Lakewood, Washington#Education

Lakewood was officially incorporated as a city on February 28, 1996, on the same day as Edgewood. It immediately became the second largest city in Pierce County and among the largest in the state.{{cite news |last=Eckart |first=Kim |date=February 29, 1996 |title=A city is born to the Lakewood family |page=B1 |work=The News Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-a-city-is-born-to-the-l/147404579/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=May 14, 2024}} Three previous attempts to incorporate as a city had been rejected by voters in 1971, 1990, and 1994 before it was approved by a 20-point margin on March 14, 1995, within a smaller area.{{cite news |last=Gonzalez |first=Victor M. |date=January 13, 1995 |title=Lakewood cityhood backers try again with smaller area |pages=B1–B2 |work=The News Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-lakewood-cityhood-backe/147404970/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=May 14, 2024}}{{cite news |last=Eckart |first=Kim |date=February 28, 1996 |title=That's City of Lakewood |page=A1 |work=The News Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-thats-city-of-lakewood/147404710/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=May 14, 2024}} Historical names include Tacoma/Lakewood Center and Lakes District{{cite web |title=Core City: Lakewood |page=37 |url=https://www.psrc.org/media/3764 |work=2013 Regional Centers Monitoring Report |publisher=Puget Sound Regional Council |accessdate=May 14, 2024}} (this name was used by the U.S. Census in the 1970 and 1980 Census). Lakewood is home to the Clover Park School District, the Lakewood Water District, Fort Steilacoom Park and Western State Hospital, a regional state psychiatric hospital.[http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/mentalhealth/wshfaqs.shtml Answers to Questions Frequently Asked Western State Hospital] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621112107/http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/Mentalhealth/wshfaqs.shtml |date=June 21, 2007}} Thornewood Castle was built in the vicinity of Tacoma in the area that is now Lakewood.

A small community near Arlington in Snohomish County with the name Lakewood had used the name for their post office since 1909, which led to confusion between the two areas. The United States Postal Service suggested that the new city be renamed due to frequent mixups in mail delivery that required the two post offices to forward deliveries with a one-day delay.{{cite news |last=Eckart |first=Kim |date=November 7, 1996 |title=Confusion reigns with 2 Lakewoods |page=A1 |work=The News Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-confusion-reigns-with-2/98622729/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=May 14, 2024}}{{cite news |last=Reardon |first=Kate |date=November 18, 1996 |title=To Lakewood, or Lakewood? |page=A1 |work=The Everett Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-to-lakewood-or-lakewoo/147403918/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=May 14, 2024}} The Snohomish County post office was renamed to North Lakewood in 1998 by the Postal Service due to the other community's unincorporated status.{{cite news |last=Card |first=Skip |date=November 15, 1998 |title=What's in a name? For City of Lakewood, it's mail |page=B1 |work=The News Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-whats-in-a-name-for-c/147404251/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=May 14, 2024}}

In 1997, the Seafirst Bank robbery happened in Lakewood.{{Cite web |date=2014-01-09 |title=The biggest armed bank robbery in American history began shortly after closing |url=https://www.seattleweekly.com/news/the-biggest-armed-bank-robbery-in-american-history-began-shortly-after-closing/ |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Seattle Weekly |language=en-US}}

