Lakewood, Washington

Coordinates: 47°10′N 122°32′W / 47.167°N 122.533°W / 47.167; -122.533
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This article is about the city in Pierce County, Washington. For the smaller Snohomish County community, see North Lakewood, Washington. For the ghost town near Kalgoorlie in Australia, see Lakewood, Western Australia.

Lakewood
City
City of Lakewood
City of Lakewood
Location of Lakewood in Pierce County and Washington
Location of Lakewood in
Pierce County and Washington
Coordinates: 47°10′N 122°32′W / 47.167°N 122.533°W / 47.167; -122.533
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountyPierce
Settled1833
IncorporatedFebruary 28, 1996
Government
 • TypeCouncil–manager[1]
 • MayorJason Whalen[2]
 • City ManagerJohn Caulfield
 • Deputy MayorMary Moss[2]
Area
[3]
 • Total18.89 sq mi (48.93 km2)
 • Land17.06 sq mi (44.18 km2)
 • Water1.83 sq mi (4.74 km2)  9.39%
Elevation
[4]
262 ft (80 m)
Population
 (2020)[5]
 • Total63,612
 • Estimate 
(2022)[6]
62,572
 • RankUS: 619th
WA: 21st
 • Density3,667.0/sq mi (1,416.0/km2)
DemonymLakewoodian[7]
Time zoneUTC–8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC–7 (PDT)
ZIP codes
98439, 98498, 98499
Area code253
FIPS code53-38038
GNIS feature ID1512373[4]
Sales tax10.1%[8]
Websitecityoflakewood.us

Lakewood is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 63,612 at the 2020 census.[5]

History[edit]

Lakewood was officially incorporated as a city on February 28, 1996, on the same day as Edgewood. It immediately became the second largest city in Pierce County and among the largest in the state.[9] Three previous attempts to incorporate as a city had been rejected by voters in 1971, 1990, and 1994 before it was approved by a 20-point margin on March 14, 1995, within a smaller area.[10][11] Historical names include Tacoma/Lakewood Center and Lakes District[12] (this name was used by the U.S. Census in the 1970 and 1980 Census). Lakewood is home to the Clover Park School District, the Lakewood Water District, Fort Steilacoom Park and Western State Hospital, a regional state psychiatric hospital.[13] Thornewood Castle was built in the vicinity of Tacoma in the area that is now Lakewood.

A small community near Arlington in Snohomish County with the name Lakewood had used the name for their post office since 1909, which led to confusion between the two areas. The United States Postal Service suggested that the new city be renamed due to frequent mixups in mail delivery that required the two post offices to forward deliveries with a one-day delay.[14][15] The Snohomish County post office was renamed to North Lakewood in 1998 by the Postal Service due to the other community's unincorporated status.[16]

Geography[edit]

Lakewood is located at 47°10′N 122°32′W / 47.167°N 122.533°W / 47.167; -122.533 (47.164, −122.526).[17]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.95 square miles (49.08 km2), of which, 17.17 square miles (44.47 km2) is land and 1.78 square miles (4.61 km2) is water.[18]

There are several lakes within the city limits; the largest in area are American Lake, Lake Steilacoom, Gravelly Lake, Lake Louise, and Waughop Lake. The Waughop Lake is incorporated into the aforementioned Fort Steilacoom Park. A number of small creeks flow through Lakewood, some of which drain into nearby Puget Sound. The largest of these, Chambers Creek, flows from Lake Steilacoom to Chambers Bay between nearby University Place and Steilacoom.

The western terminus of State Route 512 is in Lakewood, at its intersection with Interstate 5. The proposed State Route 704 would be the only other state highway entering the city.

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
197048,195—
198054,53313.2%
199058,4127.1%
200058,211−0.3%
201058,163−0.1%
202063,6129.4%
2022 (est.)62,572[6]−1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[19]
2020 Census[5]

2010 census[edit]

As of the 2010 census, there were 58,163 people, 24,069 households, and 14,412 families living in the city. The population density was 3,387.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,307.9/km2). There were 26,548 housing units at an average density of 1,546.2 per square mile (597.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 59.3% White, 11.8% African American, 1.3% Native American, 9.0% Asian, 2.6% Pacific Islander, 7.3% from other races, and 8.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.3% of the population.

There were 24,069 households, of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.3% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.1% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.98.

The median age in the city was 36.6 years. 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.4% were from 25 to 44; 26.5% were from 45 to 64; and 13.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.

2000 census[edit]

As of the 2000 census, there were 58,211 people, 23,792 households, and 15,084 families living in the city. The population density was 3,401.3 people per square mile (1,313.6/km2). There were 25,396 housing units at an average density of 1,483.9 per square mile (573.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 64.82% White, 12.25% African American, 8.95% Asian, 1.84% Pacific Islander, 1.55% Native American, 3.55% from other races, and 7.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.49% of the population.

There were 23,792 households, out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.94.

The population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 93.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,422, and the median income for a family was $42,551. Males had a median income of $31,434 versus $26,653 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,569. About 12.5% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.5% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics[edit]

Police[edit]

The City of Lakewood contracted with the Pierce County Sheriff's Office for police services between 1996 and 2004. According to the City of Lakewood website, the Lakewood Police Department started independent police and patrol operations on November 1, 2004.

