Lawrence County, Ohio

Lawrence County is the southernmost county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 58,240.[1] Its county seat is Ironton.[2] The county was created in 1815 and later organized in 1817.[3] It is named for James Lawrence, the naval officer famous for the line "do not give up the ship".[4] Lawrence County is part of the Huntington–Ashland metropolitan area.

Lawrence County
County
Lawrence County Courthouse
Lawrence County Courthouse
Official seal of Lawrence County
Seal
Map of Ohio highlighting Lawrence County
Location within the U.S. state of Ohio
Map of the United States highlighting Ohio
Ohio's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°35′N 82°32′W
Country United States
State Ohio
FoundedMarch 1, 1817
Named forJames Lawrence
SeatIronton
Largest cityIronton
Area
 • Total457 sq mi (1,180 km2)
 • Land453 sq mi (1,170 km2)
 • Water3.9 sq mi (10 km2)  0.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total58,240 Decrease
 • Density130/sq mi (50/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.lawrencecountyohio.org

History

The earliest European-American settlers, Luke Kelly and his family, and May Keyser, settled at Hanging Rock along the Ohio River in 1796, having migrated from the east.[5] Lawrence County was formed on December 20, 1816, from parts of Gallia and Scioto counties, with the county seat named as Burlington.[6] In 1851, the county seat was moved from Burlington to Ironton. A new courthouse was built at that time. It burned in 1857. The present Lawrence County Courthouse was built in 1908.

Men from Lawrence County served in the Mexican–American War, with at least one having died during that conflict. By 1862, about 3,200 of Lawrence County's men were soldiers in the Union Army in the American Civil War.[7] During World War I, 2,200 of Lawrence County's men served in the armed forces, and 99 died.[8]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 457 square miles (1,180 km2), of which 453 square miles (1,170 km2) is land and 3.9 square miles (10 km2) (0.9%) is water.[9] It is the southernmost county in the state of Ohio and part of Appalachian Ohio.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18203,499—
18305,36753.4%
18409,73881.4%
185015,24656.6%
186023,24952.5%
187031,38035.0%
188039,06824.5%
189039,5561.2%
190039,534−0.1%
191039,488−0.1%
192039,5400.1%
193044,54112.6%
194046,7054.9%
195049,1155.2%
196055,43812.9%
197056,8682.6%
198063,84912.3%
199061,834−3.2%
200062,3190.8%
201062,4500.2%
202058,240−6.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2020 [1]

2000 census

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 62,319 people, 24,732 households, and 17,807 families living in the county. The population density was 137 inhabitants per square mile (53/km2). There were 27,189 housing units at an average density of 60 units per square mile (23/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.55% White, 2.09% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. 0.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 24,732 households, out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.00% were married couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,127, and the median income for a family was $35,308. Males had a median income of $30,622 versus $20,961 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,678. About 15.10% of families and 18.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.30% of those under age 18 and 12.90% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 62,450 people, 24,974 households, and 17,405 families living in the county.[15] The population density was 137.7 inhabitants per square mile (53.2/km2). There were 27,603 housing units at an average density of 60.9 per square mile (23.5/km2).[16] The racial makeup of the county was 95.9% white, 2.0% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.7% of the population.[15] In terms of ancestry, 18.0% were American, 15.4% were German, 12.9% were Irish, and 10.8% were English.[17] In Lawrence County, less than 1% of people who self-identify as "Irish" are Catholic. Scholars believe this is part of a trend in which people are vaguely aware that at least some of their ancestors come from Ireland, but that population is primarily of "Scots-Irish" or "Ulster Scots" ancestry, and those identifying as "Irish" are simply unaware of the distinction.[18] Those citing "American" ancestry in Lawrence County are of overwhelmingly English extraction, most English Americans identify simply as American because their ancestors have been in North America for centuries—in some cases since the 1600s.[19][20][21][22][23]

Of the 24,974 households, 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.3% were non-families, and 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.95. The median age was 40.1 years.[15]

The median income for a household in the county was $36,461 and the median income for a family was $46,732. Males had a median income of $38,170 versus $28,251 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,452. About 15.2% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.0% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.[24]

Politics

Lawrence County tends to support the Republican Party in presidential elections. Bill Clinton was the last Democrat to win the county, in 1996 – a distinction shared with 16 other Ohio counties, mostly in this region. Despite this fact, Democrats continued to crack 40% in election years.