On November 29, 2009, four Lakewood Police Department officers were shot and killed at a coffee shop in Parkland by ex-convict Maurice Clemmons. All four officers had served with the department since its inception in 2004 and died at the scene; two baristas and several customers in the shop were not injured.{{cite news |last1=Carter |first1=Mike |last2=Clarridge |first2=Christine |date=November 29, 2019 |title=A day that 'hurt your heart': 10 years ago, 4 Lakewood police officers were shot down |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/a-day-that-hurt-your-heart-10-years-ago-4-lakewood-police-officers-were-shot-down/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=May 14, 2024}}{{cite web |last=Kershner |first=Jim |date=December 28, 2010 |title=Maurice Clemmons kills four Lakewood police officers in a coffeeshop near Tacoma on November 29, 2009. |url=https://historylink.org/File/9677 |work=HistoryLink |accessdate=May 14, 2024}} Clemmons was shot and killed by a Seattle police officer two days later.{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010393433_webarrest01m.html |title=Lakewood police shooting suspect killed by Seattle police officer in South Seattle early this morning |last=Sullivan |first=Jennifer |author2=Mark Rahner |author3=Jack Broom |date=December 1, 2009 |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=December 1, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091204124651/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010393433_webarrest01m.html |archive-date= December 4, 2009 }} The shooting is believed to be the most deadly attack on law enforcement in the state of Washington, and among the deadliest attacks on law enforcement in the United States.{{cite news|title=4 Lakewood officers slain; hunt is on for gunman |date=November 29, 2009|newspaper=The Seattle Times|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010382767_webfourdead29m.html|access-date=November 29, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091202064239/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010382767_webfourdead29m.html|archive-date=December 2, 2009}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|18.95|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which, {{convert|17.17|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|1.78|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=December 19, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=July 2, 2012}}

There are several lakes within the city limits. The largest is American Lake, at {{convert|1,091|acre|ha}} with an average depth of {{convert|53|ft|m}}, followed by Lake Steilacoom, Gravelly Lake, Lake Louise, and Waughop Lake. The Waughop Lake is incorporated into the aforementioned Fort Steilacoom Park.{{cite map |date=December 22, 2023 |title=Streets, City of Lakewood & Surrounding Area |url=https://city-of-lakewood-gis-cityoflakewood.hub.arcgis.com/documents/21ebd4275f274ee18a7e3f8e07511425/about |publisher=City of Lakewood |accessdate=March 12, 2025}} 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.

{{as of|2023}}, Lakewood has a total of 30,662 full-time jobs, of which over 9,000 are in the healthcare sector. The largest employer is St. Clare Hospital, with 598 employees, followed by Aero Precision and the Korean Women's Association.{{cite web |date=September 2023 |title=Lakewood, WA Fact Sheet |url=https://cityoflakewood.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Lakewood_Fact_Sheet_september2023.pdf |publisher=City of Lakewood |accessdate=March 12, 2025}} The city's economy is highly dependent{{cn|date=March 2025}} on its proximity to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, a major military installation with 55,000 total employees. The city had $1.65 billion in taxable retail sales in 2022.

{{US Census population

|1970= 48195

|1980= 54533

|1990= 58412

|2000= 58211

|2010= 58163

|2020= 63612

|estyear=2023

|estimate=62303

|estref={{cite web |date=May 2024 |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places of 20,000 or More, Ranked by July 1, 2023 Population: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2023/cities/totals/SUB-IP-EST2023-ANNRNK.xlsx |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=December 23, 2024}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=November 25, 2021}}
2020 Census

}}

Lakewood 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[http://www.tillicumcommunitycenter.com/ 2008 needs assessment report], Tillicum Community Center, accessed June 17, 2020).

As of the 2010 census, there were 58,163 people, 24,069 households, and 14,412 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|3387.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 26,548 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1546.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. 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.

As of the 2000 census, 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.

Local sites include:

• Fort Steilacoom, a historic army fort.
• Lakewold Gardens, an estate garden.
• Lakewood Towne Center, a shopping center.
• Lakewood Playhouse, a theater founded in 1938.
• Thornewood, a historic estate.

