Bear
Bear, Delaware is the name given to a collection of neighborhoods and community centers primarily located in the 19702 and 19702 area codes. Bear is noted for US Route 40 and the area’s residents and shops all trace a linkage to the highway
that originates from the “split” in New Castle on its way south to Baltimore.
Bear began to take shape with the development and construction boom in the 1980s. Previously it was noted for its vast tracts of tillable farming. Today the Walther Farm survives and is one of the State’s “century farms” meaning 100 years of ownership
by a single family.
According to common legend, the name "Bear" originated from a tavern located along the old Route 40 roadway from Wilmington to the state capital of Dover.
The Bear zip codes and post office serve just over 17,000 residents in a little more than 6,000 households.