Lawrence County, Alabama

Lawrence County is a county in the northern part of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 census, the population was 34,339.[1] This county has the highest number of residents who identify as Native American of any county in the state. The county seat is Moulton.[2] The county was named after James Lawrence, a captain in the United States Navy from New Jersey.[3]

Lawrence County
U.S. county
Lawrence County Courthouse in Moulton
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°31′17″N 87°18′37″W
Country United States
State Alabama
FoundedFebruary 6, 1818
Named forJames Lawrence
SeatMoulton
Largest cityMoulton
Area
 • Total717 sq mi (1,860 km2)
 • Land691 sq mi (1,790 km2)
 • Water27 sq mi (70 km2)  3.7%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total34,339
 • Estimate 
(2019)
32,924
 • Density48/sq mi (18/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.lawrencealabama.com
 
  • County Number 42 on Alabama Licence Plates

Lawrence County is included in the Decatur, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Huntsville-Decatur-Albertville, AL Combined Statistical Area.

History
Old Lawrence County Courthouse

For thousands of years, this area was inhabited by differing cultures of indigenous peoples. People of the Copena culture in the Middle Woodland period (1-500 CE) built complex earthworks as part of their religious and political system. Their burial mound and ceremonial platform mound, the largest in the state, are preserved at Oakville Indian Mounds Park and Museum. The museum includes exhibits on the Cherokee, an Iroquoian-speaking people who inhabited the area at the time of European encounter. Other historic Native American tribes in this state were Choctaw and Creek, who both spoke Muskogean languages.

Lawrence County was established by the legislature of the Alabama Territory on February 6, 1818. Under the Indian Removal Act of 1830, the U.S. government forced most of the members of these Southeast tribes to go west of the Mississippi River to Indian Territory to the west. They wanted to extinguish their land claims to open the area to settlement by Americans.

Numerous Cherokee and mixed-race European-Cherokee descendants, sometimes called "Black Dutch", have stayed in the Lawrence County area. According to the census, the county has the highest number of self-identified Native Americans in the state. The state-recognized Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama has 4,000 enrolled members. The Cherokee Nation opposes federal recognition of this tribe.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 717 square miles (1,860 km2), of which 691 square miles (1,790 km2) is land and 27 square miles (70 km2) (3.7%) is water.[4]

River

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Transportation

Major highways

  • U.S. Highway 72 Alternate
  • Alabama 20
  • Alabama 24
  • Alabama 33
  • Alabama 36
  • Alabama 101
  • Alabama 157
  • Alabama 184

Rail

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18208,652—
183014,98473.2%
184013,313−11.2%
185015,25814.6%
186013,975−8.4%
187016,65819.2%
188021,39228.4%
189020,725−3.1%
190020,124−2.9%
191021,9849.2%
192024,30710.6%
193026,94210.8%
194027,8803.5%
195027,128−2.7%
196024,501−9.7%
197027,28111.3%
198030,17010.6%
199031,5134.5%
200034,80310.4%
201034,339−1.3%
Est. 201932,924[5]−4.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010–2018[1]

At the 2000 census there were 34,803 people, 13,538 households, and 10,194 families living in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile (19/km2). There were 15,009 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 77.77% White, 13.36% Black or African American, 5.36% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 3.08% from two or more races. 1.05% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[10] In 2000, the largest ancestry groups in Lawrence County were English 61.2%, African 13.36%, Scots-Irish 4.1% and Welsh 2.0%.

Of the 13,538 households 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.50% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.70% were non-families. 22.60% of households were one person and 9.50% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.99.

The age distribution was 25.70% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 30.10% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.40 males.

The median household income was $31,549 and the median family income was $38,565. Males had a median income of $31,519 versus $20,480 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,515. About 13.10% of families and 15.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.80% of those under age 18 and 24.50% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 34,339 people, 13,654 households, and 9,985 families living in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile (19/km2). There were 15,229 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 77.6% White, 11.5% Black or African American, 5.7% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.8% from other races, and 4.3% from two or more races. 1.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[11] Of the 13,654 households 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 24.2% of households were one person and 10.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.95.

The age distribution was 23.2% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 29.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% 65 or older. The median age was 40.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males.

The median household income was $40,516 and the median family income was $48,425. Males had a median income of $45,787 versus $27,341 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,370. About 10.3% of families and 13.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Lawrence County is home to four high schools: East Lawrence High School (3A), Hatton High School (2A), Lawrence County High School (5A), and R.A. Hubbard High School (1A). Lawrence County also has six elementary schools and two middle schools. Other educational facilities include the Lawrence County Center of Technology and the Judy Jester Learning Center.[12]

Former high schools, Hazlewood High School, Speake High School, and Mt. Hope High School were closed in 2009.[13]

Government
Presidential elections results
Lawrence County vote
by party in presidential elections [14]
Year GOP Dem Others
2016 73.1% 10,833 24.5% 3,627 2.5% 369
2012 62.7% 8,874 35.8% 5,069 1.5% 205
2008 63.2% 9,277 35.2% 5,164 1.6% 239
2004 55.2% 7,730 44.0% 6,155 0.8% 116
2000 46.5% 5,671 51.7% 6,296 1.8% 218
1996 38.4% 3,893 51.8% 5,254 9.8% 996
1992 30.9% 3,576 54.9% 6,364 14.2% 1,649
1988 43.0% 3,616 55.2% 4,646 1.8% 155
1984 47.0% 4,466 51.3% 4,866 1.7% 162
1980 28.1% 2,456 69.9% 6,112 2.0% 174
1976 17.1% 1,415 82.2% 6,810 0.7% 59
1972 75.6% 4,433 24.2% 1,416 0.2% 14
1968 7.7% 580 8.6% 650 83.7% 6,299
1964 50.0% 1,809 50.0% 1,808
1960 31.7% 1,365 68.1% 2,929 0.2% 7
1956 28.6% 1,197 70.8% 2,961 0.7% 27
1952 23.3% 809 76.5% 2,651 0.2% 6
1948 19.8% 357 80.2% 1,449
1944 22.9% 565 76.9% 1,893 0.2% 5
1940 17.3% 480 82.2% 2,277 0.4% 12
1936 16.7% 444 83.1% 2,213 0.2% 6
1932 13.5% 299 86.5% 1,920 0.0% 0
1928 49.3% 1,008 50.6% 1,035 0.2% 3
1924 31.8% 468 67.3% 990 1.0% 14
1920 46.6% 831 52.5% 935 0.9% 16
1916 3.7% 43 85.9% 995 10.4% 120
1912 17.5% 198 56.7% 643 25.8% 293
1908 34.8% 344 60.9% 602 4.3% 42
1904 30.7% 410 68.1% 909 1.1% 15

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census Designated Places

Unincorporated communities

Places of interest

Lawrence County is home to part of the William B. Bankhead National Forest, Oakville Indian Mounds, and Jesse Owens Memorial Park. The Black Warrior Path, which starts in Cullman County, runs through this county and passes the Oakville Indian Mounds. It was used by Native Americans for hundreds of years, and was later used by pioneer settlers.

Events

Every year, Lawrence County hosts numerous events, including the AHSAA Cross Country state championships at the Oakville Indian Mounds, the Lawrence County Basketball Tournament in Moulton, and the Alabama Indian Festival at the Oakville Indian Mounds.

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 182.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  5. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 18, 2019.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  8. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-30.
  12. http://www.lawrenceal.org/
  13. McIntyre, Jeff (July 13, 2009). "Ex-Hazlewood football stars Langham, Goode have mixed emotions about school's closing". Cullman Times. Archived from the original on October 3, 2009.
  14. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 21, 2016.

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