.
- Jacob Volkmann, a UFC fighter.
- Donny Longendyke, a wrestler who was a two-time state champion.
See also
In Spanish: White Bear Lake (Minnesota) para niños
