Lakewood, Washington
History
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. 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. Historical names include Tacoma/Lakewood Center and Lakes District (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. 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. The Snohomish County post office was renamed to North Lakewood in 1998 by the Postal Service due to the other community's unincorporated status.
Geography
Lakewood is located at 47°10′N 122°32′W / 47.167°N 122.533°W (47.164, −122.526).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.95 square miles (49.08 km), of which, 17.17 square miles (44.47 km) is land and 1.78 square miles (4.61 km) is water.
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
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 48,195 | — | |
| 1980 | 54,533 | 13.2% | |
| 1990 | 58,412 | 7.1% | |
| 2000 | 58,211 | −0.3% | |
| 2010 | 58,163 | −0.1% | |
| 2020 | 63,612 | 9.4% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 62,572 | −1.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census | |||
2010 census
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/km). There were 26,548 housing units at an average density of 1,546.2 per square mile (597.0/km). 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
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/km). There were 25,396 housing units at an average density of 1,483.9 per square mile (573.1/km). 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
Police
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
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. Clemmons was shot and killed by a Seattle police officer two days later. The shooting is believed to be the most deadly attack on law enforcement in the state of Washington, and among the deadliest attacks on law enforcement in the United States.
Firefighters
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.
Twin towns and sister cities
Education
The Clover Park School District, which includes most of the city, 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.
Economy
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).
Media
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
- Zach Banner, professional American football player
- Llewellyn Chilson, U.S. Army soldier
- Edgar N. Eisenhower, attorney and brother of U.S. president Dwight D. Eisenhower
- William Hardin Harrison, U.S. Army General and first mayor of Lakewood
- Adre-Anna Jackson, unsolved death
- Jermaine Kearse, professional American football player
- Craig Lancaster, novelist
- James S. Russell, U.S. Navy Admiral
- Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State wide receiver
Points of interest
- Fort Steilacoom
- Lakewold Gardens
- Lakewood Towne Center
- Lakewood Playhouse
- Thornewood
- Western State Hospital
Recognition
Lakewood and Pierce County were named among the 100 Best Places for Young People by America's Promise.