White Bear Lake is a city located in Ramsey County, Minnesota. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 24,325. The city also extends into Washington County.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.5 km2 (8.7 mi2). 21.2 km2 (8.2 mi2) of it is land and 1.3 km2 (0.5 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 5.87% water.
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 24,325 people, 9,618 households, and 6,646 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,148.2/km2 (2,974.3/mi2). There are 9,813 housing units at an average density of 463.2/km2 (1,199.9/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 95.31% White, 1.08% African American, 0.37% Native American, 1.54% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races. 1.75% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 9,618 households out of which 32.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% are married couples living together, 10.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% are non-families. 25.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.49 and the average family size is 2.99.
In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 87.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $52,934, and the median income for a family is $60,196. Males have a median income of $41,699 versus $31,797 for females. The per capita income for the city is $24,338. 4.4% of the population and 3.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 6.5% of those under the age of 18 and 5.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Some say that White Bear Lake was the object of writer F Scott Fitzgerald's Winter Dreams, as he describes life in Black Bear Lake, Minnesota. What is not in doubt is that White Bear Lake became a sort of de facto gangster haven during the Prohibition era. Those gangsters in Chicago who felt the need to get out of town until "things cooled off," would frequent White Bear Lake, a fact that is not lost on today's Chamber of Commerce who tout this as a reason to visit.
White Bear Lake High School and White Bear Mariner High School combined in the 1980s to form White Bear Lake Area High School or WBLAHS. There are two campuses. The North Campus, formerly WBLHS, educates freshmen and sophomores, while the South Campus, formerly Mariner HS, holds classes for juniors and seniors. The varsity basketball team won Minnesota state titles in 1984 and 1985, posting identical 26-0 records in both seasons, and beating Minneapolis North High School in both finals. Math teacher and varsity basketball coach Jim Galvin, who had a bald spot on the top of his head, much like a medieval friar, approved the distribution of paper "bald spots" for WBL faithful who donned them as part of their fan gear. Coach Galvin painted "Go Bears" inside his bald spot to show his school spirit during the tournaments. The fifty-two game win streak came to and end in the first game of the 1986 season with a loss to conference rival Woodbury HS. A perennial powerhouse in hockey, WBLAHS has never won a first-round game in the State High School Hockey Tournament either as WBL HS or its current iteration, a streak that as of a loss in the first round of the 2005 tournament stood at 0-17. WBLAHS did take the consolation championship in 2005. Mariner HS did advance to the 1982 State Hockey Championship game where they were beaten by Edina, 6-0.
Famous citizens include Jesse Ventura, Hockey Hall of Fame star Moose Goheen and Mr. Hockey and Hobey Baker award winner Brian Bonin.
Source:
WhiteBearLakeMinnesota.com
HOTELS • REAL ESTATE • JOBS