Big Bear City, California

Big Bear City is an unincorporated community in San Bernardino County, California, United States along the east shore of Big Bear Lake and surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest. It is 27 miles (43 km) northeast of the city of San Bernardino, and immediately east of the incorporated city of Big Bear Lake. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Big Bear City as a census-designated place (CDP). Its population was 12,738 at the 2020 census. Big Bear City is mostly residential, with smaller houses and cabins laid out in typical square block fashion. Big Bear is on the Pacific Crest Trail.
Standard Air Lines of Los Angeles began a regular airline service to the community in the summer of 1929. Its post office was founded as Van Duesen in 1927 but changed its name to Big Bear City six months later. The Big Bear City Post Office opened in 1928 and still operates.
Despite the name, Big Bear City is not an incorporated city, and should not be confused with the adjacent incorporated city of Big Bear Lake.
Big Bear got its name due to the large number of grizzly bears that once roamed the area. Although grizzly bears were exterminated in the valley at the turn of the 20th century, there are still thousands of black bears found in Big Bear Valley.
The first humans to inhabit Big Bear Valley were the Serrano Indians, who trace their beginnings to Bear Valley. Serrano means mountaineers, or those of the Sierras. The Serrano people that settled much of the San Bernardino Mountains, called themselves Yuhaviatam, or: people of the pines.
It is estimated that the Serrano natives first settled in Big Bear between 1,500 and 2,000 years ago. The Serranos had both winter and summer settlements throughout the area. While their winter village was located in Lucerne Valley, they relocated to villages in the San Bernardino mountains during summer, as the altitude provided cooler temperatures. Villages were often located by rivers and lakes, however, mountain hunting camps were also established on higher elevations. Besides hunting, they also consumed pinyon nuts, mesquite beans, screw-beans, juniper berries and seeds. One of four major Serrano ethnographic sites was located in Big Bear City, called: Kayah-pia-t. Big Bear, and Lucerne Valley clans, both belonged to the same tribe: the Coyote Pervetum.
Settling here because of the region's many natural resources, they harvested acorns and herbs, but also hunted deer, rabbits, and other wildlife. A number of mortar holes can be seen in Big Bear City; these holes made by the Serranos, were utilized to ground acorns into meals. The oldest known remains of a human settlement in Big Bear Valley can be seen at the Indian Grinding Rocks in Big Bear City, called: The Eye of God, which is a sacred site to the Serrano people. The Serrano's creation narrative took place at The Eye of God, which was known as Hatauva.
The earliest known contact with European settlers in Big Bear occurred when Spanish Father Francisco Garcés arrived during his 1774-1776 expedition. Another source states, that the first contact happened in 1845 during a punitive expedition against the Native-Americans.
For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Big Bear City as a census-designated place (CDP). According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 32.0 square miles (83 km), 99.95% of it land, and 0.05% of it water.
The nearby ski resorts consist of Snow Summit and Bear Mountain.
Most of the town and the business district are centered on Big Bear Boulevard. Its limits are defined on the west by Division Road and on the east by the left turn at Highway 38, which goes to Redlands and Highway 18 which goes south to San Bernardino and north to Lucerne Valley. Though its south boundary is loosely defined by the residential boundary, the north side is defined by North Shore Road. The east-west postal divider of Big Bear City is Green Way Drive. It is here that Highway 18 (Big Bear Boulevard) turns north and crosses over to North Shore Drive heading east toward Lucerne Valley, and Highway 38 coming from the east turns north to North Shore and heads west to Big Bear Dam in the city of Big Bear Lake, California.
Sugarloaf is a large residential area that lies to the south of Big Bear City.
The 2020 United States census reported that Big Bear City had a population of 12,738. The population density was 397.9 inhabitants per square mile (153.6/km). The racial makeup of Big Bear City was 73.9% White, 0.9% African American, 1.5% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 9.4% from other races, and 12.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.6% of the population.
The census reported that 99.8% of the population lived in households, 0.2% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.
There were 5,523 households, out of which 22.3% included children under the age of 18, 43.5% were married-couple households, 7.6% were cohabiting couple households, 25.9% had a female householder with no partner present, and 23.0% had a male householder with no partner present. 31.3% of households were one person, and 14.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.30. There were 3,363 families (60.9% of all households).
The age distribution was 18.8% under the age of 18, 6.5% aged 18 to 24, 22.7% aged 25 to 44, 29.3% aged 45 to 64, and 22.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.9 males.
There were 12,086 housing units at an average density of 377.5 units per square mile (145.8 units/km), of which 5,523 (45.7%) were occupied. Of these, 71.8% were owner-occupied, and 28.2% were occupied by renters.
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 73.5% of the population were born in California, 20.7% were born in a different state, 0.9% were born in a US territory or abroad to an American parent, and 4.9% were born outside US jurisdiction. Of those aged 5 or older, 85.0% spoke only English at home, 10.4% spoke Spanish, 2.6% spoke other Indo-European languages, 0.8% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages, and 1.2% spoke other languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 91.8% were high school graduates and 28.4% had a bachelor's degree.
The median household income was $72,457, and the per capita income was $38,030. About 11.0% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line.
In the California State Legislature, Big Bear City is in the 19th Senate District, represented by Republican Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, and in the 34th Assembly District, represented by Republican Tom Lackey.
In the United States House of Representatives, Big Bear City is in California's 23rd congressional district, represented by Republican Jay Obernolte.
Big Bear City Airport is a general aviation airport in Big Bear City. There are no commercial air services to this airport, although at least two airlines, including Trans World Airlines, have served Big Bear in the past. This airport may also be used for medical evacuations, and as a base for forest-fighting aircraft when there are fires close by. The airport is very popular with local general aviation pilots.
It is in the Bear Valley Unified School District.
Mammals such as squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, coyotes and skunks are commonly sighted, while black bears, mountain lions, bobcats, gray foxes and mule deer are more rarely observed.
Potentially dangerous animals include mountain lions, black bears and coyotes. A mountain lion responsible for eating a dog was killed by the sheriff in Big Bear City in 2010.
Although grizzly bears were previously common, they became extinct from Big Bear Valley in 1906.