Lawrence County, Arkansas

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Lawrence County
U.S. county
Lawrence County Courthouse
Lawrence County Courthouse
Map of Arkansas highlighting Lawrence County
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
Map of the United States highlighting Arkansas
Arkansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°01′50″N 91°06′47″W / 36.030555555556°N 91.113055555556°W / 36.030555555556; -91.113055555556
Country United States
State Arkansas
FoundedJanuary 15, 1815
Named forJames Lawrence
SeatWalnut Ridge
Largest cityWalnut Ridge
Area
 • Total592 sq mi (1,530 km2)
 • Land588 sq mi (1,520 km2)
 • Water4.7 sq mi (12 km2)  0.8%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total17,415
 • Estimate 
(2019)
16,406
 • Density29/sq mi (11/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.lawrencecountyarkansas.com

Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 17,415.[1] The county seat is Walnut Ridge.[2] Lawrence County is Arkansas's second county, formed on January 15, 1815, and named for Captain James Lawrence who fought in the War of 1812.[3] It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 592 square miles (1,530 km2), of which 588 square miles (1,520 km2) is land and 4.7 square miles (12 km2) (0.8%) is water.[4]

Major highways[]

  • Future I-57
  • US 62
  • US 63
  • US 63B.svg U.S. Route 63B
  • US 67B.svg U.S. Route 67B
  • US 67
  • US 412.svg U.S. Route 412
  • Arkansas 25.svg Highway 25
  • Arkansas 34.svg Highway 34
  • Arkansas 90.svg Highway 90
  • Arkansas 91.svg Highway 91
  • Arkansas 115.svg Highway 115
  • Arkansas 117.svg Highway 117
  • Arkansas 117S.svg Highway 117 Spur
  • Arkansas 228.svg Highway 228
  • Arkansas 230.svg Highway 230
  • Arkansas 361.svg Highway 361

Adjacent counties[]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18302,806—
18402,8351.0%
18505,27486.0%
18609,37277.7%
18705,981−36.2%
18808,78246.8%
189012,98447.8%
190016,49127.0%
191020,00121.3%
192022,09810.5%
193021,663−2.0%
194022,6514.6%
195021,303−6.0%
196017,267−18.9%
197016,320−5.5%
198018,44713.0%
199017,457−5.4%
200017,7741.8%
201017,415−2.0%
2019 (est.)16,406[5]−5.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010–2016[1]
Age pyramid Lawrence County[10]

As of the 2000 census,[11] there were 17,774 people, 7,108 households, and 5,011 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 people per square mile (12/km2). There were 8,085 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.78% White, 0.44% Black or African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. 0.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,108 households, out of which 30.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.00% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,139, and the median income for a family was $32,163. Males had a median income of $26,288 versus $18,518 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,785. About 13.90% of families and 18.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.50% of those under age 18 and 20.10% of those age 65 or over.

Government[]

Like almost all of Arkansas and the rural South, the 21st century has seen Lawrence County make a hard turn to the Republican Party after supporting Democrats throughout its history; the move is likely due to racial and cultural agitation with the party in Appalachian and rural Southern areas. John Kerry was the last Democrat to win the county in a presidential election, in 2004. Further elections has only seen sharper turns to the right, first at the presidential level and increasingly for other contested seats, to the point where this county, and Arkansas as a whole, is very Republican today.

Presidential elections results

Education[]

Public education is available from four school districts:

Communities[]

Cities[]

Towns[]

Townships[]

Townships in Lawrence County, Arkansas as of 2010

Townships in Arkansas are the divisions of a county. Each township includes unincorporated areas; some may have incorporated cities or towns within part of their boundaries. Arkansas townships have limited purposes in modern times. However, the United States census does list Arkansas population based on townships (sometimes referred to as "county subdivisions" or "minor civil divisions"). Townships are also of value for historical purposes in terms of genealogical research. Each town or city is within one or more townships in an Arkansas county based on census maps and publications. The townships of Lawrence County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township. [13][14]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Hempstead, Fay (1890). A Pictorial History of Arkansas: From Earliest Times to the Year 1890. Southern Historical Press. p. 833. ISBN 9780893080747.
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  5. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  8. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  10. ^ Based on 2000 census data
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  13. ^ 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Lawrence County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
  14. ^ "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 28, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2014.

Further reading[]

  • McLeod, Walter E. (Spring 1944). "Early Lawrence County History". The Arkansas Historical Quarterly. Arkansas Historical Association. 3 (1): 37–52. doi:10.2307/40027462. JSTOR 40027462.

Coordinates: 36°01′50″N 91°06′47″W / 36.03056°N 91.11306°W / 36.03056; -91.11306

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