Editing Lawrence County, Arkansas

{{Short description|County in Arkansas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Lawrence County
 | state                = Arkansas
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1815
 | founded date         = January 15
 | seat wl              = Walnut Ridge
 | largest city wl      = Walnut Ridge
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 592
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 588
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 4.7
 | area percentage      = 0.8%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 16216
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 16318 {{gain}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | district             = 1st
 | web                  = http://www.lawrencecountyarkansas.com/
 | ex image             = Lawrence County Courthouse Walnut Ridge AR 2013-04-27 002.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Lawrence County Courthouse
 | time zone            = Central
 | named for            = [[James Lawrence]]
}}

'''Lawrence County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Arkansas]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 16,216.<ref>{{cite web|title=Census - Geography Profile: Lawrence County, Arkansas|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Lawrence_County,_Arkansas?g=0500000US05075|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 20, 2023}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Walnut Ridge, Arkansas|Walnut Ridge]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Lawrence County is Arkansas's second county, formed on January 15, 1815, and named for Captain [[James Lawrence]] who fought in the [[War of 1812]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Hempstead|first=Fay|title=A Pictorial History of Arkansas: From Earliest Times to the Year 1890|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OFD_49lddgAC&pg=PA833|year=1890|publisher=Southern Historical Press|page=833|isbn=9780893080747}}</ref> It is an alcohol prohibition or [[dry county]].

==History==
Following the [[Louisiana Purchase]], the area currently encompassing Lawrence County was contained within the [[Louisiana Territory]] from 1805 to 1812, and the [[Missouri Territory]] from 1812 until the creation of [[Arkansas Territory]] in 1819. While the southern portion of Missouri Territory began to be settled, Lawrence County was created on January 15, 1815, from [[New Madrid County, Missouri|New Madrid County]] and [[Arkansas County, Arkansas|Arkansas County]]. The large area spanned from [[Cape Girardeau County, Missouri|Cape Girardeau County]] to the [[Arkansas River]].<ref>{{ cite book |author= Lawrence County Historical Society |title=Mother of counties : Lawrence County, Arkansas : history and families |year=2001 |location= Paducah, Kentucky |publisher=Turner Publishing Company |isbn=9781563117534 |lccn=2001091090 }}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|592|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|588|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|4.7|sqmi}} (0.8%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_05.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 27, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Randolph County, Arkansas|Randolph County]] (north)
*[[Greene County, Arkansas|Greene County]] (east)
*[[Craighead County, Arkansas|Craighead County]] (southeast)
*[[Jackson County, Arkansas|Jackson County]] (south)
*[[Independence County, Arkansas|Independence County]] (southwest)
*[[Sharp County, Arkansas|Sharp County]] (west)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1830= 2806
|1840= 2835
|1850= 5274
|1860= 9372
|1870= 5981
|1880= 8782
|1890= 12984
|1900= 16491
|1910= 20001
|1920= 22098
|1930= 21663
|1940= 22651
|1950= 21303
|1960= 17267
|1970= 16320
|1980= 18447
|1990= 17457
|2000= 17774
|2010= 17415
|2020= 16216
|estyear=2023
|estimate=16318
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 30, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 27, 2015}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=August 27, 2015}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ar190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=August 27, 2015}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=August 27, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/05/05075.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 23, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607033028/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/05/05075.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref>
}}

[[Image:USA Lawrence County, Arkansas age pyramid.svg|thumb|left|150px|Age pyramid Lawrence County<ref>Based on [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] data</ref>]]

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Lawrence County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US05075&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 30, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 14,925
| 92.04%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 138
| 0.85%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 41
| 0.25%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 38
| 0.23%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 10
| 0.06%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 707
| 4.36%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 357
| 2.2%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 16,216 people, 6,463 households, and 4,466 families residing in the county.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]],<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> there were 17,774 people, 7,108 households, and 5,011 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|30|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 8,085 housing units at an average density of {{convert|14|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 97.78% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.44% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.57% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.05% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.12% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.02% from two or more races. 0.68% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 7,108 households, out of which 30.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.00% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,139, and the median income for a family was $32,163. Males had a median income of $26,288 versus $18,518 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $13,785. About 13.90% of families and 18.40% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 25.50% of those under age 18 and 20.10% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
{{PresHead|place=Lawrence County, Arkansas|source=<ref name="DL">{{cite web|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|access-date=November 18, 2016}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|4,608|965|119|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|4,569|1,080|208|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|4,064|1,263|358|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|3,536|1,788|216|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|3,357|2,138|335|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|2,951|3,544|120|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|2,626|3,255|159|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,823|3,652|666|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|2,124|4,146|659|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|3,205|3,179|37|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|4,039|2,594|43|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|3,245|3,547|171|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,708|5,167|7|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,981|1,751|0|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|1,788|1,613|2,813|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,013|3,498|27|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,800|2,074|191|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,584|2,303|61|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,570|2,206|68|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|497|2,001|174|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|927|1,810|3|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|852|2,484|24|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|457|2,230|16|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|293|3,056|64|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|774|1,204|5|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|261|689|176|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|699|1,686|49|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|298|1,706|0|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|218|929|292|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|583|1,188|63|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|534|672|53|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|476|958|10|Arkansas}}
{{PresFoot|1896|Democratic|337|1,679|37|Arkansas}}

