Lawrence County, Tennessee Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Lawrence County

U.S. county

Lawrence County Courthouse, January 2015

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee

Tennessee's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Tennessee

Founded

1817

Largest city

Lawrenceburg

Area

• Total

618 sq mi (1,600 km²)

• Land

617 sq mi (1,600 km²)

• Water

0.9 sq mi (2 km²) 0.1%%

Population

(2020)

• Total

44,159

Time zone

UTC−6 (Central)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−5 (CDT)

Congressional district

7th

Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 44,159. Its county seat and largest city is Lawrenceburg. Lawrence County comprises the Lawrenceburg, TN Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro, TN Combined Statistical Area.

History
Geography
Demographics
- 2020 census
Communities
Notable people
See also

History

Created by an act of the Tennessee General Assembly on October 21, 1817, Lawrence County was formed from lands previously part of Hickman and Giles counties.

It was named in honor of Captain James Lawrence (1781–1813), who while commanding the USS Chesapeake in an 1813 battle with the Royal Navy frigate HMS Shannon, issued his famous command: "Don't give up the ship! Blow her up." His men did anyway and Lawrence died of wounds.

Lawrenceburg was chosen as the county seat in 1819 as it was near the center of the county and because Jackson's Military Road ran just east of the town. In April 1821, the road was redirected through the center of the Lawrenceburg. The military road, the main route from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Nashville, Tennessee, played a significant role in the county's development.

An early resident was David Crockett, who served as one of the county's first commissioners and justices of the peace. Crockett lived in the county for several years and ran a water-powered grist mill, powder mill and distillery on Shoal Creek, (originally called the Sycamore River) where David Crockett State Park is now located.

In the early 1870s, many German Catholics moved into the area, including skilled tradesmen. After the arrival of the railroad in 1883, the county became a major source of iron ore.

Between 1908 and 1915, there was an influx of settlers from Alabama. Most were cotton growers or worked in the timber industry. Logging soon declined, since the forests were not replanted after trees were harvested; however, cotton continued to be a major crop until the 1960s.

In 1944, Amish people moved to the area and established a community in the north of the county. The Old Order Amish community has now become a tourist attraction.

The county has been struck by two killer tornadoes. On May 18, 1995 a F4 tornado struck the county. On April 16, 1998, an F5 tornado hit the county, part of the 1998 Nashville tornado outbreak.

In June 2010, the Tennessee Commission of Indian Affairs gave official recognition to six Native American groups, including the Central Band of Cherokee, also known as the Cherokee of Lawrence County. The recognition of these tribes at a state level has stirred much controversy among federally recognized Indian tribes, who claim the recognition by a state is unconstitutional and threatens the status of existing tribes.

Geography

Crockett Falls at David Crockett State Park

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 618 square miles (1,600 km²), of which 617 square miles (1,600 km²) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) (0.1%) is water.

Major highways

U.S. Route 43
U.S. Route 64
Tennessee State Route 6
Tennessee State Route 15
Natchez Trace Parkway

Rail

Tennessee Southern Railroad

Adjacent counties

Lewis County (north)
Maury County (northeast)
Giles County (east)
Lauderdale County, Alabama (south)
Wayne County (west)

National protected area

Natchez Trace Parkway (part)

State protected areas

David Crockett State Park
Laurel Hill Wildlife Management Area
Stillhouse Hollow Falls State Natural Area

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1820	3,271	—
1830	5,411	65.4%
1840	7,121	31.6%
1850	9,280	30.3%
1860	9,320	0.4%
1870	7,601	−18.4%
1880	10,383	36.6%
1890	12,286	18.3%
1900	15,402	25.4%
1910	17,569	14.1%
1920	23,593	34.3%
1930	26,776	13.5%
1940	28,726	7.3%
1950	28,818	0.3%
1960	28,049	−2.7%
1970	29,097	3.7%
1980	34,110	17.2%
1990	35,303	3.5%
2000	39,926	13.1%
2010	41,869	4.9%
2020	44,159	5.5%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2015 2020

Age pyramid Lawrence County

2020 census

Lawrence County racial composition
Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	40,368	91.42%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	694	1.57%
Native American	92	0.21%
Asian	167	0.38%
Pacific Islander	1	0.0%
Other/Mixed	1,720	3.9%
Hispanic or Latino	1,117	2.53%