Overview
With a population of just over 158,000 people and a median age of 38.8 years old, Lakewood is the fifth largest city in Colorado. Located between the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and 7 miles from downtown Denver, the 100+ parks and miles of trails located within city limits, easy access to public transportation and a multitude of job opportunities makes this Denver suburb a hugely desirable place to visit and settle down.
The climate is relatively mild with over 200 days of sunshine per year and average temperatures in the winter hovering around 40 degrees with a few days in summer reaching 90+ degrees.
The average household income as of 2020 is approximately $83,800 with a 96.4% employment rate. The average monthly rental price is $1,450 and the median home value is $419,000.
Green Mountain has been providing high quality landscaping in Lakewood for over 30 years.
History
Development began in 1889 with an area encompassing 13 blocks along Colfax Avenue west of Denver. For many decades, Lakewood did not have a traditional downtown area and only started expanding by the 1950’s to include grocery stores, gas stations, motels, restaurants, banks and movie theatres.
Prior to 1969, it did not have its own municipal government and was instead governed by Jefferson County, which also provided services from several water and fire districts. By the time Lakewood became incorporated, the population had already reached 90,000 and had been named Jefferson City.
The name was changed soon thereafter to Lakewood to avoid any confusion with communities in Colorado and Missouri with similar sounding names.
Education
Schools in Lakewood belong to the Jefferson County (JEFFCO) School District. Here is a list of nearby schools:
Elementary Schools
- Devinny Elementary
- Emory Elementary
- Molholm Elementary
- Lasley Elementary
- Stober Elementary
- Bear Creek K-8
- Foothills Elementary
- Belmar School of Integrated Arts
- Rooney Ranch Elementary
- Dennison Elementary
- Glennon Heights Elementary
- Patterson International School
- Eiber Elementary
- South Lakewood Elementary
- Green Gables Elementary
- Deane Elementary
- Slater Elementary
- Rose Stein Elementary
- Westgate Elementary
- Hutchinson Elementary
- Kendrick Lakes Elementary
- Vivian Elementary
Middle Schools
- Dunstan Middle School
- Creighton Middle School
- Carmody Middle School
- Fletcher Middle School
High Schools
- Lakewood High School
- Alameda International Junior/Senior High School
- Bear Creek High School
- Green Mountain High School
- Longview High School(Private School)
- Brady High School(Private School)
- McLain Community High School(Private School)
- GOAL High School(Private School)
Housing in Lakewood
Single Family Homes
There is a mixture of an urban and suburban feel here where a majority of the city’s residents own their homes. Home prices range from $300,000 on upward.
Apartments
There are many apartment complexes that offer desirable amenities such as swimming pools, fitness centers and clubhouses. Here is a list of some with location and contact information:
Arts & Culture
Lakewood Cultural Center
Considered to be the artistic hub of Lakewood, the Cultural Center provides a wide array of events and activities throughout the year such as art classes, camps and performances. There is a 320-seat theater, art galleries, meeting & event spaces and dance studios available for visitors. Located at 470 S. Allison Parkway.
Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park
Consists of 15 historic buildings which house more than 40,000 artifacts from the 20th century. An outdoor amphitheater is a popular space for hosting local community events. Located at 801 S. Yarrow Street.
Washington Heights Arts Center
Offers a menagerie of arts and cultural opportunities for adults and children in a renovated schoolhouse built in the early 1900’s. The Arts Center is located at 6375 W. 1st Avenue.
Nearby Attractions
In addition to the cultural attractions both in Lakewood and the surrounding area, there is a multitude of options within the city limits, or just outside, to keep any visitor busy for weeks. Some examples are listed below:
- Bear Creek Lake Park
- Colorado Mills Shopping Mall
- Dinosaur Ridge
- Colorado Railroad Museum
- Sloan Lake
- Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre
Golf Clubs
With so many area golf courses available to visitors and locals alike, here are just a few located within Lakewood city limits:
- Fox Hollow Golf Course
- The Homestead Golf Course
- Lakewood Country Club
Dining
Lakewood offers a wide variety of dining choices ranging from seafood & steak to wood fired pizza, ethnic foods such as Italian, Nepalese and Chinese to Mexican cantinas and much more.
Visiting Lakewood
There are a multitude of hotels and other lodging options which allow visitors close proximity to the area attractions, as well as downtown Denver, hiking & biking in the Foothills, local ski areas, Rocky Mountain National Park and Pikes Peak. Below is a list of a few lodging options: