City of Lakewood history

The William J. Burns Community Center was dedicated following his death in 1976.

Palms Park – at 21 acres, the city’s largest supervised park – was dedicated in 1978 and includes a community center, ball diamonds, and picnic facilities.

When he died in 1980 at age 92, his obituary described him as “one of the least-known and most influential members of the Los Angeles financial community for half a century,” noting he had been Los Angeles County’s largest property tax payer as owner of 42,000 apartment units.

Dedicated in 1985, The Centre’s name takes is the city's largest community facility.

Lakewood: The First Hundred Years (1989).

In 1992, MDC employed nearly 34,000 workers at its Long Beach facilities with a payroll of over $1.5 billion.

In March, 1995, Lakewood citizens voted to incorporate as a city, passing with a 60% vote.

Lakewood officially became a city on February 28th, 1996, making it the seventh largest city in the state and the second largest in Pierce County.

In 1998, the Lakewood Historical Society was formed to capture the many stories of this rich history and hold them for future telling.

When the project was completed in December 2001, flood protection was restored and flood insurance requirements eased.

Lakewood's 50th anniversary year in 2004 was a reminder of the city's past.

The Lakewood History Museum was opened in the historic Lakewood Colonial Center in October 2006 to preserve this history.