Lawrence County, Alabama | |
|---|---|
 Lawrence County Courthouse in Moulton | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofAlabama | |
| Coordinates:34°31′17″N87°18′37″W / 34.5214°N 87.3103°W /34.5214; -87.3103 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Alabama |
| Founded | February 6, 1818 |
| Named after | James Lawrence |
| Seat | Moulton |
| Largest city | Moulton |
| Area | |
• Total | 717 sq mi (1,860 km2) |
| • Land | 691 sq mi (1,790 km2) |
| • Water | 27 sq mi (70 km2) 3.7% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 33,073 |
• Estimate (2024) | 33,567 |
| • Density | 47.9/sq mi (18.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
| Website | www |
| |
Lawrence County is acounty in the northern part of theU.S. state ofAlabama. As of the2020 census, the population was 33,073.[1] Thecounty seat isMoulton.[2] The county was named afterJames Lawrence, a captain in theUnited States Navy fromNew Jersey.[3]
Lawrence County is included in theDecatur, Alabama Metropolitan Area, which is also included in theHuntsville–Decatur-Albertville combined statistical area.
.jpg)
For thousands of years, this area was inhabited by differing cultures ofindigenous peoples. People of the Copena culture in the MiddleWoodland period (1–500 CE) built complex earthworks as part of their religious and political system. Theirburial mound and ceremonialplatform mound, the largest in the state, are preserved atOakville Indian Mounds Park and Museum. The museum includes exhibits on theCherokee, an Iroquoian-speaking people who inhabited the area at the time of European encounter. Other historicNative American tribes in this state wereChoctaw andCreek, who both spoke Muskogean languages.
Lawrence County was established by the legislature of theAlabama Territory on February 6, 1818. Under theIndian Removal Act of 1830, the U.S. government forced most of the members of these Southeast tribes to go west of theMississippi River toIndian Territory to the west. They wanted to extinguish their land claims to open the area to settlement by Americans.
Numerous Cherokee andmixed-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-recognizedEchota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama has their Blue Clan in this county with 4,000 enrolled members.
According to theUnited 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]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 8,652 | — | |
| 1830 | 14,984 | 73.2% | |
| 1840 | 13,313 | −11.2% | |
| 1850 | 15,258 | 14.6% | |
| 1860 | 13,975 | −8.4% | |
| 1870 | 16,658 | 19.2% | |
| 1880 | 21,392 | 28.4% | |
| 1890 | 20,725 | −3.1% | |
| 1900 | 20,124 | −2.9% | |
| 1910 | 21,984 | 9.2% | |
| 1920 | 24,307 | 10.6% | |
| 1930 | 26,942 | 10.8% | |
| 1940 | 27,880 | 3.5% | |
| 1950 | 27,128 | −2.7% | |
| 1960 | 24,501 | −9.7% | |
| 1970 | 27,281 | 11.3% | |
| 1980 | 30,170 | 10.6% | |
| 1990 | 31,513 | 4.5% | |
| 2000 | 34,803 | 10.4% | |
| 2010 | 34,339 | −1.3% | |
| 2020 | 33,073 | −3.7% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 33,567 | [5] | 1.5% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[1][8] 1990–2000[9] 2010–2020[1] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 33,073. The median age was 43.4 years. 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.5 males age 18 and over.[10][11]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[12]
There were 13,517 households in the county, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[10]
There were 15,225 housing units, of which 11.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.3% were owner-occupied and 20.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.7%.[10]
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[13] | Pop 2010[14] | Pop 2020[15] | % 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 orAlaska 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 thecensus 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). Theracial 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.[16]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 thepoverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.
As of thecensus 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). Theracial 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.[17]In 2000, the largest ancestry groups in Lawrence County wereEnglish 61.2%,African 13.36%,Irish 4.1% andWelsh 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 thepoverty line, including 16.80% of those under age 18 and 24.50% of those age 65 or over.
