White Bear Lake is a city in Ramsey County in the

state State most commonly refers to: * State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory **Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country **Nation state, a ...

Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...

, United States. A small portion of the city also extends into Washington County. The population was 24,883 at the 2020 census. The city is located on White Bear Lake, one of the largest lakes in the

Minneapolis–Saint Paul Minneapolis–Saint Paul is a metropolitan area in the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States centered around the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi, Minnesota River, Minnesota, and St. Croix River (Wisconsin–Minnesota), ...

metropolitan area. The lake is a large lake that is home to many different species of fish including largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, and a variety of other species.

Origin of name

The city is named after its largest lake, White Bear Lake. American writers have delivered differing versions of the legend that explains the origin of the name. In her book ''Indian Legends of Minnesota'', Mrs. Carl T. Thayer writes that "It is said that a Sioux maiden fell in love with a Chippewa brave. She, the daughter of the Chief, on learning that her father planned war against the Chippewa, ran to her lover and warned him. The brave went alone into the Sioux village to ask for peace and the hand of the maiden. Before the Chief would agree, the Chippewa would have to do a brave deed." "The lovers usually met on Manitou Island. One day, as the brave approached the Island, anticipating a meeting with his beloved, he saw, to his horror, a great white bear attacking her. He dashed to her rescue. Freed, she ran to get help from her father and the other Sioux. Returning, they saw the brave sink his knife into the bear. But too late, they both fell to the ground dead. Slowly, as they watched, the spirits of the brave and the bear rose from their prone bodies. It is said that even today, as night falls, the spirits of the bear and the brave wander the Island eternally in search of each other."Thayer, Mrs. Carl T. (1883) ''Indian Legends of Minnesota''. J.R. Osgood & Co. pp. 583–593. In

Mark Twain Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist, and essayist. He was praised as the "greatest humorist the United States has produced," with William Fau ...

's memoir ''

Life on the Mississippi ''Life on the Mississippi'' is a memoir by Mark Twain of his days as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River before the American Civil War published in 1883. It is also a travel book, recounting his trips on the Mississippi River, from St. L ...

'', he offers a different ending, relaying that "… the warrior, with one plunge of the blade of his knife, opened the crimson sluices of death, and the dying bear relaxed his hold. "That night, there was no more sleep for the band or the lovers, and as the young and the old danced about the carcass of the dead monster, the gallant warrior was presented with another plume, and ere another moon had set he had a living treasure added to his heart. Their children for many years played upon the skin of the white bear – from which the lake derives its name, and the maiden and the brave remembered long the fearful scene and rescue that made them one, for Kis-se-me-pa and Ka-go-ga could never forget their fearful encounter with the huge monster that came so near sending them to the

happy hunting ground The happy hunting ground is a concept of the afterlife associated with the Native Americans in the United States. The phrase most likely originated with the British settlers' interpretation of the Indian description. History The phrase first a ...

History

The railroad was the largest man-made happening in White Bear Lake. On September 10, 1868, the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad officially opened the extension to White Bear Lake. This was a gala occasion. Ten platform cars of 300 men and four passenger cars for 200 ladies made the trip from St. Paul. By 1874, Mark Twain had included White Bear Lake as the resort in his "Life on the Mississippi." The "American Travelers Journal" 1881 proclaimed, "One of the most popular resorts in the magic northlands is White Bear Lake." Barnum's hotel became the Leip House, featuring a ballroom, billiard room, dancing pavilion, bowling alley, and boats. F.C. Williams opened the Williams House on the Murray property on Lake Avenue. James Waters opened the White Bear House at the depot. In 1879, the Ramaley Pavilion was opened and described as "perhaps the finest structure around the lake" (Breeze 1890). There was Lake Side Cottage on Lake north of 6th and "Château gay." Shady Side, Bachelor's Rest and Hotel Benson were three of the resorts at Bald Eagle Lake. The Cottage Park summer residents built a club house in 1881 where they had their meals, entertainment and social life. In 1881, the Manitou Implement Co. developed the Island for cottages with the added important feature of water works. The "Fillebrown" house on Lake Avenue was built in 1879 by C.P. Noyes. It was purchased in 1881 by Judge George Young and in 1905 purchased by the J. Walter Fillebrown family who donated the house to the White Bear Lake Area Historical Society in the 1970s. The City of White Bear Lake was incorporated on October 11, 1921. In 1940,

Nellie Geraldine Best Nellie Geraldine Best (May 22, 1905 – June 2, 1990) was an American artist known for her sculptures, paintings, and murals. She was active in Oregon, California, and Minneapolis, from the 1930s until the 1950s. Biography Nellie Geraldine Best ...