Lakewood is served by the Pierce County Library System, which has operated a public library in the area since it was annexed in 1996.{{cite web |title=Library History |url=https://mypcls.org/about-us/library-history/ |publisher=Pierce County Library System |accessdate=March 12, 2025}} An earlier library had been established in the community in February 1947 at a hobby shop in the Clover Park Shopping Center.{{cite news |last=Felker |first=Helen |date=August 4, 1963 |title=Lakes Residents Express Pride In New Tenzler Branch Library |page=D11 |work=The News Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-lakes-residents-express/167844821/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=March 12, 2025}}{{Cite news |last=Covert |first=Nancy |date=2013 |title=Lakewood Library Celebrates Half a Century |pages=1–3 |url=https://www.lakewoodhistorical.org/media/dynamic/docs/Summer_2013.pdf |work=Prairie Gazette |publisher=Lakewood Historical Society |access-date=March 12, 2025}} It moved between various buildings, including the basement of a local school, while funds were collected by the Friends of the Lakes District Library for a permanent building. The Flora B. Tenzler Memorial Library opened on August 1, 1963, with donations from the Tenzler Foundation to cover the cost of construction and furnishings.

The Tenzler Library was expanded in 1974 with additional funds from the foundation and renamed to the Lakewood Library in 1982.{{cite web |title=Lakewood Pierce County Library Timeline |url=https://mypcls.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/lakewood-library-building.pdf |publisher=Pierce County Library System |accessdate=March 12, 2025}} The Pierce County Library System closed the branch in June 2022 after several building inspections had found substantial roof damage that would cost an estimated $22 million to repair. The Lakewood location had been one of the most-used in Pierce County prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |last=Peterson |first=Josephine |date=May 11, 2022 |title=Well-used Pierce County library to close due to leaky roof. Where will it relocate? |url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article261322032.html |work=The News Tribune |accessdate=March 12, 2025}} An interim Lakewood location opened in September 2024 after two years of lease negotiations; it cost $9.5 million to construct and includes {{convert|75,000|sqft|sqm}} of interior space. A permanent replacement is planned to be rebuilt on the same site as the original Lakewood Library at an unspecified date.{{cite news |last=Most |first=Becca |date=September 13, 2024 |title=After more than two years and $9.5 million, new Pierce County library opens this week |url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article292069825.html |work=The News Tribune |accessdate=March 12, 2025}}

The City of Lakewood contracted with the Pierce County Sheriff's Office for police services between 1996 and 2004. Independent police and patrol operations under the Lakewood Police Department began on November 1, 2004. {{cite web |title=Lakewood Police Department |url=https://cityoflakewood.us/police-homepage/ |website=City of Lakewood |publisher=Lakewood, Washington |access-date=1 June 2025}}

Lakewood is served by West Pierce Fire and Rescue (WPFR). WPFR was formed by merging Lakewood Fire District 2 into University Place Fire District 3 in 2011. WPFR has 6 stations with 5 located in Lakewood and 1 located in University Place. WPFR also serves the Town of Steilacoom through a contract for services, however, service is provided to the Town via the stations located in Lakewood.{{Cite web |title=West Pierce Fire & Rescue has six stations serving Lakewood and University Place |url=https://www.westpierce.org/locations/ |access-date=September 29, 2022 |website=West Pierce Fire & Rescue |language=en-US}}

The Clover Park School District, which includes most of the city,{{cite map|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st53_wa/schooldistrict_maps/c53053_pierce/DC20SD_C53053.pdf|title=2020 Census – School District Reference Map: Pierce County, WA|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 20, 2022|page=2 (PDF p. 3/4)}} 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's Fort Steilacoom branch campus and Clover Park Technical College.

Portions of Lakewood are in the Steilacoom Historical School District and Tacoma Public Schools.

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.

The western terminus of State Route 512 is in Lakewood, at its intersection with Interstate 5.{{cite WSDOT map |year=2014 |inset=Puget Sound |accessdate=March 12, 2025}} A highway across Joint Base Lewis–McChord, to be part of State Route 704, was planned in the 2000s to connect with Interstate 5 in Lakewood. It was postponed and later cancelled due to high costs and issues in environmental review.{{cite news |last=Peterson |first=Josephine |date=May 25, 2022 |title=Once considered Pierce County's 'missing link,' Cross-Base Highway largely dead |url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article261523227.html |work=The News Tribune |accessdate=March 12, 2025}}{{cite web |title=SR 704 – Cross-Base Highway Project |url=https://www.piercecountywa.gov/3068/SR-704---Cross-Base-Highway-Project |publisher=Pierce County |accessdate=March 12, 2025}}

