History of Lakewood Colorado begins with Indigenous homelands, prairie farms, irrigation, early roads, and settlement west of Denver. Located in Jefferson County between Denver and the Rocky Mountain foothills, Lakewood grew along important transportation corridors. Agriculture, streetcars, federal development, highways, and suburban expansion later shaped the community.
Indigenous peoples lived and traveled across the Front Range long before Lakewood developed. Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho people maintained connections with the wider region. Trails crossed the plains between the mountains and waterways. Therefore, Lakewood’s history begins before permanent American settlement.
American settlers established farms and ranches across the area during the nineteenth century. Fertile pockets of land supported crops, livestock, and orchards when water was available. Meanwhile, nearby Denver provided an expanding market for agricultural products.
Colorado’s dry climate made irrigation essential for successful farming. Settlers developed ditches and reservoirs to carry and store water. Agriculture expanded as water systems improved. As a result, farms, dairies, and orchards became important features of the future Lakewood landscape.
Transportation routes helped connect farms west of Denver with surrounding communities. Wadsworth Boulevard developed from an important north-south route through Jefferson County. Over time, it became one of Lakewood’s major transportation and commercial corridors.
The name Lakewood became associated with a residential development established by William Austin Hamilton and Charles Welch in the late nineteenth century. They filed a subdivision plat in 1889. However, the surrounding area remained a collection of separate neighborhoods and agricultural communities for decades.
Streetcar service helped residents travel between Denver and communities to the west. The Denver and Intermountain Railroad served areas that later became part of Lakewood. Consequently, development expanded along transportation corridors while residents gained easier access to jobs and businesses in Denver.
Residential development gradually replaced portions of Lakewood’s agricultural landscape. Improved roads and automobiles allowed people to live farther from central Denver. Additionally, new neighborhoods developed around existing farms, small commercial centers, and transportation routes.
Federal development became especially important during World War II. The Denver Ordnance Plant opened in 1941 and produced ammunition for the war effort. Thousands of workers found employment at the enormous facility. Later, the property became the Denver Federal Center.
The wartime economy brought workers and families into Jefferson County. Housing and businesses expanded around the Denver Ordnance Plant and nearby communities. After the war, suburban development continued rapidly. As a result, the once-rural landscape became increasingly urban.
Postwar Lakewood gained major commercial developments as its population increased. Villa Italia shopping center opened in 1966 and became a regional retail destination. Decades later, the site was redeveloped as Belmar, creating a new mixed-use district near Lakewood’s civic center.
Rapid suburban growth created demand for coordinated municipal services and planning. Residents voted to incorporate in 1969. The new municipality initially used the name City of Jefferson. Soon afterward, residents selected Lakewood as the permanent city name.
The new city brought numerous established neighborhoods under one municipal government. Roads, parks, public safety, planning, and other services became coordinated across the community. Meanwhile, Lakewood continued developing as an important part of metropolitan Denver.
Several surviving properties document Lakewood’s agricultural and residential past. Historic farms, homes, and community buildings show what the area looked like before suburban expansion. Additionally, preservation programs help protect structures connected with early Jefferson County settlement.
Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park preserves historic buildings and collections related to the city’s development. The site interprets farming, businesses, transportation, suburban life, and community history. Today, its preserved structures provide a direct connection with earlier generations of Lakewood residents.
Lakewood grew from Indigenous lands and scattered farms into a major suburban city west of Denver. Irrigation, transportation, the Denver Ordnance Plant, postwar housing, and incorporation shaped its development. Today, historic properties and Heritage Lakewood preserve important connections to the city’s past.