painted a tempera mural, ''Early Voyageurs at Portage'', as part of the WPA's nationwide mural project for the post office in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. The location of this mural is unknown. It may have been removed during a post office remodeling. White Bear Lake High School and Mariner High School merged in 1983 to form White Bear Lake Area High School. There are still two buildings, the North Campus and South Campus, which are now White Bear Lake High School (North Campus building) and Mariner Middle School (South Campus building). North Campus (White Bear Lake High School) held classes for freshman and sophomores while South Campus (the former Mariner High School) held classes for juniors and seniors. The two buildings had a combined total of about 3,000 students. The murder of three-year-old Dennis Jurgens in 1965 at the hands of his adoptive mother, Lois Jurgens, was arguably the biggest scandal to hit the town with her

conviction In law, a conviction is the determination by a court of law that a defendant is Guilty (law), guilty of a crime. A conviction may follow a guilty plea that is accepted by the court, a jury trial in which a verdict of guilty is delivered, or a ...

in 1987. The story was recounted in Barry Siegel's

true crime True crime is a genre of non-fiction work in which an author examines a crime, including detailing the actions of people associated with and affected by the crime, and investigating the perpetrator's Motive (law), motives. True crime works often ...

novel '' A Death in White Bear Lake.'' In 1953, the Lakeshore Players Community Theater was organized. Lakeshore Players formerly operated out of a former church building constructed in 1889, at 4820 Stewart Avenue. In 2018 they moved to a new building in 2018 next to the White Bear Center for the Arts. The ''White Bear Center for the Arts'' was officially organized on May 16, 1968 and moved to their new location at 4971 Long Avenue in the fall of 2013. The White Bear Lake Area Historical Society was incorporated on September 25, 1970 and gathers, preserves and shares the stories of the five communities that touch the shore of White Bear Lake – Birchwood, Dellwood, Mahtomedi, White Bear Lake, and White Bear Townshi

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. U.S. Highway 61, Ramsey County Highway 96,

Minnesota State Highway 96 Minnesota State Highway 96 (MN 96) is a state highway in Minnesota that runs from its intersection with U.S. Highway 61 (US 61) in White Bear Lake and continues east to its eastern terminus at its intersection with MN 95 ...

, Interstate 35E, and

Interstate 694 Interstate 694 (I-694) is an east–west auxiliary Interstate Highway located in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area in the US state of Minnesota. The western terminus of the route is at its junction with I-94, I-494, and US ...

are five of the main routes in the city.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2010, there were 23,797 people, 9,945 households, and 6,304 families living in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

was . There were 10,479 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 90.1%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 2.5%

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 0.4% Native American, 3.5% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race were 3.3% of the population. There were 9,945 households, of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.6% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.92. The median age in the city was 40.6 years. 21.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.9% were from 25 to 44; 28% were from 45 to 64; and 16.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.

2024 census

As of the

of 2024, there were 27.885 people, 10.781 households, and 7,949 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 10,213 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 87.11% White, 7.63%

, 1.47% Native American, 2.94%

Asia Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...

n, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races. 1.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 9,618 households, out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were

living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.99. In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.8% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males. The median income for a household in the city was $52,934, and the median income for a family was $60,196. Males had a median income of $41,699 versus $31,797 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the city was $24,338. About 3.3% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 6.5% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

Business

Smarte Carte Smarte Carte Inc. (stylized as ''smarte''carte) is a global company providing products and services to the travel and leisure industries. Smarte Carte specializes in luggage carts and trolleys, wheelchairs, electronic lockers, commercial strollers ...

, a company that provides

baggage cart Baggage carts, luggage carts, luggage trolleys or trolleys are small vehicles pushed by travelers ( human-powered) to carry individual luggage, mostly suitcases. There are two major sizes: One for big luggage and one for small luggage. Carts ...

s to many

airport An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial Aviation, air transport. They usually consist of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surf ...

s around the world, is headquartered in White Bear Lake, near Interstate 35E and Ramsey County Highway 96.

International Paper The International Paper Company is an American pulp and paper company, the largest such company in the world. It has approximately 39,000 employees, and is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. History The company was incorporated January 31 ...

, one of the largest pulp and paper companies in the world, operates a significant facility in northern White Bear Lake on 9th Street across from Podvin Park. Next door is

Magnepan Magnepan is a private high-end audio loudspeaker manufacturer in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, White Bear Lake, Minnesota, United States. Their loudspeaker technology was conceived and implemented by engineer Jim Winey in 1969. Overview Magnepan's ...