Lakewood is served by Pierce Transit, a public transit operator that serves the county and is headquartered in the city.{{cite news |date=March 1, 2011 |title=Pierce Transit on schedule after explosion at maintenance facility |url=https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/pierce-transit-on-schedule-after-explosion-at-maintenance-facility/281-331877957 |publisher=KING 5 News |accessdate=March 12, 2025}} Lakewood station is served by Pierce Transit and Sound Transit Express buses as well as the Sounder commuter rail system. It opened in 2012 as the southern terminus of the Sounder S Line, which runs north through Tacoma and the Green River Valley to Seattle.{{cite news |last=Doughton |first=Sandi |authorlink=Sandi Doughton |date=October 7, 2012 |title=Lakewood area celebrates arrival of Sounder service |page=B2 |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2019363197_sounder07m.html |work=The Seattle Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520121715/http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2019363197_sounder07m.html |archive-date=May 20, 2013 |accessdate=March 12, 2025}}

Electricity service within the city is provided by three entities. The east side of Lakewood is served by Lakeview Light and Power, a nonprofit cooperative that primarily uses hydroelectricity from the federal Bonneville Power Administration.{{cite web |date=December 2018 |title=Washington State Electric Utility Resource Planning, 2018 Report |page=83 |url=https://www.commerce.wa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Commerce-Electric-Utility-Resource-Planning.pdf |publisher=Washington State Department of Commerce |accessdate=March 12, 2025}} Tacoma Power, a public utility based in Tacoma with its own hydroelectric facilities, serves the north side of the city. Puget Sound Energy, a private company that uses a mix of natural gas, coal, wind, and hydroelectricity, serves the western side of the city and is the sole provider in Lakewood of natural gas for heating.{{cite web |date=July 2021 |title=Energy & Climate Change Chapter |pages=134–138 |url=https://cityoflakewood.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/070621-Energy-and-Climate-Change-Chapter.pdf |work=2021 Comprehensive Plan Update |publisher=City of Lakewood Community & Economic Development Department |accessdate=March 12, 2025}}{{cite web |date=September 16, 2024 |title=Lakewood Comprehensive Plan |page=14{{hyphen}}2 |url=https://cityoflakewood.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/091724-CompPlan-v.5.0-CLEAN-adopted-by-CC.pdf |publisher=City of Lakewood |accessdate=March 12, 2025}} The Lakewood Water District provides tap water to 17,680 connected customers in the city and surrounding areas, as well as neighboring Steilacoom. The independent water district has 31 groundwater wells and a capacity of {{convert|27|e6USgal}}. Lakewood's sanitary sewer and waste treatment system is maintained by Pierce County Public Works and Utilities, while the city government controls and treats stormwater.{{cite web |title=Stormwater and Lake Management |url=https://cityoflakewood.us/stormwater-and-lake-management/ |publisher=City of Lakewood |accessdate=March 12, 2025}}

Lakewood is the home of St. Clare Hospital, a general hospital that includes a Level IV trauma center and other services.{{cite web |date=July 2024 |title=WA Department of Health Trauma Designated Services |url=https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-02/530101.pdf |publisher=Washington State Department of Health |accessdate=March 12, 2025}} It originally opened in 1961 as Lakewood General Hospital and was gradually expanded to a 105-bed facility within the following 25 years.{{cite news |last=Workman |first=Dave |date=July 24, 1984 |title=Lakewood General to seek approval for new hospital |page=B1 |work=The News Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-lakewood-general-to-see/167865481/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=March 12, 2025}}{{cite news |date=October 26, 1984 |title=Hearing on hospital expansion plan Nov. 8 |page=B1 |work=The News Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-hearing-on-hospital-exp/167865522/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=March 12, 2025}} A new, eight-story hospital building with 86 private beds opened in September 1989 at a cost of $18 million.{{cite news |last=Lue |first=Chin |date=September 13, 1989 |title=Lakewood Hospital moves to new building, location |page=E2 |work=The News Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-lakewood-hospital-moves/167865556/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=March 12, 2025}} Lakewood General was acquired by non-profit Catholic healthcare system Franciscan Health Services in July 1990 and renamed to St. Clare Hospital.{{cite news |last=McClain |first=Rhonda |date=February 20, 1991 |title=St. Clare purchaser gets better financing |page=E1 |work=The News Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-st-clare-purchaser-get/167865686/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=March 12, 2025}}

