Bear, Delaware
Encyclopedia
Bear is a census-designated place
(CDP) in New Castle County
, Delaware
, United States
. The population was 17,593 at the 2000 census
.
Originally a small crossroads in a rural area south of Wilmington
, the area supported small farms growing mainly corn and cattle. In the late 1980s and 1990s Bear became a popular location for the construction of sprawling housing developments and shopping center along US Route 40. Bear is not an incorporated municipality or strictly delineated area in the county, but instead a general reference to the collection of communities in the US ZIP code
s 19701-19702.
According to common legend, the name "Bear" originated from a tavern located along the roadway from Wilmington to Dover, Delaware
(at the intersection now formed by US 40 and State Route 7), whose sign was decorated with the image of a large bear.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 5.7 square miles (14.8 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 17,593 people, 6,027 households, and 4,544 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 3,063.4 people per square mile (1,183.4/km²). There were 6,265 housing units at an average density of 1,090.9 per square mile (421.4/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 66.91% White, 26.79% African American, 0.22% Native American, 2.03% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.78% from other races
, and 2.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.50% of the population.
There were 6,027 households out of which 46.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples
living together, 18.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.30.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 33.0% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 36.7% from 25 to 44, 17.7% from 45 to 64, and 4.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $53,240, and the median income for a family was $57,509. Males had a median income of $40,115 versus $30,231 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $20,715. About 4.3% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.
Colonial School District
, Christina School District
, and Appoquinimink School District
, which also serves Middletown
.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in New Castle County
New Castle County, Delaware
New Castle County is the northernmost of the three counties of the U.S. state of Delaware. As of 2010 its population was 538,479, an increase of 7.6% over the previous decade. The county seat is Wilmington. The center of population of Delaware is located in New Castle County, in the town of...
, Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 17,593 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
.
Originally a small crossroads in a rural area south of Wilmington
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
, the area supported small farms growing mainly corn and cattle. In the late 1980s and 1990s Bear became a popular location for the construction of sprawling housing developments and shopping center along US Route 40. Bear is not an incorporated municipality or strictly delineated area in the county, but instead a general reference to the collection of communities in the US ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
s 19701-19702.
According to common legend, the name "Bear" originated from a tavern located along the roadway from Wilmington to Dover, Delaware
Dover, Delaware
The city of Dover is the capital and second largest city in the U.S. state of Delaware. It is also the county seat of Kent County, and the principal city of the Dover, Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Kent County. It is located on the St. Jones River in the Delaware...
(at the intersection now formed by US 40 and State Route 7), whose sign was decorated with the image of a large bear.
Geography
Bear is located at 39°37′13"N 75°41′5"W (39.620362, -75.684776).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 5.7 square miles (14.8 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 17,593 people, 6,027 households, and 4,544 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,063.4 people per square mile (1,183.4/km²). There were 6,265 housing units at an average density of 1,090.9 per square mile (421.4/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 66.91% White, 26.79% African American, 0.22% Native American, 2.03% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.78% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.50% of the population.
There were 6,027 households out of which 46.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 18.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.30.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 33.0% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 36.7% from 25 to 44, 17.7% from 45 to 64, and 4.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $53,240, and the median income for a family was $57,509. Males had a median income of $40,115 versus $30,231 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $20,715. About 4.3% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Education for Bear is provided by three public school districts and numerous private schools. The public districts are:Colonial School District
Colonial School District (Delaware)
The Colonial School District is a public school district in New Castle Hundred, Delaware. The current superintendent is George Meney, and the district offices are located at 318 East Basin Road, in New Castle, Delaware.-Middle schools:*Calvin R...
, Christina School District
Christina School District
The Christina School District is a public school district located in Newark, Delaware. It is the largest public school system in Delaware.- Schools :High Schools: Christiana High School, , and Newark High School.Middle Schools: , , and...
, and Appoquinimink School District
Appoquinimink School District
The Appoquinimink School District is a public school district in southern New Castle County, Delaware. The district office is located in the Odessa Park Building, 223 South Fifth Street, in Odessa, Delaware, with John L. Burrows as the current superintendent. Former superintendent Tony Marchio...
, which also serves Middletown
Middletown, Delaware
Middletown is a town in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the town is 18,871.-Geography:Middletown is located at with an elevation of ....
.