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Lawrence County
Lawrence County
County
	Lawrence County Courthouse
	Flag Seal
	Location within the U.S. state of Ohio
	Ohio's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 38°35′N 82°32′W / 38.59°N 82.54°W
Country	United States
State	Ohio
Founded	March 1, 1817
Named for	James Lawrence
Seat	Ironton
Largest city	Ironton
Area
• Total	457 sq mi (1,180 km2)
• Land	453 sq mi (1,170 km2)
• Water	3.9 sq mi (10 km2) 0.9%
Population (2020)
• Total	58,240
• Density	130/sq mi (50/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	www.lawrencecountyohio.org

Lawrence County is the southernmost county of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 58,240.^[1] Its county seat is Ironton.^[2] The county was created in 1815 and later organized in 1817.^[3] It is named for James Lawrence, the naval officer famous for the line "do not give up the ship".^[4] Lawrence County is part of the Huntington–Ashland metropolitan area.

History

The earliest European-American settlers, Luke Kelly and his family, and May Keyser, settled at Hanging Rock along the Ohio River in 1796, having migrated from the east.^[5] Lawrence County was formed on December 20, 1816, from parts of Gallia and Scioto counties, with the county seat named as Burlington.^[6] In 1851, the county seat was moved from Burlington to Ironton. A new courthouse was built at that time. It burned in 1857. The present Lawrence County Courthouse was built in 1908.

Men from Lawrence County served in the Mexican–American War, with at least one having died during that conflict. By 1862, about 3,200 of Lawrence County's men were soldiers in the Union Army in the American Civil War.^[7] During World War I, 2,200 of Lawrence County's men served in the armed forces, and 99 died.^[8]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 457 square miles (1,180 km²), of which 453 square miles (1,170 km²) is land and 3.9 square miles (10 km²) (0.9%) is water.^[9] It is the southernmost county in the state of Ohio and part of Appalachian Ohio.

Adjacent counties

Jackson County (north)
Gallia County (northeast)
Cabell County, West Virginia (southeast)
Wayne County, West Virginia (south)
Boyd County, Kentucky (southwest)
Greenup County, Kentucky (southwest)
Scioto County (northwest)

National protected area

Wayne National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1820	3,499	—
1830	5,367	53.4%
1840	9,738	81.4%
1850	15,246	56.6%
1860	23,249	52.5%
1870	31,380	35.0%
1880	39,068	24.5%
1890	39,556	1.2%
1900	39,534	−0.1%
1910	39,488	−0.1%
1920	39,540	0.1%
1930	44,541	12.6%
1940	46,705	4.9%
1950	49,115	5.2%
1960	55,438	12.9%
1970	56,868	2.6%
1980	63,849	12.3%
1990	61,834	−3.2%
2000	62,319	0.8%
2010	62,450	0.2%
2020	58,240	−6.7%
U.S. Decennial Census^[10] 1790-1960^[11] 1900-1990^[12] 1990-2000^[13] 2020 ^[1]

2000 census

As of the census^[14] of 2000, there were 62,319 people, 24,732 households, and 17,807 families living in the county. The population density was 137 inhabitants per square mile (53/km²). There were 27,189 housing units at an average density of 60 units per square mile (23/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.55% White, 2.09% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. 0.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 24,732 households, out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.00% were married couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,127, and the median income for a family was $35,308. Males had a median income of $30,622 versus $20,961 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,678. About 15.10% of families and 18.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.30% of those under age 18 and 12.90% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 62,450 people, 24,974 households, and 17,405 families living in the county.^[15] The population density was 137.7 inhabitants per square mile (53.2/km²). There were 27,603 housing units at an average density of 60.9 per square mile (23.5/km²).^[16] The racial makeup of the county was 95.9% white, 2.0% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.7% of the population.^[15] In terms of ancestry, 18.0% were American, 15.4% were German, 12.9% were Irish, and 10.8% were English.^[17] In Lawrence County, less than 1% of people who self-identify as "Irish" are Catholic. Scholars believe this is part of a trend in which people are vaguely aware that at least some of their ancestors come from Ireland, but that population is primarily of "Scots-Irish" or "Ulster Scots" ancestry, and those identifying as "Irish" are simply unaware of the distinction.^[18] Those citing "American" ancestry in Lawrence County are of overwhelmingly English extraction, most English Americans identify simply as American because their ancestors have been in North America for centuries—in some cases since the 1600s.^[19]^[20]^[21]^[22]^[23]

Of the 24,974 households, 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.3% were non-families, and 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.95. The median age was 40.1 years.^[15]

The median income for a household in the county was $36,461 and the median income for a family was $46,732. Males had a median income of $38,170 versus $28,251 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,452. About 15.2% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.0% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.^[24]

Politics

Lawrence County tends to support the Republican Party in presidential elections. Bill Clinton was the last Democrat to win the county, in 1996 – a distinction shared with 16 other Ohio counties, mostly in this region. Despite this fact, Democrats continued to crack 40% in election years. This changed in 2016, as with much of Appalachia, when Hillary Clinton's 26.03% was the lowest in nearly 90 nears. Four years later, Joe Biden barely did better.

