Bear is an unincorporated, suburban community and census-designated place in New Castle County, Delaware.

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 developmentsand shopping center along US Route 40.

Lums Pond State Park is built around the largest freshwater pond in Delaware. The park features excellent fishing, sports facilities, hiking trails and more on its 1790 acres on the north side of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. Covering 200 acres, Lums Pond itself offers a sandy beach for sunbathing (swimming is not allowed), and boat rentals provide water-bound recreation in the summer months. A boat launching ramp and two piers allow easy access to the water.

Housing Cost

The community offers quality housing at an affordable price with nicely-sized yards for people of all ages.

Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $206,700

Demographics

Population 17,593 people. Bear covers 5.74 square miles. It sits at an elevation of 71 feet above sea level.

Zip codes: 19701

Weather

Bear, DE climate is warm during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 70's and very cold during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 30's.

The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 86.00 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 23.70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Temperature variations between night and day tend to be fairly limited during summer with a difference that can reach 19 degrees Fahrenheit, and fairly limited during winter with an average difference of 16 degrees Fahrenheit.

The annual average precipitation at Bear is 42.81 Inches. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is July with an average rainfall of 4.28 Inches.

Information provided by idcide.com and city data.com