Lakewood Village, Long Beach, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lakewood Village
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| Nickname(s):
The Village
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County |  Los Angeles |
| City |  Long Beach |
Lakewood Village, often called The Village, is a cool neighborhood in the city of Long Beach, California. It's located in the northeast part of the city. The City of Lakewood borders it on the west, north, and east sides. You can find it south of Del Amo Boulevard, north of Carson Street, east of Lakewood Boulevard, and west of Bellflower Boulevard.
Contents
Discovering Lakewood Village History
How Lakewood Village Began
Between 1869 and 1897, a large piece of land called Rancho Los Cerritos became much more valuable. In 1897, the Bixby Investment Company sold about 6,979 acres (28.24 km2) for $348,950 to William Clark. This huge area is now where the City of Lakewood and the "Lakewood Village" part of Long Beach are located.
By the early 1930s, some houses were built in this countryside area. People liked living there because it was pretty and close to the Lakewood Country Club. It's thought that Bouton Lake, which formed on the golf course in 1895, gave the area its "Lakewood" name.
Growth During World War II
World War II brought big changes to the future Lakewood area. The Douglas Aircraft Company built a huge factory there. Homes for the Douglas workers were then built in what is now Lakewood Village. Even as workers moved in, the fields between South Street and Lakewood Village stayed empty for a while.
By 1949, most of the land in west Lakewood, about 3,500 acres (14 km2), was bought by Louis Boyar, Ben Weingart, and Mark Taper. They had experience building homes in Long Beach and Norwalk. They knew the Lakewood area was perfect for new neighborhoods. They created the Lakewood Park Corporation and, with help from Prudential Insurance, started building 17,000 new homes.
Exploring the Lakewood Village Neighborhood
Unique Home Styles
Lakewood Village has many different kinds of houses. You can see styles like English Tudor, Cape Cod, Country, French Country, Ranch, Spanish Colonial, and even more modern designs. This mix makes the neighborhood interesting to explore!
Location and Connections
Lakewood Village is right in the middle of the Lakewood/Long Beach area. It's easy to get to major freeways like the 91, 710, 605, and 405. The neighborhood is part of the 90808 ZIP Code, which also includes areas like El Dorado Park Estates and Los Altos.
Shopping and Fun at The Village Shoppes
Shops Along Viking Way
The "Parkview Village" shopping area, once called "The Triangle," has been around since the 1950s. It's located along Viking Way and Village Road, right in the heart of Lakewood Village. This area has many shops, restaurants, and services.
Parkview Village is near Heartwell Park and the Long Beach City College Liberal Arts Campus. It's also close to the Long Beach Airport and Skylinks Golf Course. It feels like a friendly outdoor "main street" with over 100,000 square feet (9,300 m2) of space and more than seventy businesses!
Shops Along Norse Way
This shopping center, built in 1941, was first used by workers from the MacDonald Douglas company. Old businesses like the Sunnyspot Diner and a Ration Stamp office are gone now. But it was the start of Lonnies Sporting Goods and the first Lakewood Village Walk-In Theater.
Today, you can find many different stores and restaurants here. There are places to eat Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, Greek, Mexican, and classic American food like Dale's Diner. These shops are near the intersection of Lakewood Boulevard and Carson Street. Many businesses offer discounts to Boeing employees, as Boeing is just across the street. The shops are also close to the Long Beach City College Liberal Arts Campus.
Famous People from Lakewood Village
- Ralph Luther Criswell: He was a Los Angeles City Council member from 1925 to 1927. Later, he worked to support the Boulder Dam project.
- Barbara Boylan: A wonderful dancer who was featured on The Lawrence Welk Show.
Images for kids
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The Long Beach City College's Liberal Arts Campus is located in Lakewood Village