United States presidential election results for Lawrence County, Ohio^[25]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	20,013	74.58%	6,514	24.27%	309	1.15%
2020	20,306	72.06%	7,489	26.58%	384	1.36%
2016	18,689	69.76%	6,974	26.03%	1,126	4.20%
2012	14,651	56.50%	10,744	41.43%	537	2.07%
2008	15,415	56.28%	11,262	41.12%	713	2.60%
2004	15,455	55.77%	12,120	43.74%	135	0.49%
2000	12,531	51.25%	11,307	46.24%	614	2.51%
1996	8,832	36.91%	11,595	48.46%	3,499	14.62%
1992	10,044	37.17%	12,325	45.61%	4,652	17.22%
1988	12,937	52.23%	11,628	46.95%	203	0.82%
1984	14,793	55.96%	11,431	43.24%	213	0.81%
1980	13,799	52.68%	11,366	43.39%	1,029	3.93%
1976	10,668	46.39%	12,072	52.50%	256	1.11%
1972	15,125	67.02%	7,112	31.52%	330	1.46%
1968	9,782	46.75%	8,671	41.44%	2,470	11.81%
1964	7,757	38.04%	12,635	61.96%	0	0.00%
1960	13,159	60.32%	8,656	39.68%	0	0.00%
1956	12,607	62.72%	7,492	37.28%	0	0.00%
1952	11,962	56.22%	9,316	43.78%	0	0.00%
1948	8,113	45.88%	9,495	53.69%	76	0.43%
1944	9,312	53.90%	7,966	46.10%	0	0.00%
1940	10,274	49.08%	10,661	50.92%	0	0.00%
1936	8,498	42.35%	11,471	57.17%	97	0.48%
1932	8,598	50.83%	8,157	48.22%	160	0.95%
1928	10,346	74.51%	3,470	24.99%	69	0.50%
1924	6,798	63.96%	2,729	25.68%	1,101	10.36%
1920	7,616	65.08%	3,955	33.80%	131	1.12%
1916	4,363	59.10%	2,821	38.21%	198	2.68%
1912	2,650	37.39%	2,042	28.81%	2,395	33.79%
1908	5,708	66.67%	2,654	31.00%	200	2.34%
1904	5,587	72.42%	1,905	24.69%	223	2.89%
1900	5,505	64.97%	2,876	33.94%	92	1.09%
1896	5,408	63.42%	3,050	35.77%	69	0.81%
1892	4,193	56.84%	2,988	40.50%	196	2.66%
1888	4,713	59.54%	3,068	38.76%	135	1.71%
1884	4,817	60.91%	3,024	38.24%	67	0.85%
1880	4,627	61.50%	2,862	38.04%	34	0.45%
1876	3,975	57.15%	2,949	42.40%	31	0.45%
1872	3,624	68.17%	1,637	30.79%	55	1.03%
1868	3,159	65.73%	1,647	34.27%	0	0.00%
1864	2,985	72.68%	1,122	27.32%	0	0.00%
1860	1,801	55.90%	1,147	35.60%	274	8.50%
1856	743	26.58%	1,150	41.14%	902	32.27%

Government

Lawrence County Elected Officials:^[26]

Commissioner: Dr. Colton Copley (R-South Point)

Commissioner: DeAnna Holliday (R-Ironton)

Commissioner: Mike Finley (R-Ironton)

Auditor - Paul David Knipp (R-Ironton)

Treasurer - Tresa Baker (R-Proctorville)

Clerk of Courts - Mike Patterson (D-Kitts Hill)

Sheriff - Jeff Lawless (R-Ironton)

Recorder - Sharon Gossett-Hager (R-Coal Grove)

Coroner - Ben Mack (R-Crown City)

Prosecutor - Brigham Anderson (R-Ironton)

Engineer - Patrick Leighty (R-South Point)

Primary Political Parties:

Lawrence County Democratic Party
Lawrence County Republican Party

Communities

City

Ironton (county seat)

Villages

Townships

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

References

^ ^a ^b 2020 census
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
^ "Ohio: Individual County Chronologies". Ohio Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Archived from the original on April 6, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 182.
^ Brown, Paul M. (1966). "A Story About Lawrence County, Ohio". Huntington, WV: Paul Brown Publishing Co.: 15 (unnumbered). OCLC 2667859. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^ Brown, Paul M. (1966). "A Story About Lawrence County, Ohio". Huntington, WV: Paul Brown Publishing Co.: 10 (unnumbered). OCLC 2667859. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^ Ironton Register, October 9, 1862
^ "WW I Stories".
^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
^ ^a ^b ^c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
^ "DP02 Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
^ How the Irish Became Protestant in America Michael P. Carroll Religion and American Culture: A Journal of Interpretation Vol. 16, No. 1 (Winter 2006), pp. 25-54 - University of California Press
^ "Ancestry of the Population by State: 1980 - Table 3" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on February 24, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
^ Sharing the Dream: White Males in a Multicultural America By Dominic J. Pulera.
^ Reynolds Farley, 'The New Census Question about Ancestry: What Did It Tell Us?', Demography, Vol. 28, No. 3 (August 1991), pp. 414, 421.
^ Stanley Lieberson and Lawrence Santi, 'The Use of Nativity Data to Estimate Ethnic Characteristics and Patterns', Social Science Research, Vol. 14, No. 1 (1985), pp. 44–46.
^ Stanley Lieberson and Mary C. Waters, 'Ethnic Groups in Flux: The Changing Ethnic Responses of American Whites', Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 487, No. 79 (September 1986), pp. 82–86.
^ "DP03 Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
^ "Lawrence County Board of Elections". August 3, 2024.