Lakewood is part of Jefferson County, an area that has reinvented itself from an agricultural and mining area to a thriving suburban, business, industrial and residential community. Located just west of Denver, where the Great Plains meets the Rocky Mountains, Jefferson County boasts some of the most magnificent scenery in the country with 774 square miles of rolling grasslands, craggy rock formations and rugged mountains with tumbling mountain streams and lofty pines.

Not only is Jefferson County filled with magnificent natural beauty, it has a past that is just as rich. While still embracing its agricultural and mining roots, Jefferson County has maintained a link to its past while sustaining a thriving business community and providing for safe neighborhoods. The area offers a mix of mom-and-pop shops and Fortune 500 companies.

Outdoor enthusiasts have three national forests and two state parks to explore. Pike, Roosevelt and Arapahoe national forests, and Golden Gate Canyon State Park and the Chatfield State Recreation Area all extend into part of Jefferson County. In addition there are 16 open space parks, plus the Lookout Mountain Nature Center and Hiwan Homestead Museum, a 17-room log home and an excellent example Rocky Mountain Rustic, a type of architecture unique to the area.

Residents of Lakewood are provided with a first-class public school system. Students attend schools in the Jefferson County R-1 School District. A dozen institutions of higher education are also located nearby such as Arapahoe Community College, Colorado School of Mines, Front Range Community College, Metropolitan State College, Red Rocks Community College, Regis College, University of Colorado - Boulder and Denver, University of Denver and Warren Occupational/Technical Center.

Known for its great open spaces and abundance of natural preserved land, Lakewood also takes pride in providing high quality community recreational resources including Bear Creek Lake Park, Green Mountain Park, Fox Hollow at Lakewood Golf Course, Homestead Golf Course and the Bear Creek Greenbelt. The Fox Hollow Golf Course is a 27-hole championship facility that features three unique 9-hole courses. Each course offers a different look and challenge.

As the largest of Lakewood's park system, Bear Creek Lake Park is approximately 2,600 acres and offers multiple picnic and camping, a large fishing lake stocked regularly with trout, horseback riding, bike trails, hiking trails, boating, swimming, wind surfing and a water-skiing concession during the summer months. Many kinds of wildlife can be viewed throughout the park as well thanks to its location near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Coyotes, deer, prairie dogs, and a multiplicity of birds are most commonly seen. On a rare occasion elk, bald eagles and a variety of waterfowl also visit the park. More than 300 acres of open land make up the Bear Creek Greenbelt, which connects to Bear Creek Lake Park.

The second largest park in the city is Green Mountain Park. The park covers approximately 2400 acres of open space with a network of multiple-use trails flowing throughout. The park also features breathtaking views of the Metropolitan Denver area and the striking Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Green Mountains location at the western edge Lakewood at the base of the foothills makes it a unique site allowing for many recreational opportunities including hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and paragliding. When the sun goes down, residents can enjoy artistic beauty at the Lake Wood Cultural Center, a 38,000 square foot facility that includes a 300-seat theater, community room, gallery/exhibit space, gift shop, classrooms, and lobby space. The facility is used for art and cultural programming and general community use.

Lakewood is part of an area that has been shaped by western tradition. Gold diggers, cowboys and villains were among the first residents of Jefferson County, named after the third U.S. President, Thomas Jefferson. The Gold Rush of the late 1850s brought about an influx of settlers to the county. The increase in population led to the establishment of Golden City in 1859. By 1861, Colorado became its own territory after President James Buchanan signed a bill. The area consisted of 17 counties including Jefferson County, with Golden City being the capital.

Jefferson County became the site of the first railroad in Colorado as well as to Coors Brewing Co. and the Colorado School of Mines. Despite the rapid growth of the area, Western influences were not lost as alleged cannibal Alferd Packer settled in a cave here and legendary Western showman Buffalo Bill made the county his final resting place.