=== Government ===
The county government is a constitutional body granted specific powers by the [[Constitution of Arkansas]] and the [[Arkansas Code]]. The quorum court is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all spending and revenue collection. Representatives are called justices of the peace and are elected from county districts every even-numbered year. The number of districts in a county vary from nine to fifteen, and district boundaries are drawn by the county election commission. The Lawrence County Quorum Court has nine members. Presiding over quorum court meetings is the county judge, who serves as the chief executive officer of the county. The county judge is elected at-large and does not vote in quorum court business, although capable of vetoing quorum court decisions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Quorum Courts |url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/quorum-courts-6348/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Office of County Judge |url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/office-of-county-judge-5720/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |language=en-US}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+Lawrence County, Arkansas Elected countywide officials<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Lawrence {{!}} Association of Arkansas Counties |url=https://www.arcounties.org/counties/lawrence/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=www.arcounties.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-09-18 |title=Elected Officials |url=https://www.lawrencecountyarkansas.com/lawrence-county-government/elected-officials/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=Lawrence County, Arkansas |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>https://www.arcounties.org/site/assets/files/6033/november_races.pdf</ref>
!Position
!Officeholder
!Party
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|County Judge
|Gary Barnhill
|Republican
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|County Clerk
|Brandi Parker
|Republican
|-style="background-color:#999999;
|Circuit Clerk
|Michelle Evans
|Independent
|-style="background-color:#999999;
|Sheriff
|Tony Waldrupe
|Independent
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|Treasurer
|Connie Mullen
|Republican
|-style="background-color:#999999;
|Collector
|Stephanie Harris
|Independent
|-style="background-color:#999999;
|Assessor
|Becky Holder
|Independent
|-style="background-color:#92C5DE;
|Coroner
|Chris Warden
|Democratic
|}
The composition of the Quorum Court after the 2024 elections is 8 Republicans and 1 Democrat. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Lawrence County, Arkansas, elections, 2024 |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Lawrence_County,_Arkansas,_elections,_2024 |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Election Night Reporting |url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/AR/Lawrence/119905/web.317647/#/summary?v=333421/ |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=results.enr.clarityelections.com |language=en}}</ref>

* District 1: Pardo Roberts (R)
* District 2: Frank Brewer (R)
* District 3: Lloyd Clark (R)
* District 4: Heath Davis (D)
* District 5: Frank Binkley (R)
* District 6: Jeff Yates (R)
* District 7: Tracy Moore (R)
* District 8: Kenny Jones (R)
* District 9: Troy Owens (R)

Additionally, the townships of Lawrence County are entitled to elect their own respective constables, as set forth by the [[Constitution of Arkansas]]. Constables are largely of historical significance as they were used to keep the peace in rural areas when travel was more difficult.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is a Constable? |url=https://www.uaex.uada.edu/business-communities/ced-blog/posts/2022/may/what-is-a-constable.aspx |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=What is a Constable? |language=en}}</ref> The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

* Annieville: Joseph A. Warnick (D)
* Black River: Jimmy D. Smith (R)
* Black Rock: Jewel Tommy Milgrim (R)
* Boas: Mark VanBrook (R)
* Cache: Ronnie Clay Knight (R)
* Campbell: Kenneth Cole (R)
* Duty: Shawn King (R)
* Lawrence: Duane Hutchinson (R)
* Marion: William Teague (R)
* Reeds Creek: Hunter Durham (R)
* Thacker: James Saxe (R)

===Townships===
[[File:Lawrence County Arkansas 2010 Township Map large.jpg|thumb|Townships in Lawrence County, Arkansas as of 2010]]

