Lawrence County, Missouri

Lawrence County, Missouri
Location in the state of Missouri
Missouri's location in the U.S.
Founded	1843
Named for	James Lawrence, naval officer
Seat	Mount Vernon
Largest city	Aurora
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	613.38 sq mi (1,589 km²) 613.08 sq mi (1,588 km²) 0.30 sq mi (1 km²), 0.05%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	38,634 57/sq mi (22/km²)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5

Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 38,634. Its county seat is Mount Vernon. The county was organized in 1843 and named for James Lawrence, a naval officer from the War of 1812 known for his statement, "Don't give up the ship." Note that there was a previous Lawrence County, established in 1815 and dissolved in 1818, being divided into Wayne County, Madison County, and later into others, including this one.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 613.38 square miles (1,588.6 km²), of which 613.08 square miles (1,587.9 km²) (or 99.95%) is land and 0.30 square miles (0.78 km²) (or 0.05%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Dade County (north)
• Greene County (northeast)
• Christian County & Stone County (southeast)
• Barry County (south)
• Newton County (southwest)
• Jasper County (west)

Major highways

• Interstate 44
• U.S. Route 66 (1926–1979)
• Route 39
• Route 96
• Route 97
• Route 266

National protected area

• Ozark Cavefish National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1850	4,859		—
1860	8,840		81.9%
1870	12,977		46.8%
1880	17,583		35.5%
1890	26,228		49.2%
1900	31,662		20.7%
1910	26,583		−16.0%
1920	24,211		−8.9%
1930	23,774		−1.8%
1940	24,637		3.6%
1950	23,420		−4.9%
1960	23,260		−0.7%
1970	24,585		5.7%
1980	28,973		17.8%
1990	30,236		4.4%
2000	35,204		16.4%
2010	38,634		9.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 35,204 people, 13,568 households, and 9,728 families residing in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile (22/km²). There were 14,789 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.68% White, 0.27% Black or African American, 0.76% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.67% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. 3.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 13,568 households out of which 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.20% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,239, and the median income for a family was $36,846. Males had a median income of $27,309 versus $18,990 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,399. About 11.00% of families and 14.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.50% of those under age 18 and 11.80% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Albatross Aurora Chesapeake Freistatt Halltown

Heatonville Hoberg Logan Marionville McKinley

Miller Minden Monett Mount Vernon Phelps

Paris Springs Junction Pierce City Plew Rescue Spencer

Stotts City Verona

See also

• List of counties in Missouri
• Missouri census statistical areas
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Lawrence County, Missouri

External links

• Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Lawrence County from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/29109.html
• http://www.census.gov/