Lakewood, Washington

Lakewood is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 63,612 at the 2020 census.[4]

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
Official logo of Lakewood
Location of Lakewood in Pierce County and Washington
Location of Lakewood in
Pierce County and Washington
Lakewood is located in the United States
Lakewood
Lakewood
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 47°10′N 122°32′W
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountyPierce
Settled1833
Incorporated (city)February 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
262 ft (80 m)
Population
 (2020)[4]
 • Total63,612
 • Estimate 
(2021)[5]
63,331
 • RankUS: 607th
WA: 20th
 • Density3,400/sq mi (1,300/km2)
DemonymLakewoodian[6]
Time zoneUTC-8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
98439, 98498, 98499
Area code253
FIPS code53-38038
GNIS feature ID1512373[7]
Websitecityoflakewood.us

History

Lakewood was officially incorporated on February 28, 1996. 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 the second-largest city in Pierce County and is home to the Clover Park School District, the Lakewood Water District, Fort Steilacoom Park and Western State Hospital, a regional state psychiatric hospital.[8]

Thornewood Castle was built in the vicinity of Tacoma in the area that is now Lakewood.

Geography

Lakewood is located at 47°10′N 122°32′W (47.164, −122.526).[9]

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.[10]

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
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
197048,195—
198054,53313.2%
199058,4127.1%
200058,211−0.3%
201058,163−0.1%
202063,6129.4%
2021 (est.)63,331[5]−0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
2020 Census[4]

2010 census

As of the census[12] of 2010, 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

As of the census of 2000, 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

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
Main article: 2009 Lakewood shooting

On November 29, 2009, four LPD officers were shot and killed. Maurice Clemmons[13] walked into the Parkland Forza Coffee shop at around 8:15 a.m. After approaching the counter, he turned and started shooting.[14] Dead at the scene were Sergeant Mark Renninger, 39, and officers Tina Griswold, 40, Ronald Owens, 37, and Greg Richards, 42. Each of them had served with the department since its inception.[15] Two baristas and several customers in the shop were not injured.[14] Clemmons was shot and killed by a Seattle police officer two days later.[16]

The shooting is believed to be the most deadly attack on law enforcement in the state of Washington, and the second deadliest attack on law enforcement in the United States (the Dallas attack on July 7, 2016 had 5 officers killed and 2 wounded) since the March 21, 2009 shootings that left four Oakland, California police officers dead.[17] The four were the first Lakewood police officers to be killed in the line of duty since the department's establishment in 2004.

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.[18]

Twin towns and sister cities

Education

The Clover Park School District, which includes most of the city limits,[19] 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.[19]

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[20]).

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

Points of interest

Recognition

Lakewood and Pierce County were named among the 100 Best Places for Young People by America's Promise.[21]

Notes
  1. "City Manager – John Caulfield". City of Lakewood. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  2. "Lakewood City Council". City of Lakewood. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  3. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  4. "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  5. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021". United States Census Bureau. June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  6. 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.
  7. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  8. Answers to Questions Frequently Asked Western State Hospital Archived June 21, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  9. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  10. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  11. "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  13. McNerthney, Casey; Grygiel, Chris; Nicolosi, Michelle (November 30, 2009). "Wounded suspect in officers' slaying on the run". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
  14. Pierce County Department of Emergency Management (November 29, 2009). "Press Release: Pierce County Sheriff's Department RE: Murder of four Lakewood Police Officers". Retrieved November 29, 2009.
  15. "City of Lakewood Identifies Slain Police Officers". November 29, 2009. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
  16. 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.
  17. "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.
  18. "West Pierce Fire & Rescue has six stations serving Lakewood and University Place". West Pierce Fire & Rescue. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  19. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Pierce County, WA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. p. 2 (PDF p. 3/4). Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  20. 2008 needs assessment report, Tillicum Community Center, accessed June 17, 2020
  21. 100 Best Communities for Young People, Washington Archived July 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
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