Lawrence County, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
 Lawrence County Courthouse inLouisa | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofKentucky | |
| Coordinates:38°04′N82°44′W / 38.06°N 82.73°W /38.06; -82.73 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kentucky |
| Founded | December 14, 1821 |
| Named after | James Lawrence |
| Seat | Louisa |
| Largest city | Louisa |
| Area | |
• Total | 420 sq mi (1,100 km2) |
| • Land | 416 sq mi (1,080 km2) |
| • Water | 4.5 sq mi (12 km2) 1.1% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 16,293 |
• Estimate (2024) | 15,798 |
| • Density | 39.2/sq mi (15.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 5th |
| Website | lawrencecountyky |
Lawrence County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofKentucky. As of the2020 census, the population was 16,293.[1] Itscounty seat isLouisa.[2] The county is named forJames Lawrence,[3] and co-founded by Isaac Bolt, who served as a Lawrence County Commissioner and Justice of the Peace. It is the birthplace ofcountry music starTyler Childers, lateChief Justice of the United StatesFrederick Moore Vinson, and former Kentucky GovernorPaul E. Patton. In regard toalcoholic beverage sales, Lawrence County is considered a "moist" county, meaning alcohol sales are only allowed within the city limits of Louisa.
Lawrence County was established in 1821 from land given byFloyd andGreenup Counties.[4] Four courthouses have served Lawrence County; the first was completed in 1823.[5]
During the Civil War, 149 men from Lawrence County served in the Confederacy, while 638 men served the Union Army. Louisa was used as a Union Fort during the war overlooking the local area.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 420 square miles (1,100 km2), of which 416 square miles (1,080 km2) is land and 4.5 square miles (12 km2) (1.1%) is water.[6]
The bridge from Louisa, in eastern Lawrence County, toFort Gay, West Virginia is a raremulti-way T-bridge. The quarter-mile concrete span spans across the Levisa Fork and the Tug River that come together and form theBig Sandy River, connects two states and has a right turn at its halfway point, which connects traffic to the Point Section neighborhood of Louisa.
Yatesville Lake was opened in 1992 and is a 2,300 acres (9.3 km2) reservoir managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. Yatesville Lake provides flood control for the region as well as recreational opportunities. The Corps manages a boat ramp at the Rich Creek area.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1830 | 3,900 | — | |
| 1840 | 4,730 | 21.3% | |
| 1850 | 6,281 | 32.8% | |
| 1860 | 7,601 | 21.0% | |
| 1870 | 8,497 | 11.8% | |
| 1880 | 13,262 | 56.1% | |
| 1890 | 17,702 | 33.5% | |
| 1900 | 19,612 | 10.8% | |
| 1910 | 20,067 | 2.3% | |
| 1920 | 17,643 | −12.1% | |
| 1930 | 16,713 | −5.3% | |
| 1940 | 17,275 | 3.4% | |
| 1950 | 14,418 | −16.5% | |
| 1960 | 12,134 | −15.8% | |
| 1970 | 10,726 | −11.6% | |
| 1980 | 14,121 | 31.7% | |
| 1990 | 13,998 | −0.9% | |
| 2000 | 15,569 | 11.2% | |
| 2010 | 15,860 | 1.9% | |
| 2020 | 16,293 | 2.7% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 15,798 | [7] | −3.0% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10] 1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[1] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 16,293. The median age was 42.0 years. 23.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.9 males age 18 and over.[12][13]
The racial makeup of the county was 96.9% White, 0.2%Black or African American, 0.0%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Asian, 0.0%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 0.3% from some other race, and 2.4% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 0.9% of the population.[13]
24.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 76.0% lived in rural areas.[14]
There were 6,429 households in the county, of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[12]
There were 7,524 housing units, of which 14.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.8% were owner-occupied and 26.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.9%.[12]
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 15,569 people, 5,954 households, and 4,477 families in the county. The population density was 37 per square mile (14/km2). There were 7,040 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (6.6/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 98.93%White, 0.10%Black orAfrican American, 0.28%Native American, 0.07%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 0.41%.[15] wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
Of the 5,954 households 35.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.30% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.80% were non-families. 22.40% of households were one person and 10.00% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.02.
