Lawrence County, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lawrence County
U.S. county
Lawrence County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
Founded	March 20, 1849
Named for	USS Lawrence
Seat	New Castle
Largest city	New Castle
Area
• Total	363 sq mi (940 km2)
• Land	358 sq mi (930 km2)
• Water	4.5 sq mi (12 km2)  1.3%%
Population
• Estimate  (2020)	85,083
• Density	246/sq mi (95/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	16th

Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 91,108. The county seat is New Castle.

Lawrence County makes up the entire New Castle, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the larger Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-WV-OH Combined Statistical Area.

History

Lawrence County was created on March 20, 1849, from parts of Beaver and Mercer counties due to the rapid growth of New Castle, which was primarily in Mercer County but was rapidly expanding into Beaver County. The former borders between Beaver and Mercer Counties are still evident in Lawrence County today, as the northern borders of North Beaver Township, Shenango Township, and Slippery Rock Township with (respectively) the southern borders of Mahoning Township, Hickory Township, and Scott Township make up the former boundaries between Beaver and Mercer Counties. In addition, County Line Road in New Castle where the Lawrence County Courthouse is located also marks the former boundaries.

It was named after naval officer James Lawrence, who died during the War of 1812.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 363 square miles (940 km²), of which 358 square miles (930 km²) is land and 4.5 square miles (12 km²) (1.3%) is water. Major waterways are the Shenango River, Neshannock Creek and the Mahoning River which form the Beaver River. Also, the Slippery Rock Creek and Connoquenessing Creak empty into the Beaver River.

Adjacent counties

• Mercer County (north)
• Butler County (east)
• Beaver County (south)
• Columbiana County, Ohio (southwest)
• Mahoning County, Ohio (west)

Demographics

As of the 2000 census there were 94,643 people, 37,091 households, and 25,889 families residing in the county. The population density was 263 people per square mile (101/km²). There were 39,635 housing units at an average density of 110 per square mile (42/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.98% White, 3.61% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. 0.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 34.2% English or Welsh, 14.6% were of Italian, 12.4% American, 9.0% German, 8.1% Irish, and 6.8% Scotch-Irish, 2.5% Polish, and 1.9% African ancestry.

There were 37,091 households, out of which 28.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.50% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.10% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 19.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.90 males.

Micropolitan Statistical Area

Map of the Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV Combined Statistical Area (CSA)

The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Lawrence County as the New Castle, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area (µSA). As of the 2010 U.S. Census the micropolitan area ranked 3rd most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 48th most populous in the United States with a population of 91,108. Lawrence County is also a part of the Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV Combined Statistical Area (CSA), which combines the population of Lawrence, as well as the Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Indiana, Washington and Westmoreland county areas in Pennsylvania. In West Virginia the counties included are Brooke and Hancock. And in Ohio, Jefferson County. The Combined Statistical Area ranked 4th in the State of Pennsylvania and 20th most populous in the United States with a population of 2,660,727.

Transportation

Airports

• New Castle Municipal Airport

Public transit

• New Castle Area Transit Authority

Major roads and highways

Recreation

Parks

• Gaston Park (New Castle)
• McConnells Mill State Park (Slippery Rock Twp)
• Pearson Park (Neshannock Twp)
• Marti Park
• New Wilmington Borough Park

State Game Lands

• SGL 148 (New Beaver)
• SGL 150 (Pulaski Twp)
• SGL 151 (Washington Twp)
• SGL 178 (Neshannock Twp)
• SGL 216 (Scott Twp)

Trails

• North Country Trail

Municipalities

Map of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Cities and Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Lawrence County:

City

• New Castle (county seat)

Boroughs

Townships

Census-designated places

Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well.

• Chewton
• Frizzleburg
• New Bedford
• New Castle Northwest
• Oakland
• Oakwood
• West Pittsburg

Unincorporated communities

Various unincorporated communities that lie within and are part of official municipalities.

Former community

• Big Beaver Borough- was encepted on March 7, 1958. Until that date it was known as Big Beaver Township which was formed in 1802 when South Beaver Township was divided. In 1849 when Lawrence County was created, the new county line split Big Beaver leaving a township of that name in each county. Big Beaver in Lawrence County is now known as New Beaver Borough.

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Lawrence County.

† county seat

Education

Colleges

• Westminster College - New Wilmington

Public school districts

• Blackhawk School District (part)
• Ellwood City Area School District (part)
• Laurel School District
• Mohawk Area School District
• Neshannock Township School District
• New Castle Area School District
• Shenango School District
• Union Area School District
• Wilmington Area School District (part)

Tech schools

• Lawrence County Career Technology Center - New Castle
• New Castle School of Trades - New Castle

Private schools

Per data provided at Pennsylvania EdNA

Libraries

• Ellwood City Area Public Library
• F D Campbell Memorial Library - Bessemer
• Lawrence County Federated Library System - New Castle
• New Castle Public Library

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Lawrence (Pensilvania) para niños