Located in the state of California and a city in Los Angeles County, Lakewood is bordered on the west and south by Long Beach, on the north by Bellflower, on the northeast by Cerritos, on the east by Cypress, and on the southeast by Hawaiian Gardens. The city has been greatly credited as a pioneer among the cities in California in the service provision. Although Lakewood is an incorporated land, it still contracts for most of the services wherein most of those provided were provided by Los Angeles County, and to a lesser extent, by other public agencies and the private industry. It was the first city in the nation to contract municipal services when it was incorporated as a municipality.