Lakewood is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 82,496 at the 2020 census. It is bordered by Long Beach on the west, northwest, and south, Bellflower on the north, Cerritos on the northeast, Cypress on the east, and Hawaiian Gardens on the southeast. Major thoroughfares include Lakewood Boulevard (SR 19), Bellflower, Del Amo Boulevards, Carson, and South Streets. The San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605) runs through the city's eastern regions. Lakewood is a post- World War II planned community. Developers Louis Boyar, Mark Taper, and Ben Weingart are credited with transforming Southern California. Veterans could secure home loans with no down payment and a 30-year mortgage at 4% interest. On March 24, 1950, 30,000 people visited model houses. By April, 200,000 had toured the development, with 1,000 families purchasing homes. A record 110 homes were built in a single day. In 1954, Lakewood became the first "contract city", outsourcing municipal services to Los Angeles County. Many cities, including Cerritos and Diamond Bar, adopted the "Lakewood Plan".