Every Public school in the County is part of theLawrence 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.[18]
Former schools areR.A. Hubbard High School and Elementary School was closed in 2022.[19]
Speake, Mt. Hope and Hazlewood were demoted from K-12 to K-6 in 2009.[20]
Lawrence County is reliably Republican at the presidential level. The last Democrat to win the county in a presidential election wasAl Gore in2000.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1904 | 410 | 30.73% | 909 | 68.14% | 15 | 1.12% |
| 1908 | 344 | 34.82% | 602 | 60.93% | 42 | 4.25% |
| 1912 | 198 | 17.46% | 643 | 56.70% | 293 | 25.84% |
| 1916 | 43 | 3.71% | 995 | 85.92% | 120 | 10.36% |
| 1920 | 831 | 46.63% | 935 | 52.47% | 16 | 0.90% |
| 1924 | 468 | 31.79% | 990 | 67.26% | 14 | 0.95% |
| 1928 | 1,008 | 49.27% | 1,035 | 50.59% | 3 | 0.15% |
| 1932 | 299 | 13.47% | 1,920 | 86.53% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 444 | 16.67% | 2,213 | 83.10% | 6 | 0.23% |
| 1940 | 480 | 17.33% | 2,277 | 82.23% | 12 | 0.43% |
| 1944 | 565 | 22.94% | 1,893 | 76.86% | 5 | 0.20% |
| 1948 | 357 | 19.77% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,449 | 80.23% |
| 1952 | 809 | 23.34% | 2,651 | 76.49% | 6 | 0.17% |
| 1956 | 1,197 | 28.60% | 2,961 | 70.75% | 27 | 0.65% |
| 1960 | 1,365 | 31.74% | 2,929 | 68.10% | 7 | 0.16% |
| 1964 | 1,809 | 50.01% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,808 | 49.99% |
| 1968 | 580 | 7.70% | 650 | 8.63% | 6,299 | 83.66% |
| 1972 | 4,433 | 75.61% | 1,416 | 24.15% | 14 | 0.24% |
| 1976 | 1,415 | 17.08% | 6,810 | 82.21% | 59 | 0.71% |
| 1980 | 2,456 | 28.09% | 6,112 | 69.92% | 174 | 1.99% |
| 1984 | 4,466 | 47.04% | 4,866 | 51.25% | 162 | 1.71% |
| 1988 | 3,616 | 42.96% | 4,646 | 55.20% | 155 | 1.84% |
| 1992 | 3,576 | 30.86% | 6,364 | 54.91% | 1,649 | 14.23% |
| 1996 | 3,893 | 38.38% | 5,254 | 51.80% | 996 | 9.82% |
| 2000 | 5,671 | 46.54% | 6,296 | 51.67% | 218 | 1.79% |
| 2004 | 7,730 | 55.21% | 6,155 | 43.96% | 116 | 0.83% |
| 2008 | 9,277 | 63.19% | 5,164 | 35.18% | 239 | 1.63% |
| 2012 | 8,874 | 62.72% | 5,069 | 35.83% | 205 | 1.45% |
| 2016 | 10,833 | 73.05% | 3,627 | 24.46% | 369 | 2.49% |
| 2020 | 12,322 | 76.86% | 3,562 | 22.22% | 147 | 0.92% |
| 2024 | 13,024 | 80.78% | 2,983 | 18.50% | 115 | 0.71% |
Lawrence County is home to part of theWilliam B. Bankhead National Forest,Oakville Indian Mounds,Jesse Owens Memorial Park, andPond Spring, the General Joe Wheeler Home. The Black Warrior Path, which starts inCullman 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.
Every year, Lawrence County hosts numerous events, including theAHSAA 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.
Places adjacent to Lawrence County, Alabama | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||
Municipalities and communities ofLawrence County, Alabama,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| City |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDP | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
34°31′17″N87°18′37″W / 34.52139°N 87.31028°W /34.52139; -87.31028
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
