Lawrence County
County
Lawrence County Courthouse, January 2015
Lawrence County Courthouse, January 2015
Official seal of Lawrence County
Seal
Map of Tennessee highlighting Lawrence County
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
Map of the United States highlighting Tennessee
Tennessee's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°13′N 87°23′W / 35.22°N 87.39°W / 35.22; -87.39
Country United States
State Tennessee
Founded1817
Named forJames Lawrence[1]
SeatLawrenceburg
Largest cityLawrenceburg
Area
 • Total618 sq mi (1,600 km2)
 • Land617 sq mi (1,600 km2)
 • Water0.9 sq mi (2 km2)  0.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total44,159
 • Estimate 
(2021)[2]
44,828 Increase
 • Density71/sq mi (28/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.lawrencecountytn.gov

Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 44,159.[3] Its county seat and largest city is Lawrenceburg.[4] Lawrence County comprises the Lawrenceburg, TN Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro, TN Combined Statistical Area.

History

Created by an act of the Tennessee General Assembly on October 21, 1817, Lawrence County was formed from lands previously part of Hickman and Giles counties.[1]

It was named in honor of Captain James Lawrence (1781–1813),[1] who while commanding the USS Chesapeake in an 1813 battle with the Royal Navy frigate HMS Shannon, issued his famous command: "Don't give up the ship! Blow her up." His men did anyway and Lawrence died of wounds.

Lawrenceburg was chosen as the county seat in 1819 as it was near the center of the county and because Jackson's Military Road ran just east of the town. In April 1821, the road was redirected through the center of the Lawrenceburg. The military road, the main route from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Nashville, Tennessee, played a significant role in the county's development.[1]

An early resident was David Crockett, who served as one of the county's first commissioners and justices of the peace. Crockett lived in the county for several years and ran a water-powered grist mill, powder mill and distillery on Shoal Creek, (originally called the Sycamore River) where David Crockett State Park is now located.[5]

In the early 1870s, many German Catholics moved into the area, including skilled tradesmen.[6] After the arrival of the railroad in 1883, the county became a major source of iron ore.[1]

Between 1908 and 1915, there was an influx of settlers from Alabama. Most were cotton growers or worked in the timber industry. Logging soon declined, since the forests were not replanted after trees were harvested; however, cotton continued to be a major crop until the 1960s.[1]

In 1944, Amish people moved to the area and established a community in the north of the county.[1] The Old Order Amish community has now become a tourist attraction.

The county has been struck by two killer tornadoes. On May 18, 1995 a F4 tornado struck the county. On April 16, 1998, an F5 tornado hit the county, part of the 1998 Nashville tornado outbreak.

In June 2010, the Tennessee Commission of Indian Affairs gave official recognition to six Native American groups, including the Central Band of Cherokee, also known as the Cherokee of Lawrence County.[7] The recognition of these tribes at a state level has stirred much controversy among federally recognized Indian tribes, who claim the recognition by a state is unconstitutional and threatens the status of existing tribes.[8]

In July 2017, the Hope Botanical Garden was formed in the Leoma community.[9]

Geography

Crockett Falls at David Crockett State Park

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 618 square miles (1,600 km2), of which 617 square miles (1,600 km2) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2) (0.1%) is water.[10]

Major highways

Rail

Air

Adjacent counties

National protected area

State protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18203,271—
18305,41165.4%
18407,12131.6%
18509,28030.3%
18609,3200.4%
18707,601−18.4%
188010,38336.6%
189012,28618.3%
190015,40225.4%
191017,56914.1%
192023,59334.3%
193026,77613.5%
194028,7267.3%
195028,8180.3%
196028,049−2.7%
197029,0973.7%
198034,11017.2%
199035,3033.5%
200039,92613.1%
201041,8694.9%
202044,1595.5%
2021 (est.)44,8281.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2015[15] 2020[3] 2021[2]
Age pyramid Lawrence County[16]

2020 census

Lawrence County racial composition[17]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 40,368 91.42%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 694 1.57%
Native American 92 0.21%
Asian 167 0.38%
Pacific Islander 1 0.0%
Other/Mixed 1,720 3.9%
Hispanic or Latino 1,117 2.53%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 44,159 people, 15,960 households, and 11,028 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the census[18] of 2000, there were 39,926 people, 15,480 households, and 11,362 families residing in the county. The population density was 65 people per square mile (25 people/km2). There were 16,821 housing units but as of 2010 that had jumped to over 19,000 at an average density of 27 per square mile (10/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.83% White, 1.47% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. 1.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 15,480 households, out of which 33.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.10% were married couples living together, 10.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.60% were non-families. 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.20% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,498, and the median income for a family was $35,326. Males had a median income of $27,742 versus $20,928 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,848. About 10.70% of families and 14.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.20% of those under age 18 and 16.30% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Lawrence County's chief executive officer is the County Executive. Along with the County Executive, the county has a total of 18 county commissioners which control the county's finances. Every fiscal year the Board must adopt a budget which appropriates funds to the many departments and agencies of the Lawrence County Government; and, at the same time, provides sufficient revenue to meet these appropriations.

