Lakewood, Washington

Lakewood, Washington
—  City  —

Logo
Location of Lakewood in
Pierce County and Washington
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Washington
County Pierce
Settled 1833
Incorporated (city) February 28, 1996
Government
 • Mayor Doug Richardson[1]
 • City Manager Andrew Neiditz
 • Deputy Mayor Don Anderson[1]
Area
 • Total 49.1 sq mi (49.1 km2)
 • Land 44.3 sq mi (44.3 km2)
 • Water 4.8 sq mi (4.8 km2)  9.8%
Elevation 262 ft (80 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 58,163
 • Density 3,401.3/sq mi (1,313.6/km2)
 • Demonym LakewoodianUNIQ5fffefbc700c0fc5-ref-00,634E98-QINU
Time zone PST (UTC-8)
 • Summer (DST) PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP code 98439, 98498, 98499
Area code(s) 253
FIPS code 53-38038[3]
GNIS feature ID 1512373[4]
Website http://www.cityoflakewood.us/

Lakewood is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 58,163 at the 2010 census.

Contents

History

Lakewood was officially incorporated on February 28, 1996. Historical names include Lakewood Center and Lakes District (this name was used by the U.S. Census in the 1970 and 1980 Census). Lakewood is a major suburb of Tacoma and is home to Western State Hospital, a regional state psychiatric hospital.[5]

Geography

Lakewood is located at (47.163920, -122.526008).[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.0 square miles (49.1 km²), of which 17.1 square miles (44.3 km²) is land and 1.9 square miles (4.8 km²) (9.81%) 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. 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.

Lakewood shares its eastern boundary with McChord Air Force Base and Fort Lewis, now known as Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) since these two cities have annexed the two installations, in part to use its zoning laws to maintain clear space around them. Lakewood is the host community to Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) and the lead agency for producing the JBLM Growth Coordination Plan. The Army population at JBLM has doubled over the last 10 years(17,000 to 34,000); including the Air Force, the total uniformed military population is 40,000. JBLM is the third largest employer in Washington behind Boeing and the State[7]

In 2006, an informal survey by The News Tribune found that 36% of respondents, more than for any other single area of the 21 listed, believed Lakewood to be the most difficult area of Pierce County to navigate.[8]

Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1970 48,195
1980 54,533 13.2%
1990 58,412 7.1%
2000 58,211 −0.3%
2010 58,163 −0.1%
source:[9][10][11]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 58,211 people, 23,792 households, and 15,084 families residing 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 is 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 age 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

The city was incorporated in 1996.

Police

The City of Lakewood contracted with the Pierce County Sheriff's Office for police services between 1996 and 2004. The city created the LPD in 2004. According to the City of Lakewood website, The Lakewood Police Department started independent police and patrol operations on November 1, 2004. The department employs 119 people including 98 commissioned officers.[12] The Pierce County Sheriff's Office appeared in many episodes of the television program COPS when they patrolled Lakewood.

Officers killed in the line of duty

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 Sgt. 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]

These are the only LPD officers who have died in the line of duty.[15]

Education

The Clover Park School District operates all public schools within Lakewood.

Lakewood is also home to Pierce College Fort Steilacoom, Clover Park Technical College, and Covenant Bible Seminary.

Economy

Lakewood's economy is highly dependent upon the two neighboring military bases, (Fort Lewis, and McChord Air Force Base) which employ more than 34,000 people with a net impact of $2.2 billion.[7]

Media

Lakewood's news is primarily covered by The Suburban Times, a daily (Monday-Friday) online publication available by email edition or on the Internet. occasional coverage is provided 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", broadcasts top 40 music from its Lakewood studio at Clover Park Technical College. 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.

Points of interest

Recognition

Lakewood and Pierce County were named among the 100 Best Places for Young People by America's Promise.[17]

Notes

  1. ^ a b Tucker, Rob (2008-01-08). "New mayor for Lakewood". The News Tribune. http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/248607.html. Retrieved 2008-03-05. 
  2. ^ Voepel, Dan (2007-05-16). "Lakewood shouldn't give Titus-Will an inch on signs". The News Tribune. http://www.thenewstribune.com/2007/05/16/63399/lakewood-shouldnt-give-titus-will.html. Retrieved 2011-04-18. 
  3. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  4. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  5. ^ Answers to Questions Frequently Asked Western State Hospital
  6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
  7. ^ a b "Lakewood again considers annexing military bases", The News Tribune, Jan. 25, 2007.
  8. ^ Informal News Tribune Poll - Most Difficult Areas of Pierce County to Navigate. The News Tribune. Accessed February 24, 2006.
  9. ^ "CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING (1790-2000)". U.S. Census Bureau. http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/decennial/index.html. Retrieved 2010-07-17. 
  10. ^ Figures from 1970 to 1990 were enumerated prior to incorporation.
  11. ^ Census area returned as Lakes District in 1970 & 1980.
  12. ^ "Lakewood Police Department". http://police.cityoflakewood.us/. Retrieved 29 November 2009. 
  13. ^ McNerthney, Casey; Grygiel, Chris; Nicolosi, Michelle (2009-11-30). "Wounded suspect in officers' slaying on the run". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. http://www.seattlepi.com/local/412727_shooting29.html. Retrieved 2009-11-30. 
  14. ^ a b Pierce County Department of Emergency Management (2009-11-29). "Press Release: Pierce County Sheriff's Department RE: Murder of four Lakewood Police Officers". http://columbia.co.pierce.wa.us/crisiscom/pr578.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-29. 
  15. ^ a b "City of Lakewood Identifies Slain Police Officers". 2009-11-29. http://columbia.co.pierce.wa.us/crisiscom/pr589.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-29. 
  16. ^ Sullivan, Jennifer; Mark Rahner, Jack Broom (1 December 2009). "Lakewood police shooting suspect killed by Seattle police officer in South Seattle early this morning". The Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010393433_webarrest01m.html. Retrieved 1 December 2009. 
  17. ^ 100 Best Communities for Young People, Washington

External links