The Observation Deck

Whether you were born and raised in The Wood or immigrated to Our Shores ... what is at the core of a Lakewoodite?

Food for thought.
I'd be curious as well of those who have lived here since 1970, what ages are they? Of the 2000 people in those top two categories were they born here and under 40 or in their 80s and moved here when they started their own households as adults. Maybe there's another page in the census that I missed.
Conversely, I suppose that I assumed those who moved into Lakewood in the past 5 years were new resident adults, could this number represent children born in the past 5 years which would indicate trends of growing families (depending on what the baseline was)?
Would be an interesting twist hypothetically if we deferred decisions to those who are "real Lakewoodites", meaning they were born here, to find out that the vast majority of those who meet that qualification are under 5 years old. I think our city vision would be quite a bit different if we then catered to the "real Lakewoodites". Far more ketchup and Mickey Mouse visits to be sure.

From the Census report:
HOUSING TENURE
Occupied housing units 24,800 +/-554 24,800 (X)
Owner-occupied 10,861 +/-495 43.8% +/-1.8
Renter-occupied 13,939 +/-545 56.2% +/-1.8
Average household size of owner-occupied unit 2.51 +/-0.07 (X) (X)
Average household size of renter-occupied unit 1.80 +/-0.07 (X) (X)
YEAR HOUSEHOLDER MOVED INTO UNIT
Occupied housing units 24,800 +/-554 24,800 (X)
Moved in 2005 or later 11,406 +/-600 46.0% +/-2.2
Moved in 2000 to 2004 5,301 +/-471 21.4% +/-1.8
Moved in 1990 to 1999 3,858 +/-325 15.6% +/-1.3
Moved in 1980 to 1989 2,077 +/-243 8.4% +/-1.0
Moved in 1970 to 1979 1,186 +/-203 4.8% +/-0.8
Moved in 1969 or earlier 972 +/-168 3.9% +/-0.7

Peter

I would imagine
1) A person living in Lakewood or did live here. It could be extended to works or owns
property here?

It is really a very difficult topic to hit on, especially in a city that has nearly always had the
ability to be transient in large numbers. I grew up in a triple where all three families
lived their entire life there, renting. So can renting or owning be the only factor?

I mean, if I grew up here and want to save it, and a person arrives from Tierra del Fuego
and wants to save the city. Who is right? If they both live here, in theory they are both
Lakewoodites. Was R. Crumb a Lakewoodite? Is he still? Does he have any views of value
in a discussion about Lakewood? Possibly. So is time a factor?

One could also look at levels of investment. Do they own or rent? One or more homes?
Do they own business(es)? Do they have kids? And did they come from parents in Lakewood?
Are they active in the community? Or do they only sleep or eat here? Different levels of
commitment and even ownership in a city, but in a community are we not all equal?

What defines an American? Perhaps that is a better place to start and apply it
to Lakewood.

I would think much more important that what is, is what is in their heart, and how do
they see Lakewood, now, in the past and in the future.

When I use it, and it is a term I do use, it refers more to understanding standing of the
community especially from the historical perspective. You know, like a real New Yorker.

But maybe it is just a state of mind, like a New York State of Mind?


Maybe we should talk about "Real Lakewoodites" and "Good Lakewoodites" and "Real Good Lakewoodites?"


.

Lakewoodites who went to Harding are more Lakewood than the rest

I don’t think that home ownership should be a qualification, but perhaps it should be a desire to live in Lakewood for the foreseeable future, not just until you have enough money to move to another suburb.

Stan Austin wrote::wink: Lakewoodites who went to Harding are more Lakewood than the rest

Stan - It must be difficult, or impressive, remembering back to the days of Harding as a one-room school building. I hear that it is your scientific discovery alone that invented dirt.

Corey

I think commitment plays a big role, and it shouldn't necessarily be measured in time or money.

Corey---I was going to reply to your taunt but I have to take a nap. Stan

Stan Austin wrote:Corey---I was going to reply to your taunt but I have to take a nap. Stan

Stan - I would reply to your non-response except my Ipad is syncing with my iPod while my XBox is converting Facebook images so I can have FaceTime on my Iphone, so ultimately my internet connection is a little slow. Corey.

Oh sorry, Stan, what I said, so you could hear it was, I WOULD REPLY TO YOUR NON-RESPONSE EXCEPT MY IPAD IS SYNCING WITH MY IPOD WHILE MY XBOX IS CONVERTING FACEBOOK IMAGES SO I CAN HAVE FACETIME ON MY IPHONE, SO ULTIMATELY MY INTERNET CONNECTION IS A LITTLE SLOW. COREY.

Corey--- you win, for the moment, but just count your lucky stars you play basketball and don't wrestle

A "real lakewoodite" does not have to ask whether they are or are not because they just know the answer.

I should hope it would include never using, 'The Wood' in referring to Lakewood.

-30-

David - you must be older that 25 ... cuz that's what all the "kids" call it today!!!

Meg Ostrowski wrote:I think commitment plays a big role, and it shouldn't necessarily be measured in time or money.

Are you saying real Lakewoodites should be committed?

I moved here in 2003, rented till I bought my first house in 2007, Got married, had two kids (one of whom was born here, no really in this house!). Would not leave Lakewood for anything short of a Rick Steves tour of Europe.

Prior to my time here I grew up on the east side and move to Bay Village (blarg...)

Do I get to stay?