Lawrence County, Kentucky

Infobox U.S. County
county = Lawrence County
state = Kentucky


founded year = 1822
founded date =
seat wl = Louisa
area_total_sq_mi = 420
area_total_km2 = 1088
area_land_sq_mi = 419
area_land_km2 = 1085
area_water_sq_mi = 1
area_water_km2 = 4
area percentage = 0.32%
census yr = 2000
pop = 15569
density_sq_mi = 37
density_km2 = 14
time zone = Eastern
UTC offset = -5
DST offset = -4
footnotes =
web = www.lawrencecoky.com
named for = James Lawrence (1781–1813), naval commander during the War of 1812.

Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population is 15,569. Its county seat is LouisaGR|6. The county is named for James Lawrence. It is the home of country music star Ricky Skaggs. It is the birthplace of the late Chief Justice of the United States Frederick Moore Vinson and former Kentucky Governor Paul E. Patton. Lawrence County is one of 55 counties in Kentucky that is a dry county, meaning the sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited everywhere in the county.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 420 square miles (1,088 km²), of which, 419 square miles (1,085 km²) of it is land and 1 square miles (4 km²) of it (0.32%) is water.

Points of Interest

The bridge from Louisa, in eastern Lawrence County, to Fort Gay, W.Va. is something of a geographic and architectural oddity. The quarter-mile concrete span spans two forks of the Big Sandy River, connects two states and has a right turn at its halfway point, which connects traffic to the Point Section neighborhood of Louisa.

Adjacent counties

*Carter County (northwest)
*Boyd County (north)
*Wayne County, West Virginia (east)
*Martin County (southeast)
*Johnson County (south)
*Morgan County (southwest)
*Elliott County (west)

Demographics

USCensusPop
1830= 3900
1840= 4730
1850= 6281
1860= 7601
1870= 8497
1880= 13262
1890= 17702
1900= 19612
1910= 20067
1920= 17643
1930= 16713
1940= 17275
1950= 14418
1960= 12134
1970= 10726
1980= 14121
1990= 13998
2000= 15569
estimate=
estyear=
estref=
footnote=http://ukcc.uky.edu/~census/21127.txt

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 15,569 people, 5,954 households, and 4,477 families residing in the county. The population density was 37 people per square mile (14/km²). There were 7,040 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.93% White, 0.10% Black or African 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% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,954 households out of which 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 all households were made up of individuals and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county the population was spread out with 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% who were 65 years of age 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 income for a household in the county was $21,610, and the median income for a family 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 the poverty line, including 40.00% of those under age 18 and 27.30% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

*Blaine
*Louisa

ee also

*dry counties

References

External links

* [http://www.lawrence.k12.ky.us/ Lawrence County Schools]
* [http://www.lawrencecokytourism.com/ Lawrence County Tourism Commission]
* [http://www.kentuckyhighlands.com/kh/counties/lawrence_county.asp The Kentucky Highlands Project]