, a manufacturer of

high-end audio High-end audio is a class of consumer home audio equipment marketed to audiophiles on the basis of high price or quality, and esoteric or novel sound reproduction technologies. The term can refer simply to the price, to the build quality of th ...

loudspeakers.

Public schools

The White Bear Lake school system includes nine elementary sites, two middle school sites, and two high school sites. In addition to these, there is also an area learning center located at the former Golfview Elementary site. The White Bear Lake Area Schools operate as Independent School District 624.

Elementary schools (grades K–5)

* Birch Lake (1966) * Hugo (1961), located in Hugo * Lakeaires (1960) * Lincoln (1952) * Oneka (2006), located in Hugo * Otter Lake (1988), located in White Bear Township * Matoska International (1962), Originally Parkview Elementary, with the Centerpoint program (school within a school) * North Star (2022), located in Hugo * Vadnais Heights (1950), located in Vadnais Heights * Willow Lane (1965)

Middle schools (grades 6–8)

* Central (built in 1918 as WBL High School, with additions in '1924, '28, '35, '53, '98, '05) * Sunrise Park (1959), closed after the 2023-2024 school year and reopened in fall of 2024 as Mariner Middle School in the building originally named White Bear Lake Area High School, South Campus.

High schools (grades 9–12)

* White Bear Lake Area High School, North Campus (1964): grades 9 & 10 ** Opened as White Bear Lake Area High School serving grades 9-12 for the 2024-2025 school year. * White Bear Lake Area High School, South Campus (1972): grades 11 & 12 ** 2023-2024 was the final year this building housed a high school program and opened as Mariner Middle School for the 2024-2025 school year. * White Bear Lake Area Learning Center (1964, former Golfview Elementary School): grades 9–12

Colleges

Century College Century College is a public community college in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. It is a member of the Minnesota State system. It was founded in 1967 as Lakewood State Junior College and in 1996 merged with Northeast Metro Technical College to bec ...

Private schools

* White Bear Montessori School (16 months through sixth grade) * Frassati Catholic Academy (grades Preschool through 8) (Merging of St. Mary of the Lake School and St. Pius X School) * Liberty Classical Academy (grades Pre-K through 12) * Magnuson Christian School (grades K through 8) * St. Anne's Academy (grades 1–12)

Activities

In the summer, many families take sailboat rides or go tubing. There is also a Marketfest festival that happens every Thursday night in Downtown White Bear consisting of many different food trucks and games for all ages. During the winter months, ice fishing is popular on the lake, along with snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. If ice conditions are free of surface snow, iceboats can be found sailing at high speeds. The downtown area features restaurants, bars, and a variety of unique shops and services.

Notable people

Tony Benshoof Antony Lee "Tony" Benshoof (born July 7, 1975) is an American luger from White Bear Lake, Minnesota who has been competing since 1990. He won three medals in the mixed team event at the FIL World Luge Championships with two silvers (2004, 2005 ...

, Olympic athlete competing in

luge A luge () is a small one- or two-person sled on which one sleds Supine position, supine (face-up) and feet-first. A luger begins seated, propelling themselves initially from handles on either side of the start ramp, then steers by using the Ca ...

* Brian Bonin, 1992 White Bear High School graduate, University of Minnesota Golden Gophers Men's Hockey, 1996

Hobey Baker Award The Hobey Baker Award is an annual award given to the top National Collegiate Athletic Association men's ice hockey player. It has been awarded 44 times. It is named for Hall of Famer Hobey Baker, who played college hockey at Princeton Universit ...

winner * Justin Braun, 2005 White Bear High School graduate, University of Massachusetts Amherst hockey, NHL defenseman for the

Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...

Jim Brunzell James Brunzell (born August 13, 1949), best known under the ring name "Jumping" Jim Brunzell, is an American retired professional wrestler known for his successful tag teams, Brunzell performed for various wrestling promotions during his 21-year ...

, 1967 White Bear High School graduate, University of Minnesota football and track & field, retired wrestler (Jumpin' Jim Brunzell) * Bill Butters, 1969 White Bear High School graduate, University of Minnesota hockey, retired defenseman in the WHA and NHL * Ryan Carter, 2002 White Bear High School graduate, Minnesota St. University hockey, NHL center for the

Minnesota Wild The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Wild compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Confer ...