{{Arkansas Townships About|County = Lawrence}}
<ref>{{Cite map
 |publisher   = U. S. Census Bureau
 |title       = 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Lawrence County, AR
 |url         = http://www2.census.gov/geo/pvs/bas/bas11/st05_ar/cou/c05075_lawrence/BAS11C20507500000_000.pdf
 |access-date  = August 7, 2011
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20121019124924/http://www2.census.gov/geo/pvs/bas/bas11/st05_ar/cou/c05075_lawrence/BAS11C20507500000_000.pdf
 |archive-date = October 19, 2012
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/block/2010/cousub/dc10blk_st05_cousub.html#L | title = Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision | publisher = [[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date = May 29, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140528050635/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/block/2010/cousub/dc10blk_st05_cousub.html#L | archive-date = May 28, 2014 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* Annieville
* Ashland ([[Minturn, Arkansas|Minturn]])
* Black River ([[Powhatan, Arkansas|Powhatan]])
* Black Rock (most of [[Black Rock, Arkansas|Black Rock]])
* Boas ([[Hoxie, Arkansas|Hoxie]], part of [[Walnut Ridge, Arkansas|Walnut Ridge]])
* Cache
* Campbell ([[College City, Arkansas|College City]], most of [[Walnut Ridge, Arkansas|Walnut Ridge]])
* Dent ([[Imboden, Arkansas|Imboden]])
* Duty ([[Portia, Arkansas|Portia]], small part of [[Black Rock, Arkansas|Black Rock]])
* Eaton
* Flat Creek
* Jesup
* Lawrence
* Marion ([[Alicia, Arkansas|Alicia]])
* Morgan ([[Lynn, Arkansas|Lynn]])
* Promised Land ([[Sedgwick, Arkansas|Sedgwick]])
* Reeds Creek ([[Strawberry, Arkansas|Strawberry]])
* Richwoods (small part of [[Walnut Ridge, Arkansas|Walnut Ridge]])
* Spring River (small part of [[Ravenden, Arkansas|Ravenden]])
* Strawberry ([[Smithville, Arkansas|Smithville]])
* Thacker (most of [[Ravenden, Arkansas|Ravenden]])
{{div col end}}

==Education==
Public education is available from four school districts:
* [[Hillcrest School District]]
* [[Hoxie School District]]
* [[Lawrence County School District (Arkansas)|Lawrence County School District]]
* [[Sloan–Hendrix School District]]

==Communities==

===Cities===
*[[Black Rock, Arkansas|Black Rock]]
*[[Hoxie, Arkansas|Hoxie]]
*[[Walnut Ridge, Arkansas|Walnut Ridge]] (county seat)

===Towns===
{{div col}}
*[[Alicia, Arkansas|Alicia]]
*[[College City, Arkansas|College City]] (former)
*[[Imboden, Arkansas|Imboden]]
*[[Jesup, Arkansas|Jesup]]
*[[Lynn, Arkansas|Lynn]]
*[[Minturn, Arkansas|Minturn]]
*[[Portia, Arkansas|Portia]]
*[[Powhatan, Arkansas|Powhatan]]
*[[Ravenden, Arkansas|Ravenden]]
*[[Sedgwick, Arkansas|Sedgwick]]
*[[Smithville, Arkansas|Smithville]]
*[[Strawberry, Arkansas|Strawberry]]
{{div col end}}

==Infrastructure==

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{jct|state=AR|I|57}}
*{{Jct|state=AR|US|62}} 
*{{Jct|state=AR|US|63}}
*[[Image:US 63B.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 63B (Hoxie, Arkansas)|U.S. Route 63B]]
*{{Jct|state=AR|US|67}}
*[[Image:US 67B.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 67B (Walnut Ridge-Hoxie, Arkansas)|U.S. Route 67B]]
*[[Image:US 67Y.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 67Y (Walnut Ridge-Hoxie, Arkansas)|U.S. Route 67Y]]
*[[Image:US 412.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 412 (Arkansas)|U.S. Route 412]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 25.svg|22px]] [[Highway 25 (Arkansas)|Highway 25]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 34.svg|22px]] [[Highway 34 (Arkansas)|Highway 34]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 90.svg|22px]] [[Highway 90 (Arkansas)|Highway 90]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 91.svg|22px]] [[Highway 91 (Arkansas)|Highway 91]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 115.svg|24px]] [[Highway 115 (Arkansas)|Highway 115]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 117.svg|24px]] [[Highway 117 (Arkansas)|Highway 117]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 117S.svg|24px]] [[Arkansas Highway 117 Spur (Powhatan)|Highway 117 Spur]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 228.svg|24px]] [[Highway 228 (Arkansas)|Highway 228]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 230.svg|24px]] [[Highway 230 (Arkansas)|Highway 230]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 361.svg|24px]] [[Highway 361 (Arkansas)|Highway 361]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[List of lakes in Lawrence County, Arkansas]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Lawrence County, Arkansas]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite journal|title=Early Lawrence County History|author1-first=Walter E.|author1-last=McLeod|journal=The Arkansas Historical Quarterly|volume=3|issue=1|date=Spring 1944|pages=37&ndash;52|publisher=Arkansas Historical Association|doi=10.2307/40027462|jstor=40027462}}
{{refend}}

{{Geographic Location
| Centre    = Lawrence County, Arkansas
| North     = [[Randolph County, Arkansas|Randolph County]]
| Northeast =
| East      = [[Greene County, Arkansas|Greene County]]
| Southeast = [[Craighead County, Arkansas|Craighead County]]
| South     = [[Jackson County, Arkansas|Jackson County]]
| Southwest = [[Independence County, Arkansas|Independence County]]
| West      = [[Sharp County, Arkansas|Sharp County]]
| Northwest =
}}
{{Lawrence County, Arkansas}}
{{Arkansas}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|36|01|50|N|91|06|47|W|region:US-AR_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}}

[[Category:Lawrence County, Arkansas| ]]
[[Category:1815 establishments in Missouri Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1815]]