Editing Lawson, Missouri

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Lawson, Missouri
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = 
<!-- Images -->
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| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = 
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps -->
| image_map                = Ray_County_Missouri_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Lawson_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Location of Lawson, Missouri
| image_map1               = 
| mapsize1                 = 
| map_caption1             = 
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Missouri]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Missouri|Counties]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Ray County, Missouri|Ray]], [[Clinton County, Missouri|Clinton]], [[Clay County, Missouri|Clay]]
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = 
| leader_name              = 
| leader_title1            = 
| leader_name1             = 
| established_title        = 
| established_date         = 
<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=August 28, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude           = 
| area_total_km2           = 7.91
| area_land_km2            = 7.67
| area_water_km2           = 0.24
| area_total_sq_mi         = 3.05
| area_land_sq_mi          = 2.96
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.09

<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_est           = 
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 2541
| population_density_km2   = 331.12
| population_density_sq_mi = 857.58

<!-- General information -->
| timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset               = -6
| timezone_DST             = CDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -5
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft             = 1034
| coordinates              = {{coord|39|26|10|N|94|12|54|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 64062
| area_code                = [[Area codes 816 and 975|816, 975]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 29-40988<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 2395650<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2395650}}</ref>
| website                  = https://lawsonmo.gov/
| footnotes                = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
}}

'''Lawson'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cityoflawsonmo.org/Home.html |title=City of Lawson - Home |access-date=2013-06-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831154158/http://cityoflawsonmo.org/Home.html |archive-date=2013-08-31 |url-status=dead }}</ref> is a city in [[Clay County, Missouri|Clay]], [[Clinton County, Missouri|Clinton]], and [[Ray County, Missouri|Ray]] counties in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Missouri]] and part of the [[Kansas City metropolitan area]]. The population was 2,541 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2940988|access-date=2021-12-27|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

==History==
Lawson was founded in 1870 and was named for New York businessman L. M. Lawson.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RfAuAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA345 | title=How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named | publisher=The State Historical Society of Missouri | author=Eaton, David Wolfe | year=1917 | pages=345}}</ref> A post office called Lawson has been in operation since 1876.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=MO&county=Ray | title=Post Offices| publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | accessdate=12 December 2016}}</ref>

Lawson is home to Ray County's oldest bank, Lawson Bank, founded in 1883. Interesting sites near Lawson include the historic [[Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site|Watkins Mill]] (now a Missouri state park and [[National Historic Landmark]]) and KC-10L, a [[Project Nike|Nike missile]] base, located a mile east of Lawson (Nov 1959 - Feb 1964).

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|2.59|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|2.53|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.06|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=2012-07-08 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archivedate=2012-01-25 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 223
|1890= 520
|1900= 635
|1910= 604
|1920= 545
|1930= 590
|1940= 511
|1950= 486
|1960= 778
|1970= 1034
|1980= 1743
|1990= 1876
|2000= 2336
|2010= 2473
|2020= 2541
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2012-07-08}}</ref> of 2010, there were 2,473 people, 876 households, and 676 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|977.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 937 housing units at an average density of {{convert|370.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.4% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.1% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.7% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.2% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.2% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.1% of the population.

There were 876 households, of which 45.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 22.8% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.21.

The median age in the city was 33.1 years. 31.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.3% were from 25 to 44; 23.2% were from 45 to 64; and 11.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 2,336 people, 818 households, and 624 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|838.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 852 housing units at an average density of {{convert|305.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.65% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.30% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.13% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.39% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.39% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.16% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.77% of the population.

There were 818 households, out of which 45.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.7% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.29.

In the city the population was spread out, with 32.7% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,875, and the median income for a family was $49,018. Males had a median income of $38,875 versus $22,273 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $17,438. About 6.8% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

==Community and government==
Lawson is a fourth-class city under Missouri statutes<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 28, 2012 |title=Missouri Revised Statutes |url=http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C000-099/0790000010.HTM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130417041502/http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C000-099/0790000010.HTM |archive-date=April 17, 2013 |access-date=March 2, 2025 |website=www.moga.mo.gov}}</ref> and has a governing body consisting of the Mayor and a four-member Board of Aldermen. Other decision-making bodies include: the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Board of Adjustment and the Parks Board. The City Hall staff includes a City Administrator, City Clerk, staff, and a Municipal Court Clerk. There is a Director of Public Works with a small staff.

The Chief of Police has seven officers. The City Attorney, Municipal Court Judge and Prosecutor serve on a contract basis.

Regarding recreation, in addition to Watkins Mill, there is an 18-hole golf course and the Lawson City Lake north of the city limits. Lawson also has a baseball/softball complex and a small city park.

==Education==
Public education in Lawson is administered by Lawson R-XIV School District, which operates one elementary school, one middle school, and [[Lawson High School]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.greatschools.org/missouri/lawson/lawson-r_xiv-school-district/ | title=Lawson R-Xiv School District | publisher=Great Schools | accessdate=4 June 2019}}</ref>

Lawson has a [[public library]], the Lawson Community Branch Library.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.publiclibraries.com/missouri.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610012728/http://www.publiclibraries.com/missouri.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=10 June 2017 | title=Missouri Public Libraries | publisher=PublicLibraries.com | accessdate=2 June 2019}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [https://cityoflawsonmo.org/ City of Lawson official website]
* [http://lawsonchamber.org Lawson Chamber of Commerce]
* Historic maps of Lawson in the [http://dl.mospace.umsystem.edu/mu/islandora/object/mu%3A138855 Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection] at the [[University of Missouri]]

{{Clay County, Missouri}}
{{Clinton County, Missouri}}
{{Ray County, Missouri}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Clay County, Missouri]]
[[Category:Cities in Clinton County, Missouri]]
[[Category:Cities in Ray County, Missouri]]
[[Category:Cities in Missouri]]