Lakewood, Colorado’s fifth most populous city, saw the inception of its urban and suburban development in 1889 by Charles Welch and W.A.H Loveland, who served as the former president of the Colorado Central Railroad. Lakewood’s beginnings are rooted in former ranchland, turkey farms, and early subdivisions of homes. In the 1940s, the federal government acquired the land that is now the Denver Federal Center, and Lakewood’s rich agricultural areas made room for residential neighborhoods. In 1969, the city was officially incorporated in 1969 in Jefferson City and soon after changed its name to Lakewood.

In the present-day, Lakewood has now grown into the third largest city in the sprawling Denver metropolitan area that is home to several defining Colorado landmarks and rich history across 44 square miles.

Today, Lakewood provides 70,000 jobs across a multitude of industry sectors, including government, education, and healthcare; 113 parks and 7,200 acres of green space and trails; a robust public transportation system; four community colleges and trade schools; access to winter activities through the easily accessible US Highway 6; and an informal downtown, Belmar, that offers 22 blocks of retailers, restaurants, and entertainment centers.