Lakeside, Colorado

{{short description|Town in Colorado, United States}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}

{{Infobox settlement

| official_name = Town of Lakeside, Colorado

| other_name =

| native_name =

| nickname =

| settlement_type = Statutory Town

| motto =

| image_skyline = LakesideTownHall.JPG

| imagesize = 250px

| image_caption = The municipal offices of the Town of Lakeside.

| image_map = File:Jefferson County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Lakeside Highlighted 0842495.svg

| mapsize = 250px

| map_caption = Location of Lakeside in Jefferson County, Colorado.

| pushpin_map =

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| coordinates = {{coord|39.7772|-105.0558|type:city_region:US-CO_source:GNIS-1669462|name=Town of Lakeside, Colorado}}

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = {{USA}}

| subdivision_type1 = State

| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Colorado|name=State of Colorado}}

| subdivision_type2 = County

| subdivision_name2 = Jefferson County{{cite web|url=http://www.dola.state.co.us/dlg/local_governments/municipalities.html |title=Active Colorado Municipalities |publisher=State of Colorado, Department of Local Affairs |access-date=November 30, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212060308/http://www.dola.state.co.us/dlg/local_governments/municipalities.html |archive-date=December 12, 2009 }}

| subdivision_type3 =

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| government_footnotes =

| government_type = Statutory Town

| leader_title =

| leader_name =

| leader_title1 =

| leader_name1 =

| established_title =

| established_date =

| established_title2 = Incorporated

| established_date2 = November 25, 1907{{cite web | url = http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html | title = Colorado Municipal Incorporations | publisher = State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives | date = December 1, 2004 | access-date = November 30, 2007}}

| established_title3 =

| established_date3 =

| unit_pref = Imperial

| area_footnotes = {{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_08.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 1, 2020}}

| area_total_sq_mi = 0.25

| area_land_sq_mi = 0.19

| area_water_sq_mi = 0.06

| area_total_km2 = 0.64

| area_land_km2 = 0.49

| area_water_km2 = 0.16

| elevation_footnotes =

| elevation_ft = 5364

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_footnotes = {{cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Lakeside_town,_Colorado?g=160XX00US0842495 |title=Lakeside town, Colorado |author=United States Census Bureau|date= |website= |publisher= |access-date=April 10, 2023 |quote=}}

| population_note =

| population_total = 16

| population_density_sq_mi = auto

| population_density_km2 = auto

| timezone = MST

| utc_offset = -7

| timezone_DST = MDT

| utc_offset_DST = -6

| postal_code_type = ZIP code

| postal_code = Denver CO 80212

| area_code = Both 303 and 720

| blank_name = FIPS code

| blank_info = {{FIPS|08|42495}}

| blank1_name = GNIS feature ID

| blank1_info = 2412865{{GNIS|2412865}}

| website =

| footnotes = {{center|The least populous Colorado municipality}}

}}

The Town of Lakeside is a Statutory Town in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 16 at the 2020 United States census, making Lakeside the least populous municipality in the State of Colorado. Lakeside is immediately west of the City and County of Denver, the most populous municipality in the state. The Alcott Post Office (ZIP Code 80212) serves Lakeside.{{cite web|date=December 14, 2006 |url=http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |title=ZIP Code Lookup |format=JavaScript/HTML |publisher=United States Postal Service |access-date=December 14, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104123722/http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown.jsp |archive-date=November 4, 2010 }}

The town's namesake lake is Lake Rhoda, which covers 20% of its total area. A year after its incorporation on November 12, 1907, the Lakeside Amusement Park, nicknamed "White City", opened on the eastern shores. Both town and park were founded by a syndicate led by prominent Denver brewer Adolph Zang, who endeavored to build the resort just across the county line from Denver, and incorporated to move beyond the reach of Denver liquor laws. A shopping mall, Lakeside Center, was built in 1956 on the southern shore, but fell into financial troubles due to lack of business around the turn of the century{{cite news |last=Arellano |first=Kristi |date=January 24, 2006 |title=Developer buys Lakeside mall |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2006/01/24/developer-buys-lakeside-mall/ |work=The Denver Post |location=Denver |access-date=September 4, 2020}} and was converted into a Walmart and strip mall circa 2010. The amusement park, shopping area, and lake occupy almost all of the tiny municipality. Residences are limited to a handful of houses in the southeast corner of the town occupied by employees of the amusement park.