The age distribution was 25.30% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.00 males.
The median household income was $21,610 and the median family income was $26,113. Males had a median income of $30,735 versus $19,174 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,008. About 25.30% of families and 30.70% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 40.00% of those under age 18 and 27.30% of those age 65 or over.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 1,280 | 35.48% | 1,648 | 45.68% | 680 | 18.85% |
| 1916 | 1,928 | 49.67% | 1,910 | 49.20% | 44 | 1.13% |
| 1920 | 2,849 | 52.44% | 2,558 | 47.08% | 26 | 0.48% |
| 1924 | 2,547 | 50.16% | 2,445 | 48.15% | 86 | 1.69% |
| 1928 | 3,277 | 59.59% | 2,217 | 40.32% | 5 | 0.09% |
| 1932 | 2,766 | 42.59% | 3,701 | 56.99% | 27 | 0.42% |
| 1936 | 2,944 | 48.04% | 3,175 | 51.81% | 9 | 0.15% |
| 1940 | 3,055 | 48.86% | 3,178 | 50.83% | 19 | 0.30% |
| 1944 | 2,715 | 52.87% | 2,408 | 46.89% | 12 | 0.23% |
| 1948 | 2,117 | 46.50% | 2,372 | 52.10% | 64 | 1.41% |
| 1952 | 2,696 | 50.85% | 2,597 | 48.98% | 9 | 0.17% |
| 1956 | 2,932 | 53.92% | 2,495 | 45.88% | 11 | 0.20% |
| 1960 | 3,030 | 54.69% | 2,510 | 45.31% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 1,745 | 39.17% | 2,703 | 60.67% | 7 | 0.16% |
| 1968 | 1,946 | 45.80% | 1,825 | 42.95% | 478 | 11.25% |
| 1972 | 2,392 | 60.48% | 1,529 | 38.66% | 34 | 0.86% |
| 1976 | 1,838 | 42.91% | 2,402 | 56.08% | 43 | 1.00% |
| 1980 | 2,564 | 51.49% | 2,362 | 47.43% | 54 | 1.08% |
| 1984 | 2,713 | 54.71% | 2,223 | 44.83% | 23 | 0.46% |
| 1988 | 2,294 | 50.89% | 2,198 | 48.76% | 16 | 0.35% |
| 1992 | 2,084 | 41.21% | 2,400 | 47.46% | 573 | 11.33% |
| 1996 | 1,812 | 40.24% | 2,195 | 48.75% | 496 | 11.01% |
| 2000 | 2,969 | 55.94% | 2,258 | 42.55% | 80 | 1.51% |
| 2004 | 3,755 | 57.65% | 2,705 | 41.53% | 53 | 0.81% |
| 2008 | 3,503 | 62.01% | 2,036 | 36.04% | 110 | 1.95% |
| 2012 | 3,995 | 71.44% | 1,520 | 27.18% | 77 | 1.38% |
| 2016 | 4,816 | 79.71% | 1,045 | 17.30% | 181 | 3.00% |
| 2020 | 5,633 | 80.99% | 1,238 | 17.80% | 84 | 1.21% |
| 2024 | 5,464 | 83.12% | 1,044 | 15.88% | 66 | 1.00% |
Lawrence County is a state bellwether in presidential elections, having voted for Kentucky's statewide winner in every election since 1956.[17]
| Elected officials as of January 3, 2025[18][19] | ||
| U.S. House | Hal Rogers (R) | KY 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Ky. Senate | Phillip Wheeler (R) | 31 |
| Ky. House | Scott Sharp (R) | 100 |
Municipalities and communities ofLawrence County, Kentucky,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Counties | |
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| Cities and towns Over 10k | |
| Cities and towns 5k-10k | |
| Cities and towns 1k-5k | |
| Cities and towns under 1k | |
| Statistical areas | |
| See also | |
38°04′N82°44′W / 38.06°N 82.73°W /38.06; -82.73
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
