Lakewood was incorporated on June 24, 1969, and is the fifth-largest city in Colorado.
Lakewood voters authorized a 2% sales tax to take effect in 1972 as a revenue source to fund most of the City's operations.
In 1983, the voters approved a home-rule charter for the City.
Sales tax was collected by the State of Colorado Department of Revenue until 1985.
In November 2005, City of Lakewood taxpayers voted in favor of a 1% tax increase. The resulting sales tax rate changed from 2% to 3 %, effective January 1, 2006.