A Glimpse Into Our City's Past
First settled in the late 19th century, Lakewood was incorporated in the late 20th century and has been growing rapidly.
The town was platted July 1, 1889, by Charles Welch and W.A.H. Loveland. Loveland, the president of the Colorado Central Railroad, wanted to settle down in a new community following his retirement. For this purpose, he selected an area west of Denver along Colfax Avenue. For many years, wealthy residents of Denver chose the Lakewood district for their summer estates.
The new town’s development received a boost in 1893, following the establishment of its first electric tramway. This tramway connected Lakewood with Golden and Denver. It became part of the Denver Tramway Corporation and was nicknamed "the Loop."
Colorado Christian University, founded in 1914, has its main campus in Lakewood. Lakewood is also served by the main campus of Red Rock Community College. The town became a center of attraction following the establishment of the Remington Arms Company ammunition factory in 1941. It was the largest federal government contract awarded in Colorado during that time. The arms company is now the site of the Denver Federal Center.
Lakewood was incorporated in 1969 and is today the site of many federal government offices.
When the City of Lakewood was incorporated 50+ years ago, it was a remarkable task of weaving a community together from neighborhoods with a strong sense of identity founded on decades of residents working together to build schools, lay pipelines or install other improvements for themselves. Lakewood history is kept alive at the Lakewood Heritage Center, where the Cider Days Harvest Festival has been an institution for more than 30 years.
From the beginning, Lakewood's growth was positive, progressive and visionary. In 1983, Lakewood residents approved a city charter, which is essentially the city's constitution. What started as ranch land, turkey farms and early subdivisions of homes has become one of the largest cities in Colorado with more than 44 square miles and a population of just over 150,000.
In 2019, Lakewood celebrated its 50th anniversary! This is a time to honor the community’s unique history, diverse residents, and those who laid the foundation for incorporation and paved the way for the city's sense of community, culture and inclusiveness. Whether new or old to the city we are grateful to the families and visionary leaders, entrepreneurs, staff, volunteers, and of course, the residents who together create and strengthen the community fabric that is Lakewood.