Legend says a Sioux hunter killed a white bear on Manitou Island. The spirit of that bear still lives there. Welcome to White Bear Lake. This lake gave our city its name.
White Bear Lake has a rich history. The Dakota and Ojibwe Indians first used this area. They hunted and harvested here. Later, the US government bought the land. This opened it for European-American settlement.
Pioneers came for the rich land. They also wanted abundant game and scenic lakes. In 1858, Minnesota became a state. That year, settlers started White Bear Township. It covered 36 square miles.
Word spread about the area’s beauty. White Bear Lake grew into a resort town. Visitors came from all over the Mississippi River. Steamboats brought them upriver. Trains then took them to White Bear Lake.
Resorts and hotels popped up along the shore. Restaurants, theaters, and stores opened downtown. They catered to the many visitors.
In 1868, the railroad arrived. It connected to Lake Superior and the Mississippi. A three-hour horse ride from St. Paul became a twenty-minute train trip. This brought new business and industry. The rail line reached Duluth in 1871.
The resort era faded after 1900. Farming and lumbering became important industries. The community grew steadily. In 1921, leaders made White Bear Lake an official city.
The city was small when it started. It covered just over two square miles. The population was about 2,000. The 1950s and 1960s saw rapid growth. By 1960, the city was seven square miles. About 13,000 people lived here.
The city expanded roads and utilities in the 1970s and 1980s. This opened land for development. An aggressive economic program boosted the tax base. It also created jobs. Several national companies moved here. Downtown redevelopment improved the area.
White Bear Lake has continued to grow. Today, about 24,000 people live here. They enjoy big-city advantages. Yet, the city still feels like a small town.
F. Scott Fitzgerald may have used White Bear Lake in his book. The book is called Winter Dreams. The town in the book is Black Bear Lake. Fitzgerald spent summers on the lake.
During Prohibition, gangsters hid out here. Ma Barker, Pretty Boy Floyd, and Al Capone may have visited White Bear Lake.
The city celebrates Manitou Days. This honors the spirit of the white bear. Nine Indian mounds were once on the lake’s northwest shore. The largest was near Shady Lane and Lake Avenue. It was destroyed and 17 skeletons were found.
Land sold for $1.25 per acre in 1847. By 1860, all township land was purchased. V.B. Barnum was the first settler. He bought land in 1852. He built the first resort hotel, later called the Leip House.
In 1883, a committee worked to preserve the lake’s water. Ice was harvested for Winter Carnival ice castles. People feared the lake would run out of water. But the lake always replenished itself.
Mark Twain mentioned White Bear Lake in his book Life on the Mississippi. The city has always been known for its beauty and recreation.
Today, White Bear Lake offers many activities. In summer, enjoy Marketfest every Thursday. It features food trucks and games. In winter, try ice fishing and snowmobiling. Restaurants and shops are open year-round. White Bear Lake offers something for everyone. It is a place of legends and community.