White Bear Lake, Minnesota
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| White Bear Lake, Minnesota | |
| Nickname: city of lakes and legends | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| Counties | Ramsey, Washington |
| Area | |
| - Total | 8.7 sq mi (22.5 km²) |
| - Land | 8.2 sq mi (21.2 km²) |
| - Water | 0.5 sq mi (1.3 km²) |
| Elevation | 942 ft (287 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 24,325 |
| - Density | 2,974.3/sq mi (1,148.4/km²) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 55110 |
| Area code(s) | 651 |
| FIPS code | 27-69970[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0654077[2] |
| Website: www.whitebearlake.org | |
White Bear Lake is a city in Ramsey and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 24,325 at the 2000 census. White Bear Lake lies primarily in Ramsey County.
White Bear Lake is also a lake in Minnesota, one of the largest lakes in the Minneapolis St. Paul metropolitan area. It is named White Bear Lake because of its association to an Ojibwe legend regarding the appearance of a white bear.[3]
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[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.7 square miles (22.5 km²), of which, 8.2 square miles (21.2 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (5.87%) is water.
U.S. Highway 61, County Highway 96, State Highway 96, Interstate Highway 35E, and Interstate Highway 694 are five of the main routes in the city.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 24,325 people, 9,618 households, and 6,646 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,974.3 people per square mile (1,148.2/km²). There were 9,813 housing units at an average density of 1,199.9/sq mi (463.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 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 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 married couples 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 for the city was $24,338. About 3.3% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.5% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] History
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 Mariner High School merged in 1984 to form White Bear Lake Area High School. The two buildings have a combined total of around 3,000 students. North Campus (White Bear Lake High School) holds classes for freshman and sophomores while South Campus (the former Mariner High School) holds classes for juniors and seniors.
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 1987. The story was recounted in Barry Siegel's true crime novel A Death in White Bear Lake.
In 1952, the Lakeshore Players Community Theater was organized. Currently, Lakeshore Players resides in a former church building constructed in 1889, at 4820 Stewart Avenue.
The White Bear Center for the Arts was officially organized on May 16, 1968 and currently resides in the old armory building at 2228 Fourth Street.
[edit] High School Athletic Program History
White Bear High School won the Minnesota State Class AA Football Championship in 1976. The team posted a 12-0 record and finished the season with a 14-13 overtime win over Cloquet. The team held opponents to an average of less than one touchdown per game and ended the year as the only undefeated large school football team in Minnesota.
In 1982, White Bear Lake Mariner High School took second place in the Minnesota State High School Hockey Championships. This was prior to the change in the state hockey playoff format. The team was coached by Tom Simpson whose motto was "Hustle, Desire, Discipline."
The Athletic Program is known for its back to back 26-0 basketball seasons in 84-85, creating a 52 game winning streak led by the charismatic "General" of the hardwood Jim Galvin.
Paul Mork, former football and baseball coach, led the Bears for more than 20 years and is known for his "Paw Power" chants. The usual chant was "1-2-3, Paw Power" but on those special nights, such as Homecoming vs. Stillwater, he would pull out the "1-2-3----4...PAW POWER!" After a 0-9 season in 1990, Mork stepped down as head football coach. In recent years he has been making a comeback push as head coach of the Irondale girls’ basketball team.
[edit] Business
Smarte Carte, a company that provides baggage carts to many airports around the world, is headquartered in White Bear Lake, just off 35E.
[edit] Middle Schools
Sunrise Park Middle School, Central Middle School
[edit] Notable natives and/or residents
- Tony Benshoof - luger
- Jackson Bond - actor
- Brian Bonin - 1996 Hobey Baker Award winner.
- James Brunzell - wrestler
- Moose Goheen - hockey player
- Steve Janaszak - hockey player
- Bradley Joseph - recording artist
- Erik "E-Town" Leirmo - famous lifelong resident
- Joe Miller (baseball) - baseball player
- Alice Peacock - folk singer
- Elwyn "Doc" Romnes - hockey player
- Gerry Spiess - sailor
- David Tanabe - hockey player
- Ryan Carter - 2007 Stanley Cup winner.
- Jesse Ventura - politician
[edit] References
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ History of White Bear Lake
[edit] External links
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