The Board of County Commissioners serves as the legislative and policy setting body of Lawrence County. As such, the Board enacts all legislation and authorizes programs and expenditures within Lawrence County.[19]

For the term starting in 2014, the officials for Lawrence County are:

  • County Executive T.R. Williams (chairman)
  • District 1 Wayne Yocom
  • District 2 Chris D. Jackson (Chairman Pro-Tempore)
  • District 3 Denny Gillespie
  • District 4 Brandon Brown
  • District 5 Phil Hood
  • District 6 Bobby Clifton
  • District 7 Aaron Story
  • District 8 Mark Niedergeses
  • District 9 Ronnie Benefield
  • District 10 Delano Benefield
  • District 11 Scott Franks
  • District 12 Jim Modlin
  • District 13 Alanna Harris
  • District 14 Nathan Keeton
  • District 15 Tammy Wisdom
  • District 16 Shane Eaton
  • District 17 Bert Spearman
  • District 18 Russ Brewer

Politics

In Tennessee, a state defined for nearly a century after the civil war by Republican landslides in the east of the state balanced out by Democratic landslides in the middle and west of the state,[20] Lawrence County was a rare swing county. Lawrence only voted for two losers between 1904 and 2004, Charles Evans Hughes in 1916 and Richard Nixon in 1960. Since 2008, the county has rapidly become overwhelmingly Republican, as has most of Tennessee.[21] It is also a state bellwether county, having voted for Tennessee's statewide winner in every election since 1928.

United States presidential election results for Lawrence County, Tennessee[22]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 15,334 81.92% 3,195 17.07% 189 1.01%
2016 12,420 79.28% 2,821 18.01% 425 2.71%
2012 10,770 70.77% 4,237 27.84% 212 1.39%
2008 10,566 65.96% 5,161 32.22% 293 1.83%
2004 9,959 59.79% 6,592 39.57% 107 0.64%
2000 7,613 52.61% 6,643 45.91% 214 1.48%
1996 6,115 45.77% 6,188 46.32% 1,056 7.90%
1992 5,608 40.45% 6,816 49.16% 1,440 10.39%
1988 6,273 56.09% 4,903 43.84% 7 0.06%
1984 6,034 52.18% 5,458 47.20% 71 0.61%
1980 6,532 48.47% 6,082 45.13% 863 6.40%
1976 4,967 40.75% 7,140 58.57% 83 0.68%
1972 6,438 67.90% 2,824 29.78% 220 2.32%
1968 4,343 41.26% 2,191 20.81% 3,993 37.93%
1964 4,590 45.72% 5,449 54.28% 0 0.00%
1960 5,709 53.66% 4,862 45.70% 68 0.64%
1956 4,588 51.67% 4,227 47.60% 65 0.73%
1952 4,561 51.07% 4,299 48.14% 71 0.79%
1948 3,837 42.24% 4,854 53.43% 393 4.33%
1944 4,359 48.32% 4,662 51.68% 0 0.00%
1940 1,877 32.16% 3,936 67.44% 23 0.39%
1936 3,342 40.94% 4,773 58.46% 49 0.60%
1932 1,684 34.03% 3,240 65.48% 24 0.49%
1928 3,581 56.23% 2,779 43.63% 9 0.14%
1924 2,375 51.45% 2,185 47.34% 56 1.21%
1920 3,843 59.55% 2,610 40.45% 0 0.00%
1916 1,837 50.55% 1,787 49.17% 10 0.28%
1912 878 27.29% 1,504 46.75% 835 25.96%
1908 1726 51.82% 1591 47.76% 14 0.42%
1904 1,359 51.13% 1,299 48.87% 0 0.00%
1900 1,327 47.26% 1,481 52.74% 0 0.00%
1896 1,203 46.52% 1,376 53.21% 7 0.27%

Communities

Lawrenceburg
Loretto
St. Joseph

Cities

Town

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Notable people

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Kathy Niedergeses, "Lawrence County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: 21 October 2013.
  2. 1 2 "QuickFacts: Lawrence County, Tennessee". Census.gov. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  3. 1 2 2020 Population and Housing State Data | Tennessee
  4. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ↑ "David Crockett State Park". Tennessee State Parks. Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  6. ↑ National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form: German Catholic Churches and Cemeteries of Lawrence County, 1984
  7. ↑ Tom Humphrey, "State grants six Indian tribes recognition: Cherokee Nation may try to have action by Indian Affairs voided", Knoxville News Sentinel, 21 June 2010, accessed 30 June 2010
  8. ↑ Clay Carey, "Battle grows bitter as Tennessee recognizes new Indian tribes", "USA TODAY", 09 July 2010, accessed 13 July 2010
  9. ↑ Hope Botanical Garden, Hope Botanical Garden official website, Accessed: 1 December 2018.
  10. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  11. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  13. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  15. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  16. ↑ Based on 2000 census data
  17. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  18. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Lawrence County, Tennessee Board of County Commissioners". lawrencecountytn.gov. Archived from the original on December 28, 2015. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Tennessee - Tennessee since the mid-20th century | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  21. ↑ "County Project (WIP)". Google Docs. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  22. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
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