The city of White Bear Lake has a rich history that is full conflict. According to White Bear Township, the first inhabitants of White Bear Lake were Native Americans of the Dakota tribe. The Dakotas’ rivals, the Ojibwe, lived just east of White Bear Lake. Battles over land and resources occurred frequently between the tribes, and as a result, a treaty was put in place that forced Native Americans to give up their land to immigrants.
Native Americans were relocated from the land in the late 1800’s, but their influence on the area still exists today. The city name, White Bear Lake, is taken from the Dakota word “Mahto-mde” which means “Bear Lake.” (Did you notice that the word sounds very similar to the name of the neighboring city, Mahtomedi?) The Treaty brought the first wood frame home in White Bear Lake in 1858 called the Aubrey House. From there, settlers built homes and businesses using the great resources the land had to offer.
Though White Bear Lake has a complicated past, it has grown into a tightly knit community with a lot to offer.
This buzzing city is built on family-owned restaurants, repair shops, car dealerships and more. You will hardly find any chain businesses in White Bear because it is so full of local stores and eateries.
There are many restaurants with awesome patios set on the beautiful shores of White Bear Lake. A popular choice is Admiral D’s Waterfront Tavern (shown below).
Admiral D’s menu includes a variety of reasonably priced items spanning Caribbean Pork Tacos, Strawberry salad, various burger options, and more!
Another icon of White Bear Lake is Cup and Cone. This establishment has been serving delicious ice cream with daily rotating flavors every summer for over 40 years.
In addition to great local restaurants, White Bear Lake is bursting with outdoor activities and green space. There are twenty four public parks in White Bear as well as the Tamarack Nature Center, two golf courses, three beaches, and many walking and biking trails.
Other seasonal activities in White Bear Lake include going to the Pine Tree Apple Orchard and Marketfest!
The Pine Tree Apple Orchard offers strawberry picking in the summer, and pumpkin picking, a corn maze, and hay rides in the fall! They also sell a wide variety of apple products during apple season in their main barn. Items include (but definitely not limited to) apple pies, apple butter, apple cider, and apple turnovers! For many families in the area, going to the Pine Tree Apple Orchard is an annual tradition.
Marketfest in White Bear Lake is a summer event that occurs every Thursday evening from mid June to late July. The festival includes food trucks, street performers, arts&crafts, and local vendors. Did we mention that it is free to attend?
Have we piqued your interest in living in White Bear Lake? Here is some additional information that could help you out!
There are many reasons for families to choose White Bear Lake as their home. To start, over 50% of the people living in this suburb are married – that means a lot of other families to hang out with! Additionally, the crime rate in White Bear Lake is relatively low, and the schools are are great! In fact, Niche ranked the White Bear School district as above average in academics, and as one of the safest school districts in Minnesota and the USA.
Out of the 10,629 homes in White Bear, over 60 percent are single-family homes, with an median sales price of $222,957. As reported by Trulia, median single-family home sales price has increased by 3% in the last three months. More people are realizing that White Bear is the place to be!
If you want to live on the large lake that White Bear has to offer, you might have to spend a little more! Lake homes on White Bear Lake start at around $150,000 and reach well into the million dollar range.
If you enjoy sailing, golfing, eating at local restaurants, and knowing your neighbors, White Bear could be the town for you! Below are some quick facts about the neighborhood to help you out!
Neighborhood Statistics
We love White Bear Lake! Are you a resident, or even a possible future resident? Let us know what you think!
Neighborhood Resources
