Bear, Delaware

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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 codes 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.^{[citation needed]}

• 1 Geography
• 2 Demographics
• 3 Education
• 4 References

Geography

Bear is located at 39°37′13″N 75°41′5″W / 39.62028°N 75.68472°W / 39.62028; -75.68472 (39.620362, -75.684776)^[1].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.7 square miles (14.9 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census^[2] 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/sq mi (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.

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