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Lawrence County, Alabama

Coordinates: 34°31′17″N 87°18′37″W / 34.52139°N 87.31028°W / 34.52139; -87.31028
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Lawrence County
County
Lawrence County Courthouse in Moulton
Lawrence County Courthouse in Moulton
Map of Alabama highlighting Lawrence County
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Map of the United States highlighting Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°31′17″N 87°18′37″W / 34.5214°N 87.3103°W / 34.5214; -87.3103
Country United States
State Alabama
FoundedFebruary 6, 1818
Named forJames Lawrence
SeatMoulton
Largest cityMoulton
Area
 • Total
717 sq mi (1,860 km2)
 • Land691 sq mi (1,790 km2)
 • Water27 sq mi (70 km2)  3.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
33,073
 • Estimate 
(2023)
33,502 Increase
 • Density46/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 a county in the northern part of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 33,073.[1] 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 is included in the Decatur, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Huntsville-Decatur-Albertville, AL Combined Statistical Area.

History

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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 their Blue Clan in this county with 4,000 enrolled members.

Geography

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According to the United States 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

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Adjacent counties

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National protected area

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Transportation

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Major highways

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Rail

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
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%
202033,073−3.7%
2023 (est.)33,502[5]1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010–2020[1]

2020 census

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Lawrence County, Alabama – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[10] Pop 2010[11] Pop 2020[12] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 26,899 26,420 24,714 77.29% 76.94% 74.73%
Black or African American alone (NH) 4,613 3,917 3,302 13.25% 11.41% 9.98%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 1,839 1,928 1,440 5.28% 5.61% 4.35%
Asian alone (NH) 33 41 84 0.09% 0.12% 0.25%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 3 5 7 0.01% 0.01% 0.02%
Other race alone (NH) 3 25 69 0.01% 0.07% 0.21%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 1,046 1,429 2,562 3.01% 4.16% 7.75%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 367 574 895 1.05% 1.67% 2.71%
Total 34,803 34,339 33,073 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the census of 2020, there were 33,073 people, 12,677 households, and 9,101 families residing in the county.

2010 census

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As of the census of 2010, 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 people/km2). There were 15,229 housing units at an average density of 22 units per square mile (8.5 units/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.[13] 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.

2000 census

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As of the census of 2000, 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 people/km2). There were 15,009 housing units at an average density of 22 units per square mile (8.5 units/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.[14] In 2000, the largest ancestry groups in Lawrence County were English 61.2%, African 13.36%, 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.

Education

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Every Public school in the County is part of the Lawrence County School District. Lawrence County is home to three high schools: East Lawrence, Hatton, and Lawrence County High Schools . Lawrence County also has six elementary schools: East Lawrence, Hatton, Hazlewood, Moulton, Mt. Hope, and Speake. Also Lawrence County has two middle schools: East Lawrence and Moulton. Other educational facilities include the Lawrence County Center of Technology and the Judy Jester Learning Center.[15]

Former schools are R.A. Hubbard High School and Elementary School was closed in 2022.[16]

Speake, Mt. Hope and Hazlewood were demoted from K-12 to K-6 in 2009.[17]

Government

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Lawrence County is reliably Republican at the presidential level. The last Democrat to win the county in a presidential election was Al Gore in 2000.

United States presidential election results for Lawrence County, Alabama[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 13,024 80.78% 2,983 18.50% 115 0.71%
2020 12,322 76.86% 3,562 22.22% 147 0.92%
2016 10,833 73.05% 3,627 24.46% 369 2.49%
2012 8,874 62.72% 5,069 35.83% 205 1.45%
2008 9,277 63.19% 5,164 35.18% 239 1.63%
2004 7,730 55.21% 6,155 43.96% 116 0.83%
2000 5,671 46.54% 6,296 51.67% 218 1.79%
1996 3,893 38.38% 5,254 51.80% 996 9.82%
1992 3,576 30.86% 6,364 54.91% 1,649 14.23%
1988 3,616 42.96% 4,646 55.20% 155 1.84%
1984 4,466 47.04% 4,866 51.25% 162 1.71%
1980 2,456 28.09% 6,112 69.92% 174 1.99%
1976 1,415 17.08% 6,810 82.21% 59 0.71%
1972 4,433 75.61% 1,416 24.15% 14 0.24%
1968 580 7.70% 650 8.63% 6,299 83.66%
1964 1,809 50.01% 0 0.00% 1,808 49.99%
1960 1,365 31.74% 2,929 68.10% 7 0.16%
1956 1,197 28.60% 2,961 70.75% 27 0.65%
1952 809 23.34% 2,651 76.49% 6 0.17%
1948 357 19.77% 0 0.00% 1,449 80.23%
1944 565 22.94% 1,893 76.86% 5 0.20%
1940 480 17.33% 2,277 82.23% 12 0.43%
1936 444 16.67% 2,213 83.10% 6 0.23%
1932 299 13.47% 1,920 86.53% 0 0.00%
1928 1,008 49.27% 1,035 50.59% 3 0.15%
1924 468 31.79% 990 67.26% 14 0.95%
1920 831 46.63% 935 52.47% 16 0.90%
1916 43 3.71% 995 85.92% 120 10.36%
1912 198 17.46% 643 56.70% 293 25.84%
1908 344 34.82% 602 60.93% 42 4.25%
1904 410 30.73% 909 68.14% 15 1.12%

Communities

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Cities

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Towns

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Census Designated Places

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Unincorporated communities

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Places of interest

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Lawrence County is home to part of the William B. Bankhead National Forest, Oakville Indian Mounds, Jesse Owens Memorial Park, and Pond Spring, the General Joe Wheeler Home. 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

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Every year, Lawrence County hosts numerous events, including the AHSAA Cross Country state championships at the Oakville Indian Mounds, the Alabama Multicultural Indian Festival at the Oakville Indian Mounds, the Strawberry Festival in Moulton, and General Joe Wheeler's Birthday Party at Pond Spring in Courtland. The cities of Moulton and Courtland each celebrate Christmas on the Square during the month of December.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  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. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  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. ^ "P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Lawrence County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
  11. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lawrence County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lawrence County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  14. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  15. ^ "Lawrence County Schools / Our Schools". www.lawrenceal.org. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  16. ^ "Federal judge rules school board can close R.A. Hubbard High School". MSN. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  17. ^ "Three Lawrence County high schools set to close". www.waff.com. May 11, 2009. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  18. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 21, 2016.
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34°31′17″N 87°18′37″W / 34.52139°N 87.31028°W / 34.52139; -87.31028

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