Going north to the cabin used to mean packing up the car and making the long drive up to White Bear Lake. Of course that was over 100 years ago when White Bear Lake was a small-town, not the booming suburb of the Twin Cities like it is today. Located twenty minutes north of downtown St. Paul, residents of the White Bear Lake, White Bear Township, and the surrounding communities of Dellwood, Mahtomedi, Willernie, Birchwood, Gen Lake, Vadnais Heights, North Oaks, and Hugo still enjoy out-in-the-country character, with close-to-the-city convenience. The area boasts a myriad of recreational opportunities, many revolving around the waters of White Bear Lake. Housing in the city ranges from large and small historic homes along village streets to luxurious mansions encircling the lakeshore. All are within an easy commute to the Twin Cities and its bordering suburbs.  

History 

The first people to live in White Bear Lake are believed to have arrived almost 4,000 years ago. Remnants of these early residents were uncovered in nine burial mounds destroyed in the early twentieth century. These ancient civilizations came and went and were replaced by Native American tribes such as the Dakota and Ojibway. These tribes lived in the area until 1825 when the United States government ceded the land and opened it up to settlement. In 1858, the same year Minnesota became a state, the White Bear Lake Township became a governmental entity. One of the reasons the area became a city was because it was a popular vacation destination for city dwellers looking for summer escapes. The first official resident of the city, V.B. Barnum, was in fact a resort owner and helped start the trend. In 1922, White Bear Lake became incorporated as a city and saw its biggest growth during the post-World War II era.

Townships and Hamlets 

To visitors, White Bear Lake is all the land within a few miles of the lake. To residents, there are distinct lines and areas each with their own name and characteristics. Included in this list are the communities of Dellwood, Mahtomedi, Willernie, Birchwood, Gem Lake, Vadnais Heights,North Oaks and Hugo. Situated on the eastern shores of White Bear Lake, Mahtomedi is a city that boasts six other lakes, 125 acres of parks, and a growing industrial and commercial tax base. The city of Willernie is surrounded by Mahtomedi but serves as a retail center for both. With a population of only 568, Willernie was originally built to resemble an English village. Today, its narrow streets wind past small cottage-like homes. These cities work closely together on numerous projects and services, but still remain separate entities.

Parks and Recreation 

There are more than 160 acres of parkland in White Bear Lake spread over twenty-three different parks. Some are tucked away while others are found on the actual lake itself. The city boasts eleven skating rinks, public lake accesses and numerous facilities for a variety of activities at each park. The city also has a Sports Center where people can go to engage in recreational, instructional and competitive activities for racquetball, wallyball, figure skating and hockey.

Schools 

White Bear Lake Area School District #624 has eight elementary schools, two middle schools, and White Bear Lake High School, which is divided into two campuses. Students in the district enjoy the atmosphere of close-knit community complete with the learning opportunities of a major metro area. The district has maintained a reputation for providing excellent programs in early childhood education, K-12 education, and community education.

-Home Buyer's Resource Guide