United States presidential election results for Lawrence County, Ohio[25]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 20,306 72.06% 7,489 26.58% 384 1.36%
2016 18,689 69.76% 6,974 26.03% 1,126 4.20%
2012 14,651 56.50% 10,744 41.43% 537 2.07%
2008 15,415 56.28% 11,262 41.12% 713 2.60%
2004 15,455 55.77% 12,120 43.74% 135 0.49%
2000 12,531 51.25% 11,307 46.24% 614 2.51%
1996 8,832 36.91% 11,595 48.46% 3,499 14.62%
1992 10,044 37.17% 12,325 45.61% 4,652 17.22%
1988 12,937 52.23% 11,628 46.95% 203 0.82%
1984 14,793 55.96% 11,431 43.24% 213 0.81%
1980 13,799 52.68% 11,366 43.39% 1,029 3.93%
1976 10,668 46.39% 12,072 52.50% 256 1.11%
1972 15,125 67.02% 7,112 31.52% 330 1.46%
1968 9,782 46.75% 8,671 41.44% 2,470 11.81%
1964 7,757 38.04% 12,635 61.96% 0 0.00%
1960 13,159 60.32% 8,656 39.68% 0 0.00%
1956 12,607 62.72% 7,492 37.28% 0 0.00%
1952 11,962 56.22% 9,316 43.78% 0 0.00%
1948 8,113 45.88% 9,495 53.69% 76 0.43%
1944 9,312 53.90% 7,966 46.10% 0 0.00%
1940 10,274 49.08% 10,661 50.92% 0 0.00%
1936 8,498 42.35% 11,471 57.17% 97 0.48%
1932 8,598 50.83% 8,157 48.22% 160 0.95%
1928 10,346 74.51% 3,470 24.99% 69 0.50%
1924 6,798 63.96% 2,729 25.68% 1,101 10.36%
1920 7,616 65.08% 3,955 33.80% 131 1.12%
1916 4,363 59.10% 2,821 38.21% 198 2.68%
1912 2,650 37.39% 2,042 28.81% 2,395 33.79%
1908 5,708 66.67% 2,654 31.00% 200 2.34%
1904 5,587 72.42% 1,905 24.69% 223 2.89%
1900 5,505 64.97% 2,876 33.94% 92 1.09%
1896 5,408 63.42% 3,050 35.77% 69 0.81%
1892 4,193 56.84% 2,988 40.50% 196 2.66%
1888 4,713 59.54% 3,068 38.76% 135 1.71%
1884 4,817 60.91% 3,024 38.24% 67 0.85%
1880 4,627 61.50% 2,862 38.04% 34 0.45%
1876 3,975 57.15% 2,949 42.40% 31 0.45%
1872 3,624 68.17% 1,637 30.79% 55 1.03%
1868 3,159 65.73% 1,647 34.27% 0 0.00%
1864 2,985 72.68% 1,122 27.32% 0 0.00%
1860 1,801 55.90% 1,147 35.60% 274 8.50%
1856 743 26.58% 1,150 41.14% 902 32.27%

Government

Lawrence County has a 3-member Board of County Commissioners that oversee the various County departments, similar to all but 2 of the 88 Ohio counties. Lawrence County's elected commissioners are:

  • County Commissioners: Colton Copley (R), Deanna Holliday (R), and Mike Finley (R).[26]

Other Lawrence County Elected Officials: County Auditor (R) Paul David Knipp, County Treasurer (R) Tresa Baker, Clerk of Courts (D) Mike Patterson, Sheriff (R) Jeff Lawless, County Recorder (R) Sharon Gossett-Hager.

Primary Political Parties: Lawrence County Democratic Party, Lawrence County Republican Party

Communities
Map of Lawrence County, Ohio with Municipal and Township Labels

City

Villages

Townships

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

See also

References
  1. 2020 census
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Ohio: Individual County Chronologies". Ohio Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Archived from the original on April 6, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 182.
  5. Brown, Paul M. (1966). "A Story About Lawrence County, Ohio". Huntington, WV: Paul Brown Publishing Co.: 15 (unnumbered). OCLC 2667859. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. Brown, Paul M. (1966). "A Story About Lawrence County, Ohio". Huntington, WV: Paul Brown Publishing Co.: 10 (unnumbered). OCLC 2667859. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. Ironton Register, October 9, 1862
  8. "WW I Stories".
  9. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  12. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  13. "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 March 27, 2010. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  15. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  16. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  17. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  18. How the Irish Became Protestant in America Michael P. Carroll Religion and American Culture: A Journal of Interpretation Vol. 16, No. 1 (Winter 2006), pp. 25-54 - University of California Press
  19. "Ancestry of the Population by State: 1980 - Table 3" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on February 24, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  20. Sharing the Dream: White Males in a Multicultural America By Dominic J. Pulera.
  21. Reynolds Farley, 'The New Census Question about Ancestry: What Did It Tell Us?', Demography, Vol. 28, No. 3 (August 1991), pp. 414, 421.
  22. Stanley Lieberson and Lawrence Santi, 'The Use of Nativity Data to Estimate Ethnic Characteristics and Patterns', Social Science Research, Vol. 14, No. 1 (1985), pp. 44–46.
  23. Stanley Lieberson and Mary C. Waters, 'Ethnic Groups in Flux: The Changing Ethnic Responses of American Whites', Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 487, No. 79 (September 1986), pp. 82–86.
  24. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  25. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  26. "Lawrence County, Ohio". County Commissioner of Ohio Homepage. Retrieved September 30, 2013.

38.59°N 82.54°W / 38.59; -82.54

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