"Origin of name
The city is named after it's largest lake, White Bear Lake; the lake's name allegedly comes from Native Americans who previously inhabited the region. Anglo-European writers have delivered more than one version of the legends surrounding the origin of the name. From the book "Indian Legends of Minnesota" by Mrs. Carl T. Thayer, J.R. Osgood & Co., 1883, pp 583–593, "It is said that a Sioux maiden fell in love with a Chippewa brave. She, the daughter of the Chief, on learning that her father planned war against the Chippewa, ran to her lover and warned him. The brave went alone into the Sioux village to ask for peace and the hand of the maiden. Before the Chief would agree, the Chippewa would have to do a brave deed.
The lovers usually met on Manitou Island. One day, as the brave approached the Island, anticipating a meeting with his beloved, he saw, to his horror, a great white bear attacking her. He dashed to her rescue. Freed, she ran to get help from her father and the other Sioux. Returning, they saw the brave sink his knife into the bear. But too late, they both fell to the ground dead. Slowly, as they watched, the spirits of the brave and the bear rose from their prone bodies. It is said that even today, as night falls, the spirits of the bear and the brave wander the Island eternally in search of each other."
In the version quoted by Mark Twain in "Life on the Mississippi" 1883, p 399, "…the warrior, with one plunge of the blade of his knife, opened the crimson sluices of death, and the dying bear relaxed his hold. "That night, there was no more sleep for the band or the lovers, and as the young and the old danced about the carcass of the dead monster, the gallant warrior was presented with another plume, and ere another moon had set he had a living treasure added to his heart. Their children for many years played upon the skin of the white bear – from which the lake derives its name, and the maiden and the brave remembered long the fearful scene and rescue that made them one, for Kis-se-me-pa and Ka-go-ga could never forget their fearful encounter with the huge monster that came so near sending them to the happy hunting ground."
"...is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, founded in 1849[1] As of 2000, the population was 511,035. Its county seat is St. Paul,[2] which is also Minnesota's state capital. The county is named for Alexander Ramsey (W), the first governor of the Minnesota Territory. It is the smallest county in Minnesota in terms of area."
Travel
MPR News: White Bear Lake Driving Tour
"White Bear Lake resident Cindy Werner takes us on a driving tour of her town. If you want to tell the story of your own Minnesota town, feel free to post a video response. -Anna Weggel"rd6DFZEswa
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