* Josh A. Cassada, NASA Astronaut * Kevin M. Chandler, Minnesota state legislator and lawyer * Gregory L. Dahl, Minnesota state legislator and lawyer * Rick Danmeier, 1970 White Bear High School graduate, football player White Bear Lake High School, straight-on kicker for the NFL's Minnesota Vikings (1977–1982) * Michael Djupstrom, 1998 White Bear High School graduate, composer * Moose Goheen (1894–1979), NHL hockey player, Member of Professional Hockey Hall of Fame, class of 195
Moose Goheen – Hall of Fame Bio
*

Nora Greenwald Nora Kristina Greenwald (born September 7, 1977) is an American retired professional wrestling, professional wrestler. She is signed to WWE, under the ring name Molly Holly, as a producer. She is also known for her tenure in World Championship Wr ...

(a.k.a. Molly Holly), former

WWE World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is an American professional wrestling promotion. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority-owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. A global integrated media and entertainment company, ...

Diva * Trent Hafdahl, White Bear Lake Class of 2004, Lead guitarist and founding member of

After the Burial After the Burial is an American progressive metal band from Minneapolis, Minnesota. They are currently signed to Sumerian Records and have released five of their six full-length albums through the label. Since their inception in 2004, the band h ...

* Matt Henderson, 1992 White Bear High School graduate, University of North Dakota Men's Hockey, former NHL player * Orrin Henry Ingram Sr. (a.k.a. Hank Ingram) (1904–1963), American heir and businessman *

Steve Janaszak Steven James Janaszak (born January 7, 1957) is an American former ice hockey goaltender who played three games in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Minnesota North Stars and Colorado Rockies between 1980 and 1982. Amateur career Janasz ...

, hockey goalie, 1975 Hill-Murray School graduate, University of Minnesota, 1980 U.S. Olympic "Miracle on Ice" Team * Bradley Joseph, composer, keyboardist with

Yanni Yiannis Chryssomallis (; born November 14, 1954), known professionally as Yanni ( ), is a Greek composer, keyboardist, pianist, and music producer. Yanni continues to use the musical shorthand that he developed as a child, blending jazz, clas ...

and

Sheena Easton Sheena Shirley Easton (; born 27 April 1959) is a Scottish singer and actress who achieved recognition in an episode of the reality television series ''The Big Time (TV series), The Big Time: Pop Singer'', which recorded her attempts to gain a ...

* Lois Jurgens, murderer * Devoney Looser,

Jane Austen Jane Austen ( ; 16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817) was an English novelist known primarily for #List of works, her six novels, which implicitly interpret, critique, and comment on the English landed gentry at the end of the 18th century ...

scholar * Harry Mares, educator, Minnesota state legislator, and mayor of White Bear lake * Maurice D. McCollar, Minnesota state legislator and chiropractor * Joe Miller (1850–1891), Major League Baseball player * John Watson Milton, Minnesota State Senator and writer * Paul M. Nakasone,

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

General, Commander

United States Army Cyber Command The U.S. Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER) conducts information dominance and cyberspace operations as the Army service component command of United States Cyber Command.The official regulation, General Order (DA GO 2016-11) was signed by the Secretar ...

* Thomas Warren Newcome, Minnesota legislator, lawyer, and mayor of White Bear Lake * Jeff Parker, 1983 White Bear Mariner High School graduate, Michigan St. University hockey, NHL with Hartford, Buffalo, Pittsburgh * Alice Peacock, folk singer * Robert W. Reif, Minnesota state legislator and physician * Elwyn "Doc" Romnes (1909–1984), former NHL player * Brad Stanius, Minnesota state legislator and mayor of White Bear Lake * David Tanabe, hockey player, Hill-Murray School, University of Wisconsin hockey, NHL's

Carolina Hurricanes The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Con ...

Phoenix Coyotes The Arizona Coyotes are an inactive professional ice hockey team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. They competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division (1996–1998, 2021–2024) and ...

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

Jacob Volkmann Jacob Joseph Volkmann (born September 5, 1980) is an American former mixed martial artist that competed in the Welterweight division. A professional MMA competitor from 2007 to 2016, Volkmann has formerly competed for the UFC, Bellator, and the ...

UFC The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. The larg ...

fighter and chiropractic * Donny Longendyke, Wrestler, two time state champion (2010, 2011) from WBL Area High School. Augsburg University: 3 time All-American (2015-107), 3 time Division III national finalist finishing as national champion in 2015 and first runner-up in both 2016 and 2017.

References

External links

City of White Bear Lake website

Explore White Bear - tourism site
*https://marketfestwbl.com {{Authority control Cities in Ramsey County, Minnesota Cities in Washington County, Minnesota Cities in Minnesota