Incorporation of the City of White Bear Lake

On February 18, 1881, the city of White Bear Lake was incorporated as a village by special law with a population 435. The village encompassed 2¾ square miles (including water).  In 1884, the residents reincorporated by a vote in order to allow the general village laws of the state to apply to them.  As early as May 28, 1883, a committee was appointed "to act with town authorities and the different syndicates owning property around the lake to devise and execute measures for the retaining and preserving the waters of White Bear Lake."  In 1892, the lot at Clark and 2nd was purchased for a "credible and spacious" village hall.  November 4, 1889, Mrs. Daniel Getty requested the organization of a public library before the village council. In 1892, the library was in a room in the Getty block.

The local paper The Lake Breeze, published by A.H.S. Perkins put out its first issue April 27, 1887. Perkins constantly played up the White Bear Lake.  In 1888 an anniversary issue of 10,000 copies was printed boasting of building reaching $100,000, business reaching $400,000, and real estate reaching $140,000 – all of which would be doubled during the coming year. There were hourly trains for $.35.  With a population growing beyond 1, 350 people, Perkins editorialized in an August 1892 issue of "the necessity of making White Bear something more than just a summer resort."    

The village continued to be popular as a fashionable resort until the turn of the century when a gradual change took place in American vacation trends.  Many of the famous hotels burned and were not rebuilt, while some were converted to other uses or remained empty. Several hotel sites were divided into lots for lakeshore summer homes.  Eventually, as cars and roads were improved, year-round homes replaced many of the summer cottages and the commuting trend began.

On October 11, 1921, the voters established a city under home rule charter. The first city election was a stormy one, with the votes for mayor between Peter Fournelle and Earl F. Jackson. Another election, intervention of the attorney general, interim appointments, and the Supreme Court were involved before Jackson was sworn in as Mayor. The City’s area then was 2 ¼ square miles including water with a population of 2,022.

The late 1920’s and early 1930’s brought dubious distinction to White Bear Lake area as a temporary hideout for gangland figures. Ma Barker, Pretty Boy Floyd, and Al Capone are all said to have sought refuge here.

In the 1950’s, the post-war building boom led to a growing need for water and sewer facilities in adjacent township areas, which resulted in annexation to the City.  These annexations expanded the City’s borders to include a 7-square mile area. The population also grew from 3,646 in 1950 to 12,849 in 1960.

A special census in 1965 measured the City’s population to be at 19,042.  This same year White Bear Lake was given the All-American City designation and awarded the Citizen Progress Award for its success in solving community issues. This city was one of 11 chosen for planning ahead to make their growth orderly. A complete city charter revision was approved by a vote of 5 to 1 on March 11, 1969.  

The original township of White Bear is still in existence, over 11-square miles in size. Three incorporated villages, North Oaks (July 1956), Vadnais Heights (July 1957), Gem Lake (March 1959) and the city of White Bear Lake (1881) have been carved out of the 36 square miles which originally comprised the township.