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Lawrence County, Missouri

Coordinates: 37°07′N 93°50′W / 37.11°N 93.83°W / 37.11; -93.83
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Lawrence County
County
Lawrence County Courthouse in Mt. Vernon
Lawrence County Courthouse in Mt. Vernon
Map of Missouri highlighting Lawrence County
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Map of the United States highlighting Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°07′N 93°50′W / 37.11°N 93.83°W / 37.11; -93.83
Country United States
State Missouri
FoundedFebruary 14, 1845
Named forJames Lawrence
SeatMount Vernon
Largest cityAurora
Area
 • Total
613 sq mi (1,590 km2)
 • Land612 sq mi (1,590 km2)
 • Water1.6 sq mi (4 km2)  0.3%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2015)
38,180
 • Density63/sq mi (24/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district7th

Lawrence County is a county located in the southwest portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the population was 38,634.[1] Its county seat is Mount Vernon.[2] The county was organized in 1845 and named for James Lawrence, a naval officer from the War of 1812 known for his battle cry, "Don't give up the ship!"[3]

A previous Lawrence County, established in 1815 with its county seat at what is now Davidsonville Historic State Park in Arkansas, covered much of what is now southern Missouri and the northern third of Arkansas; it became Lawrence County, Arkansas when Arkansas Territory was created from Missouri Territory in 1819.[4] Just before that, in 1818, Missouri divided its part of the old Lawrence County into Wayne County and Madison County; those were later divided into others, including the present Lawrence County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 613 square miles (1,590 km2), of which 612 square miles (1,590 km2) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) (0.3%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18504,859—
18608,84081.9%
187012,97746.8%
188017,58335.5%
189026,22849.2%
190031,66220.7%
191026,583−16.0%
192024,211−8.9%
193023,774−1.8%
194024,6373.6%
195023,420−4.9%
196023,260−0.7%
197024,5855.7%
198028,97317.8%
199030,2364.4%
200035,20416.4%
201038,6349.7%
2015 (est.)38,180[6]−1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2015[1]

As of the census[11] 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. Approximately 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.

Education

Public schools

Private schools

Politics

Local

The Republican Party completely controls politics at the local level in Lawrence County. Republicans hold all of the elected positions in the county.

Lawrence County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor Doug Bowerman Republican
Circuit Clerk Steven W. Kahre Republican
County Clerk Gary Emerson Republican
Collector Kelli McVey Republican
Commissioner
(Presiding)		 Sam Goodman Republican
Commissioner
(District 1)		 Joe Ruscha Republican
Commissioner
(District 2)		 Rodney Barnes Republican
Coroner Scott Lakin Republican
Prosecuting Attorney Don Trotter Republican
Public Administrator Pam Fobair Republican
Recorder Pam Robertson Republican
Sheriff Brad DeLay Republican
Surveyor Aaron Austin Republican
Treasurer Kathy Fairchild Republican

State

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2008 49.15% 8,118 47.94% 7,918 2.91% 482
2004 70.22% 11,069 28.55% 4,500 1.23% 194
2000 58.24% 7,447 39.93% 5,106 1.82% 233
1996 54.20% 6,695 42.13% 5,204 3.68% 454

Lawrence County is divided into two legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, both of which are held by Republicans.

Missouri House of Representatives - District 132 - Lawrence County (2010)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Don Ruzicka 10,242 100.00
  • District 141 – Kevin Elmer (R-Nixa). Consists of a tiny sliver of the county.
Missouri House of Representatives - District 141 - Lawrence County (2010)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kevin Elmer 413 80.04
Democratic Bob Rubino 103 19.96

All of Lawrence County is a part of Missouri’s 29th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Jack Goodman (R-Mount Vernon.

Missouri Senate - District 29 - Lawrence County (2008)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jack Goodman 14,447 100.00

Federal

All of Lawrence County is included in Missouri's 7th Congressional District and is currently represented by Billy Long (R-Springfield) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives – Missouri’s 7th Congressional District - Lawrence County (2010)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Billy Long 7,448 63.19
Democratic Scott Eckersley 3,433 29.13
Libertarian Kevin Craig 904 7.67

Political culture

Past Presidential Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2008 67.50% 11,263 30.55% 5,097 1.95% 325
2004 70.82% 11,194 28.51% 4,506 0.68% 106
2000 64.36% 8,305 32.82% 4,235 2.81% 363
1996 49.46% 6,099 36.21% 4,465 14.34% 1,768

Missouri Presidential Preference Primary (2008)

Voters in Lawrence County from both political parties supported candidates who finished in second place in the state at large and nationally.

  • Former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-Arkansas) received more votes, a total of 2,628, than any candidate from either party in Lawrence County during the 2008 presidential primary.

Template:Missouri Republican primary, 2008 Template:Missouri Democratic primary, 2008

Communities

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ^ Eaton, David Wolfe (1916). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. p. 184.
  4. ^ "1815 city got off to fine start". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (behind paywall). 1 November 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2015. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  11. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

37°07′N 93°50′W / 37.11°N 93.83°W / 37.11; -93.83

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