About this landmark

Lakewood's Civic Center anchors a city that incorporated through a novel contract-services model.

The Civic Center is located at 5050 Clark Avenue, at the intersection of Clark Avenue and Hardwick, directly across from Lakewood Center. The complex serves as the seat of city government and includes City Hall, The Centre (an events and meetings venue), the Angelo Iacoboni Library (operated by the Los Angeles County Library system), and the Lakewood Sheriff's Station. The U.S. Post Office sits just to the north on Clark Avenue.

The Lakewood Plan and 1954 Incorporation

Lakewood incorporated as a city on March 9, 1954, with a population of approximately 71,000—the largest community in the country to incorporate at one time. The first City Council meeting was held April 16, 1954. Attorney John Sanford Todd conceived the plan and is known as the father of the Lakewood Plan, serving as city attorney for 50 years. When County Counsel Harold Kennedy initially objected that the new city lacked funds to operate, state legislators resolved the crisis by approving approximately $500,000 in infrastructure funding for 1954–55, along with retroactive tax authority.

Under the Lakewood Plan, the city council set local policy and budgets while contracting with Los Angeles County for services such as road repair, water and sewer service, and fire protection, rather than establishing standalone municipal departments. The city's first budget in 1954–55 totaled $547,203, with more than 80 percent dedicated to county contracts. Today, those contracts represent approximately 35–40 percent of the annual budget. By 1960, 19 additional Los Angeles County communities had incorporated as contract cities using the Lakewood Plan model. By 2003, fully a quarter of California cities operated under Lakewood Plan variants.

The Planned Community and Civic Impact

Lakewood's development as a postwar residential community paralleled the city's creation. The Lakewood Park Company purchased land in 1949 and built the surrounding planned community on approximately 3,500 acres, completing development by 1953 with over 17,000 homes built to Veterans Administration specifications. Homes were priced between $7,500 and $9,500, enabling veterans to purchase with little or no money down through G.I. Bill financing. The city grew from a small village in 1950 to a community of more than 70,000 residents in less than three years.

The Lakewood Plan's impact extended far beyond Lakewood itself. 1970 property-tax rates demonstrated the cost advantages of the contract model: $1.52 per $100 of assessed value in Long Beach, over $1.00 in Compton, and just $0.08 in Lakewood. The passage of the 1956 Bradley-Burns Uniform Local Sales and Use Tax Law further increased the plan's popularity among new incorporated cities. By 1970, 32 contract cities operated in Los Angeles County; by the end of the 20th century, their combined population exceeded 1.5 million residents.

Insurance connection: Homeowners policies in planned communities

Lakewood's postwar residential development created a planned community with uniform building standards and municipal oversight. Homeowners policies contain property coverages for the dwelling and personal property, plus liability coverage. California law requires insurers to offer earthquake coverage for an additional premium, though it is not included in standard homeowners policies. After a policy has been in effect 60 days, an insurer can cancel only for specific reasons and must provide at least 20 days' notice. Eligibility and limits depend on the individual policy. The issued policy controls.

Explore the official Civic Center page

Primary sources: City of Lakewood Lakewood Plan page, PBS SoCal history article, and Los Angeles County Library local-history page.