Lawrence County, Mississippi

Lawrence County, Mississippi
Lawrence County Courthouse
Location in the state of Mississippi
Mississippi's location in the U.S.
Founded	1814
Seat	Monticello
Largest Town	Monticello
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	435.73 sq mi (1,129 km²) 430.63 sq mi (1,115 km²) 5.11 sq mi (13 km²), 1.17%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	12,929 31/sq mi (12/km²)

Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of 2010, the population was 12,929. Its county seat is Monticello. Lawrence County is named for the naval hero James Lawrence.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 435.73 square miles (1,128.5 km²), of which 430.63 square miles (1,115.3 km²) (or 98.83%) is land and 5.11 square miles (13.2 km²) (or 1.17%) is water.

Major highways

• U.S. Route 84
• Mississippi Highway 27
• Mississippi Highway 43
• Mississippi Highway 44

Adjacent counties

• Simpson County (northeast)
• Jefferson Davis County (east)
• Marion County (southeast)
• Walthall County (south)
• Lincoln County (west)
• Copiah County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1820	4,916		—
1830	5,293		7.7%
1840	5,920		11.8%
1850	6,478		9.4%
1860	9,213		42.2%
1870	6,720		−27.1%
1880	9,420		40.2%
1890	12,318		30.8%
1900	15,103		22.6%
1910	13,080		−13.4%
1920	12,663		−3.2%
1930	12,471		−1.5%
1940	13,983		12.1%
1950	12,639		−9.6%
1960	10,215		−19.2%
1970	11,137		9.0%
1980	12,518		12.4%
1990	12,458		−0.5%
2000	13,258		6.4%
2010	12,929		−2.5%
MS Counties 1900-1990 GeoHive - 2000 & 2010 statistics

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,258 people, 5,040 households, and 3,749 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile (12/km²). There were 5,688 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 66.94% White, 32.07% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.09% from other races, and 0.44% from two or more races. 0.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,040 households out of which 35.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.90% were married couples living together, 14.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.60% were non-families. 24.10% 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 2.61 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.30% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,495, and the median income for a family was $37,899. Males had a median income of $28,925 versus $18,707 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,469. About 16.60% of families and 19.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.10% of those under age 18 and 19.50% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

• Towns
  • Monticello
  • New Hebron
  • Silver Creek

• Unincorporated places
  • Jayess
  • Nola
  • Oak Vale (partly in Jefferson Davis County)
  • Oma
  • Sontag
  • Wanilla

Notable natives and residents

• Earl W. Bascom (1906-1995), "Father of Modern Rodeo" and Hall of Fame cowboy who worked on the Hickman Ranch near Arm, Mississippi in the mid 1930s

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Lawrence County, Mississippi

External links

• Lawrence County Courthouse Pictures
• Lawrence County Mississippi Genealogy and History