Lakewood, Colorado

Infobox Settlement
official_name = City of Lakewood, Colorado
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settlement_type = City
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map_caption = Location in

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map_caption1 = Location of Colorado in the United States
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = USA
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = flag|Colorado|name=State of Colorado
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Jefferson Countycite web | url = http://www.dola.state.co.us/dlg/local_governments/municipalities.html | title = Active Colorado Municipalities | format = HTML | publisher = State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs | accessdate = 2007-12-07]
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government_type = Home Rule Municipality
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Bob Murphy
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established_title = Founded
established_date = 1889
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date2 = 1969cite web | url = http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html | title = Colorado Municipal Incorporations | format = HTML | publisher = State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives | date = 2004-12-01 | accessdate = 2007-09-02]
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unit_pref = Imperial
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area_total_km2 = 110.0
area_land_km2 = 107.7
area_water_km2 = 2.3
area_total_sq_mi = 42.5
area_land_sq_mi = 41.6
area_water_sq_mi = 0.9
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population_as_of = 2000
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population_total = 144126
population_density_km2 = 1338.0
population_density_sq_mi = 3465.3
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timezone = MST
utc_offset = -7
timezone_DST = MDT
utc_offset_DST = -6
latd = 39 |latm = 42 |lats = 23 |latNS = N
longd = 105 |longm = 6 |longs = 10 |longEW = W
elevation_footnotes =GR|3
elevation_m = 1682
elevation_ft = 5480
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = Denver 80214-80215, 80226-80228, 80232, 80235-80236 Golden 80401 Littleton 80123
area_code = Both 303 and 720
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 08-43000
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = [http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:0181620 0181620]
blank2_name = Highways
blank2_info = I-70, US 6, US 40, US 285, SH 8, SH 95, SH 121, SH 391, SH 470
website = [http://www.ci.lakewood.co.us/ City of Lakewood]
footnotes =
Fourth most populous Colorado city

The City of Lakewood is a Home Rule Municipality that is the most populous city in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Lakewood is the fourth most populous city in the State of Colorado and the 164th most populous city in the United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that in 2005 the population of the City of Lakewood was 140,671 (164th most populous U.S. city),cite web | date = June 20 2006 | url = http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2005-01.csv | title = Table 1: Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places Over 100,000, Ranked by July 1, 2005 Population: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005 | format = CSV | work = 2005 Population Estimates | publisher = U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division |accessmonthday = December 13 | accessyear = 2006] the population of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area was 2,359,994 (22nd most populous MSA),cite web | date = June 21 2006 | url = http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metropop/2005/cbsa-04-fmt.csv | title = Rankings for Metropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005 | format = CSV | work = 2005 Population Estimates | publisher = U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division | accessmonthday = December 13 | accessyear = 2006] the population of the Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical Area was 2,869,377 (15th most populous CSA),cite web | date = June 21 2006 | url = http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metropop/2005/cbsa-06-fmt.csv | title = Annual Estimates of the Population of Combined Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005 | format = CSV | work = 2005 Population Estimates | publisher = U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division | accessmonthday = December 13 | accessyear = 2006] and the population of the Front Range Urban Corridor was 4,013,055.

The City of Lakewood was incorporated in 1969. At the time of incorporation the city population was already over 90,000, making Lakewood one of the largest cities, at the time of original incorporation, in the history of the United States.

The urban/suburban development of the community known as Lakewood was begun in 1889 by Charles Welch and W.A.H. Loveland, who platted a 13-block area along Colfax Avenue west of Denver in eastern Jefferson County. Loveland, the former president of the Colorado Central Railroad, retired to the new community of Lakewood after many years of living in nearby Golden.

Lakewood also houses the prestigious Lakewood High School, ranked number one in the state by Newsweek, and the only International Baccalaureate school in Jefferson County. Lakewood is also home to Colorado Christian University.

