| Lakewood, Washington | |||
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| — City — | |||
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 Pierce County and Washington |
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| Coordinates: 47°10′0″N 122°31′34″W / 47.166667°N 122.52611°WCoordinates: 47°10′0″N 122°31′34″W / 47.166667°N 122.52611°W | |||
| 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 (2000) | |||
| - Total | 58,211 | ||
| - Density | 3,401.3/sq mi (1,313.6/km2) | ||
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) | ||
| ZIP code | 98498, 98499 | ||
| Area code(s) | 253 | ||
| FIPS code | 53-38038[2] | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1512373[3] | ||
| Website | http://www.cityoflakewood.us/ | ||
Lakewood is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 58,211 at the 2000 census.
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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.[4]
Lakewood is located at 47°9′50″N 122°31′34″W / 47.16389°N 122.52611°W (47.163920, -122.526008).[5]
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. The city is considering annexing the two installations, in part to use its zoning laws to maintain clear space around them.[6]
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.[7]
As of the census[2] 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/sq mi (573.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 64.82% White, 12.25% African American, 1.55% Native American, 8.95% Asian, 1.84% Pacific Islander, 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.
The city was incorporated in 1996.
The City of Lakewood contracted with the Pierce County Sheriff's Office for police services between 1996 and 2004. The city created the Lakewood Police Department 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.[8] Lakewood appears in many episodes of the television program COPS, which airs on FOX and is syndicated on other stations.
On November 29, 2009, four Lakewood Police Department officers were shot and killed. Police belive Maurice Clemmons[9] walked into the Parkland Forza Coffee shop at around 8:15 a.m. After approaching the counter, he turned and started shooting.[10] 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.[11] Two baristas and several customers in the shop were not injured.[10] Clemmons was shot and killed by a Seattle police officer two days later.[12]
These are the only Lakewood Police Department officers who have died in the line of duty.[11]
The Clover Park School District operates all public schools within Lakewood.
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.[6]
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 was sold to Kelly Broadcasting.
Lakewood receives Seattle area television and radio stations.
Lakewood and Pierce County were named among the 100 Best Places for Young People by America's Promise.[13]
Lakewood's sister city is Okinawa City, Japan.[14]
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   | Answers to Questions Frequently Asked Western State Hospital - Answers to Questions Frequently Asked Western State Hospital - DSHS/MHD |
| | KLAY-AM radio - KLAY 1180 AM Talk Radio | Lakewood/Tacoma |
| | America's Promise - Americas Promise Alliance - 100 Best Communities |
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