Basic Facts about Lakewood 

Government
The City of Lakewood operates under a City Charter that provides for a Mayor/Council form of Government. Seven council members (3 at-large and 1 for each of the 4 wards) hold meetings the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month (recess in August) at 7:30 p.m. in the City Hall auditorium. The Mayor is elected every 4 years and council members serve 4-year staggered terms. Safety services are comprised of one jail and police station, two small neighborhood stations, and 3 fire stations, each  equipped with an EMS squad as part of a state-of-the-art fire-based Emergency Medical System. The City owns and maintains its own sewer and water system.

Municipal Court
Municipal Court hears civil cases up to $15,000 and small claims cases up to $3,000, also hears traffic and criminal cases and enforces eviction and housing violations.
Court: (216) 529-6700
Traffic Ticket Information: (216) 529-6720

Population/Demographics
U.S. Census 2000 population: 56,646. This figure represents -5.1% change from 1990 figures. Lakewood is the 14th largest city in Ohio, second largest suburb in Cuyahoga County (after Parma). 21% of Lakewood's population is under age 18. In racial/ethnic categories Census figures show: 52,723 White; 1,116 Black; 139 American Indian; 815 Asian; 349 other; 1,504 multi-racial; 1,269 Hispanic.

Taxes
The 1999 effective residential property tax (after rate reductions) is $77.67 per $1,000 of tax valuation. Cuyahoga County assesses residential property at 35% of the current market value. Income Tax Rate is 1.5%.

Religious Institutions
35 churches represent 14 different denominations. Visit the Lakewood Faiths page for information about these churches and denominations.

Education
The 14 public schools include 1 high school, 3 middle schools and 8 elementary schools with an enrollment of 7,860 and a student/teacher ratio of 24/1. Special programs offered within the school system include vocational education, adult education and recreation, and programs for learning disabled, gifted, honors, advanced and hearing-impaired students.

Lakewood is also home to St. Edward High School (young men) as well as several private elementary schools.

Theater, music and craft classes are available at The Beck Center for the Arts.

The Virginia Marti College of Fashion & Art is located in Lakewood. Higher education is available locally from Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland State University, Lorain Community College, David N. Myers College, John Carroll University, Case Western Reserve University, Baldwin Wallace College, Cleveland Institute of Art, and Cleveland Institute of Music.

Recreation
Lakewood offers more than 69 acres of parks, indoor/outdoor ice skating rinks, indoor/outdoor swimming pools, lighted tennis courts, volleyball and basketball courts, miniature golf, baseball and softball diamonds, year-round youth and adult programs, soccer field, and a new YMCA. A boat launch and a MetroParks reservation are adjacent to the city.

Business
Lakewood is home to approximately 1,000 businesses and government agencies employing over 21,000 people. A downtown 72,000 square foot City Center is home base to 15 retail stores. Unique specialty and antique shops are located along the major avenues of Madison and Detroit. See Lakewood Businesses on the Web.

Cultural
Beck Center for the Arts offers professional theater, musical programs, an art gallery, and art, drama, music and dance classes. The Old Stone House Historical Museum, Historic Nicholson House, Irish Music Academy of Cleveland, 2 public libraries, and outdoor Summer Band Concerts help to enhance the city. Lakewood is also home to the nationally-recognized Lakewood Arts Festival as well as an annual Community Festival.

Organizations
Among the many local groups are the Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, Rotary, Elks, Garden Club, Historical Society, Junior Women's Club, Jaycees, League of Women Voters, Democratic and Republican Clubs, Art Coalition, Art League, scouts and many senior and youth organizations.

Utilities
Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company: (216) 861-9000
East Ohio Gas Company: (216) 361-2345
City Water Department: (216) 529-6820

Media
The Plain Dealer is the daily newspaper and Sun Post, WeSTLife, and Lakewood NewsTimes are weekly papers. The free Lakewood Observer is issued bi-weekly. Cox Cable Company serves the area.

Health Care
Lakewood Hospital is a 385 bed acute care facility including emergency and express care: (216) 521-4200
Kaiser Permanente Medical Center: (216) 227-8203
Aristocrat Lakewood Senior Campus: (216) 228-7650
Lakewood Health Care Center: (216) 228-3858
Crestmont Nursing Home: (216) 228-9550
Northwesterly Assisted Living: (216) 228-2266

Day Care
The Division of Early Childhood, (216) 521-0001, offers resources and referral for child care. Local facilities include 11 day cares, 10 pre-schools, 2 Head Start programs, and many home-care providers. Adult care is available at A New Day Care Center, (216) 226-7776, for persons with Alzheimer's and dementia-related disorders.

Transportation
Lakewood is 5 miles from Hopkins International Airport and 5.5 miles from Burke Lakefront Airport. Transportation is available from the Regional Transit Authority, Westlake and Yellow Cab. Senior citizens and disabled persons may receive transportation through the Division of Aging, (216) 521-1288. Lakewood can be accessed by routes I-90 east and west, I-71 and I-77 north and south.

Return to the Library's City of Lakewood Page
Go to the official City of Lakewood Page