The county was created on March 20, 1849, from parts ofBeaver andMercer counties. The county is part of theGreater Pittsburgh region of the commonwealth.[a]
Lawrence County was created on March 20, 1849, from parts ofBeaver andMercer counties due to the rapid growth of New Castle, which was primarily in Mercer County but was rapidly expanding into Beaver County. The former borders between Beaver and Mercer Counties are still evident in Lawrence County today, as the northern borders ofNorth Beaver Township,Shenango Township, andSlippery Rock Township with (respectively) the southern borders ofMahoning Township,Hickory Township, andScott Township make up the former boundaries between Beaver and Mercer Counties. In addition, County Line Road in New Castle where the Lawrence County Courthouse is located also marks the former boundaries.
The county was named after theflagship ofCommodore Oliver Hazard Perry, theUSSLawrence, which was disabled in the September 10, 1813Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. The ship's complement included local raw recruits. That niagara-classbrig (more correctly:snow) was itself a namesake, of Perry's friend and naval officerJames Lawrence, who died during the War of 1812.[4]
In August 1981, county commissioner Paul L. Tanner proposed the creation of a flag for Lawrence County as well as a flag for each of the county's 27 municipalities These were to be displayed at the courthouse. Over the next few months, flags forPerry Township,New Beaver Borough, andWampum Borough were presented to the commissioners[5]
On January 12, 1982, commissioner chairman, Frank A. Vitril, announced a county flag design contest and asked residents of Lawrence County to submit entries on an8.5 by 11 inch sheet of paper with their name, address, and telephone number on an attached sheet of paper. The winner would receive $100 prize contributed in equal parts from the county commissioners and would not come from taxpayers. They also announced the formation of a committee, coordinated by the Lawrence County Planning Commission, to select the winner. The commissioners said in a statement, "As public officials, we are aware of the need to generate public spirit and interest in the affairs of local government. The promotion of a county flag will enable interested citizens (schools, art groups, etc.) of Lawrence County participation in an historic event."[6]
Flag of Lawrence County, adopted June 15, 1982
The winning flag was announced on June 4, 1982, and a ceremony was held at the courthouse on June 15, 1982, in observance ofFlag Day, as the courthouse was closed on June 14. Rosemary Ann Marino, a commercial artist fromNew Castle, submitted several designs and her winning entry was one of 43 designs submitted by 15 individuals. The design depicts the shape of Lawrence County in green and edged with gold off-center on a white background with the words "Lawrence County, Pennsylvania" emblazoned on the bottom. The center logo features a shaft of wheat, symbolizing prosperity, against a background of rolling farmlands on the left and waves of water on the right. Marino received a check for $100 at a ceremony at the courthouse as well as atelegraph from GovernorDick Thornburgh who congratulated Lawrence County on its new flag.[7]
A painting of the design was revealed at the ceremony and was painted onmasonite by Harry Broschart, who was on the flag selection committee. He and other committee members, Dominic Caminite and former director of arts and crafts at West Side Community Center, Virginia Rankin, gave the award presentations.[7] Honorable mentions included a covered bridge design by Grayce D. Sharek, a blue and gold circular design stating "Lawrence County, Government for the People, founded 1849" by Betty Stone, an outline of the courthouse against a red keystone on a blue background by Steve T. Grala, and a two-tone green flag with an outline of the county by James E. Hamilton.[5] Entries were judged based on originality, creativity, theme, clarity, and design.[6]
President Judge Glenn McCracken offered remarks urging those present to take pride in their home, Lawrence County, and the flag which symbolizes it, and saying Lawrence County needs the kind of American pride in their heredity that was reawakened by the television showRoots.[7]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 363 square miles (940 km2), of which 358 square miles (930 km2) is land and 4.5 square miles (12 km2) (1.3%) is water.[8] Major waterways are the Shenango River, Neshannock Creek and the Mahoning River which form the Beaver River. Also, the Slippery Rock Creek and Connoquenessing Creak empty into the Beaver River. Lawrence County is one of the 423 counties served by theAppalachian Regional Commission,[9] and it is identified as part of the "Midlands" by Colin Woodard in his bookAmerican Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America.[10]
Lawrence County has a hot-summerhumid continental climate (Dfa). Average monthly temperatures in New Castle range from 27.7 °F in January to 72.2 °F in July.[11]
As of the2000 census[13] there were 94,643 people, 37,091 households, and 25,889 families residing in the county. The population density was 263 inhabitants per square mile (102/km2). There were 39,635 housing units at an average density of 110 units per square mile (42/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.98%White, 3.61%Black orAfrican American, 0.10%Native American, 0.27%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.19% fromother races, and 0.84% from two or more races. 0.56% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 34.2%English orWelsh, 14.6% were ofItalian, 12.4%American, 9.0%German, 8.1%Irish, and 6.8%Scotch-Irish, 2.5%Polish, and 1.9%African ancestry.
There were 37,091 households, out of which 28.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.50% weremarried couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.10% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 19.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.90 males.
As of June 30, 2025, there are 57,172 registered voters in Lawrence County. Republicans hold a majority of voters. There were 29,982 registeredRepublicans, 19,890 registeredDemocrats, 5,348 registerednon-affiliated voters, and 1,952 voters registered toother parties.[17]
Lawrence County is administered by a three-member publicly elected commission. Each commissioner serves in four-year terms. Elections occur in the odd-numbered years that precede U.S. presidential elections. All three Commissioners are chosen in the same election, and voters may vote for no more than two of the candidates. By state law, the commission must have a minority party guaranteeing a political split on the commission. The Commissioners are responsible for the management of the fiscal and administrative functions of the county.[20]
Map of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Cities and Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).
Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities:cities,boroughs,townships, and, in at most two cases,towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Lawrence County:
Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by theU.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well.
Big Beaver Borough became a borough on March 7, 1958. Until that date, it was known as Big Beaver Township, which was formed in 1802 when South Beaver Township was divided. In 1849, when Lawrence County was created, the new county line split Big Beaver leaving a township of that name in each county. Big Beaver in Lawrence County is now known as New Beaver Borough.[32]
Francis Jackson – born free (circa 1815 to 1820), he was kidnapped in 1850 and sold into slavery and was finally freed in 1855 with the resolution ofFrancis Jackson v. John W. Deshazer.
^abCenter, Legislativate Data Processing."Find Your Legislator".The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.Archived from the original on April 28, 2017. RetrievedApril 27, 2017.