The federal government's Veterans Health Administration operates the VA American Lake Medical Center, which serves as an auxiliary facility for the VA Puget Sound Medical Center in Seattle.{{cite news |last=Ashton |first=Adam |date=February 8, 2015 |title=VA hospital in Lakewood targeted for construction money |url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/military/article26252725.html |work=The News Tribune |accessdate=March 12, 2025}} It originally opened in 1924 as a veteran's hospital on a portion of Fort Lewis.{{cite web |title=VA Puget Sound health care: History |url=https://www.va.gov/puget-sound-health-care/about-us/history/ |publisher=U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs |accessdate=March 12, 2025}} The U.S. military also operates Madigan Army Medical Center on Joint Base Lewis–McChord, one of the largest military hospitals in the United States.{{cite news |date=September 1, 2014 |title=Comparing Military Hospitals |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/09/01/us/comparing-military-hospitals.html |work=The New York Times |accessdate=March 12, 2025}}{{cite web |title=About Us: Madigan Army Medical Center |url=https://madigan.tricare.mil/About-Us |publisher=Defense Health Agency |accessdate=March 12, 2025}} The Washington state government operates Western State Hospital, a psychiatric hospital with 745 beds on the site of Fort Steilacoom in Lakewood.{{cite news |last=Pian Chan |first=Sharon |date=October 5, 2009 |title=Western State Hospital cemetery’s unmarked graves are named |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/western-state-hospital-cemeterys-unmarked-graves-are-named/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=March 12, 2025}}{{cite news |last=Ramakrishnan |first=Jayati |date=October 17, 2024 |title=New Western State Hospital building under construction, will add 350 beds |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/mental-health/new-western-state-hospital-building-under-construction-will-add-350-beds/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=March 12, 2025}}

• Zach Banner, professional American football player
• Llewellyn Chilson, U.S. Army soldier
• Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State wide receiver
• Edgar N. Eisenhower, attorney and brother of U.S. president Dwight D. Eisenhower
• William Hardin Harrison, U.S. Army General and first mayor of Lakewood
• Adre-Anna Jackson, unsolved death
• Jermaine Kearse, professional American football player
• Craig Lancaster, novelist
• James S. Russell, U.S. Navy Admiral

• {{Flagicon|Philippines}} Bauang, La Union, Philippines{{cite web |title=Washington's Sister Cities Relationships |url=https://www.ltgov.wa.gov/washington-sister-cities |publisher=Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Washington |accessdate=March 12, 2025}}
• {{flagicon|China}} Danzhou, China (friendship city)
• {{Flagicon|South Korea}} Gimhae, South Korea (since 2022; upgraded from friendship city){{cite press release |date=December 8, 2022 |title=Lakewood, Gimhae City, South Korea establish 'Sister City' partnership |url=https://cityoflakewood.us/lakewood-gimhae-city-south-korea-establish-sister-city-partnership/ |publisher=City of Lakewood |accessdate=March 12, 2025}}
• {{Flagicon|Japan}} Okinawa, Japan

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Lakewood, Washington}}

• [https://www.cityoflakewood.us/ City of Lakewood official site]

{{Pierce County, Washington}}

{{Washington}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in the Seattle metropolitan area

Category:Cities in Washington (state)

Category:Former census-designated places in Washington (state)

Category:Cities in Pierce County, Washington

Category:Populated places established in 1833

Category:1833 establishments in the British Empire