Geography

Lakewood is located at coor dms|39|42|23|N|105|6|10|W|city.GR|1

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 42.5 square miles (110.0 km²), of which, 41.6 square miles (107.7 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it (2.05%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 144,126 people, 60,531 households, and 36,500 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,465.3 people per square mile (1,338.0/km²). There were 62,422 housing units at an average density of 1,500.8/sq mi (579.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.15% White, 1.48% African American, 1.11% Native American, 2.72% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 4.88% from other races, and 2.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.54% of the population.

There were 60,531 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $48,109, and the median income for a family was $57,171. Males had a median income of $39,800 versus $31,128 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,575. About 4.8% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.5% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

Municipal government

Until 1969, the area known as Lakewood had no municipal government, relying instead on several water districts, several fire districts, and the government of Jefferson County. However, the community had already existed for about 80 years.

Lakewood maintains a council/manager form of government. Citizens elect a City Council consisting of the Mayor, who is elected at-large, and 10 City Council members, two from each of the city's five geographical wards. The mayor and the council members assert the policies for the operation of the city government.

Mayor: Bob Murphy

Ward 1: Councilmember Vicki Stack and Councilmember Karen Kellen

Ward 2: Councilmember Debbie Koop and Councilmember Cindy Baroway

Ward 3: Councilmember Sue King and Councilmember Ed Peterson

Ward 4: Councilmember Doug Anderson and Councilmember Adam Paul

Ward 5: Councilmember Diana Allen and Tom Quinn.

tate representation

Almost the entirety of the City of Lakewood falls into Colorado House District 26. Lakewood is represented in the state House by Rep. Andy Kerr.

ister cities

Lakewood has four sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:
*flagicon|United Kingdom Chester, United Kingdom
*flagicon|United Kingdom Portsmouth, United Kingdom also a Friendship City
*flagicon|Germany Stade, Germany
*flagicon|Australia Sutherland Shire, Australia

Economy

Lakewood's economy is diverse while the largest employers are government. The Denver Federal Center employs about 6,200 people and The Jefferson County R-1 school district employs 3,930. Gambro, a medical devices manufacturer, employs 1,654 people.cite web | url = http://www.lakewood-colorado.org/business_climate/employers.asp | title = "Employment in Lakewood for Selected Businesses with 250 Employees or More" | publisher = The City of Lakewood | accessdate = 2007-06-04]

Culture and contemporary life

While Lakewood did not have a traditional downtown area, the Villa Italia Mall housed a large concentration of retail space. As the mall went into decline the Lakewood City Council developed a plan to demolish the Villa Italia Mall and replace it with a new development called Belmar. Belmar is a modern downtown area with a diverse mix of residential, retail and cultural establishments.

Landmarks

Landmarks and historical points of interest include:

*Belmar is a new modern downtown with a mix of retail and residential buildings that replaced the old Villa Italia Mall. Belmar is home to The Laboratory of Art and Ideas at Belmar.

*Casa Bonita, a local Mexican restaurant in Lakewood, where a South Park episode took place.

*Denver Federal Center is the largest concentration of Federal agencies outside of Washington, DC.

*Lakewood Cultural Center features a theater, gallery space, and art classrooms.

*Lakewood Heritage Center is a museum with several historic buildings and is located near Kountze Lake which formerly housed the Belmar Mansion.

ee also

*Colorado municipalities
*Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area
*Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical Area
*Front Range Urban Corridor
*Jefferson County, Colorado
*State of Colorado

References

External links

* [http://www.ci.lakewood.co.us/ City of Lakewood website]
** [http://www.dot.state.co.us/App_DTD_DataAccess/Downloads/CityMaps/Lakewood.pdf CDOT map of the City of Lakewood]
** [http://www.lakewood.org/index.cfm?&include=/citycouncil/councilcontact.cfm/ Government Listings and Contact Information]
** [http://www.lakewood.org/index.cfm?&include=/Culture/heritagecenter.cfm/ Lakewood Heritage Center]
* [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7723397/site/newsweek/page/2/] (Newsweek Numbers)
* [http://www.belmarcolorado.com/ Belmar]