2009 shooting[edit]

Main article: 2009 Lakewood shooting

On the morning of November 29, 2009, four Lakewood Police Department officers were shot and killed at a coffee shop in Parkland by Maurice Clemmons, an ex-convict. All four officers had served with the department since its inception and died at the scene; two baristas and several customers in the shop were not injured.[20][21] Clemmons was shot and killed by a Seattle police officer two days later.[22] The shooting is believed to be the most deadly attack on law enforcement in the state of Washington, and the among the deadliest attacks on law enforcement in the United States.[23]

Firefighters[edit]

Lakewood is served by the West Pierce Fire Department (WPFD). The WPFD also serves University Place. The WPFD has 6 departments located in the two cities.[24]

Twin towns and sister cities[edit]

Education[edit]

The Clover Park School District, which includes most of the city,[25] operates all public schools within Lakewood. Private schools include St Frances Cabrini School, St Mary's Christian School, and Lakewood Lutheran School.

Lakewood is also home to Pierce College Fort Steilacoom and Clover Park Technical College.

Portions of Lakewood are in the Steilacoom Historical School District and Tacoma Public Schools.[25]

Economy[edit]

Lakewood's economy is highly dependent upon on the military bases in the area. It also boasts one of the few true International Districts in the South Sound along South Tacoma Way and Pacific Highway, with Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, Latino and other influences (the population of Lakewood's Tillicum neighborhood is nearly half non-English speaking[26]).

Media[edit]

Lakewood's news is primarily covered by The News Tribune (Tacoma), and sometimes by the media in Seattle. Earlier weekly newspapers for the community were the Lakewood Log (circa 1930s), Suburban Times (1960s–1982), Lakewood Press (1980s), and Lakewood Journal (1990s).

KLAY-AM radio provides Lakewood-specific talk radio. KVTI-FM, known as "I-91 FM", broadcast top 40 music from its Lakewood studio at Clover Park Technical College until 2010, when the college transferred management of the station to Washington State University's Northwest Public Radio who discontinued the locally produced programming in favor of a network feed from the University's Pullman campus. The Clover Park School District operated KCPQ (thus the call letters) until 1980, when the district sold the station to Kelly Broadcasting.

Lakewood receives Seattle area television and radio stations.

Notable people[edit]

Points of interest[edit]

Recognition[edit]

Lakewood and Pierce County were named among the 100 Best Places for Young People by America's Promise.[27]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ "City Manager – John Caulfield". City of Lakewood. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Lakewood City Council". City of Lakewood. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  3. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  4. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lakewood, Washington
  5. ^ a b c "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022". United States Census Bureau. January 4, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  7. ^ Voepel, Dan (May 16, 2007). "Lakewood shouldn't give Titus-Will an inch on signs". The News Tribune. Archived from the original on September 8, 2012. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  8. ^ "Lakewood (WA) sales tax rate". Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  9. ^ Eckart, Kim (February 29, 1996). "A city is born to the Lakewood family". The News Tribune. p. B1. Retrieved May 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Gonzalez, Victor M. (January 13, 1995). "Lakewood cityhood backers try again with smaller area". The News Tribune. pp. B1–B2. Retrieved May 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Eckart, Kim (February 28, 1996). "That's City of Lakewood". The News Tribune. p. A1. Retrieved May 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Core City: Lakewood". 2013 Regional Centers Monitoring Report. Puget Sound Regional Council. p. 37. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  13. ^ Answers to Questions Frequently Asked Western State Hospital Archived June 21, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ Eckart, Kim (November 7, 1996). "Confusion reigns with 2 Lakewoods". The News Tribune. p. A1. Retrieved May 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Reardon, Kate (November 18, 1996). "To Lakewood, or Lakewood?". The Everett Herald. p. A1. Retrieved May 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Card, Skip (November 15, 1998). "What's in a name? For City of Lakewood, it's mail". The News Tribune. p. B1. Retrieved May 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  18. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  19. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  20. ^ Carter, Mike; Clarridge, Christine (November 29, 2019). "A day that 'hurt your heart': 10 years ago, 4 Lakewood police officers were shot down". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  21. ^ Kershner, Jim (December 28, 2010). "Maurice Clemmons kills four Lakewood police officers in a coffeeshop near Tacoma on November 29, 2009". HistoryLink. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  22. ^ Sullivan, Jennifer; Mark Rahner; Jack Broom (December 1, 2009). "Lakewood police shooting suspect killed by Seattle police officer in South Seattle early this morning". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on December 4, 2009. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  23. ^ "4 Lakewood officers slain; hunt is on for gunman". The Seattle Times. November 29, 2009. Archived from the original on December 2, 2009. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
  24. ^ "West Pierce Fire & Rescue has six stations serving Lakewood and University Place". West Pierce Fire & Rescue. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  25. ^ a b 2020 Census – School District Reference Map: Pierce County, WA (PDF) (Map). United States Census Bureau. p. 2 (PDF p. 3/4). Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  26. ^ 2008 needs assessment report, Tillicum Community Center, accessed June 17, 2020
  27. ^ 100 Best Communities for Young People, Washington Archived July 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lakewood, Washington.
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