Lawrence County, Missouri

Lawrence County is located in the southwest portion of the U.S. state of Missouri, in the area of the Ozarks. As of the 2020 census, the population was 38,001. Its county seat is Mount Vernon. The county was organized in 1845 and named for James Lawrence, a naval officer from the War of 1812 known for his battle cry, "Don't give up the ship!"

A previous Lawrence County, established in 1815 with its county seat at what is now Davidsonville Historic State Park in Arkansas, covered much of what is now southern Missouri and the northern third of Arkansas. When the Arkansas Territory was created from Missouri Territory in 1819, some of that earlier county became organized as Lawrence County, Arkansas.

Just before that, in 1818, Missouri divided its part of the old Lawrence County into Wayne County and Madison County; with population increases, those counties were later divided into others, including the present Lawrence County.

Racial history

Following the Reconstruction era, southwestern Missouri became increasingly hostile to African Americans, and whites attacked blacks in Lawrence and other counties, seeking to expel them from the region. An African-American man was lynched in Verona, Missouri on January 26, 1894; his name was not recorded. On August 19, 1901, three men were lynched by a white mob in the county seat, Pierce City, in Lawrence County. The mob also burned down some black homes, and drove roughly 30 families, a total of 300 African Americans, out of the city altogether. Whites took over their properties and the African Americans were never compensated for losses.

As a result of such incidents, many African Americans left Southwest Missouri in the early 20th century. The extrajudicial murders were part of a pattern of discrimination, repeated violence and intimidation of African Americans in southwest Missouri from 1894 to 1909. Whites in Greene conducted a mass lynching of three African-Americans in 1906 in the courthouse square.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 613 square miles (1,590 km2), of which 612 square miles (1,590 km2) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) (0.3%) is water. Ozark Cavefish National Wildlife Refuge is located in Lawrence County.

Adjacent counties

• Dade County (north)
• Greene County (northeast)
• Christian County (southeast)
• Stone County (southeast)
• Barry County (south)
• Newton County (southwest)
• Jasper County (west)

Major highways

• I-44 I-44 BL (Mount Vernon)
• US 60
• Route 96
• Route 97
• Route 266 – former US 66

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 38,001, and the median age was 40.0 years. 25.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.4 males age 18 and over.

There were 14,599 households in the county, of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 16,219 housing units, of which 10.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.6% were owner-occupied and 28.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.4%.

28.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 71.5% lived in rural areas.

Racial and ethnic composition

The racial makeup of the county was 87.2% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 1.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.6% from some other race, and 7.2% from two or more races, with 7.9% of the population identifying as Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census of 2000, there were 35,204 people, 13,568 households, and 9,728 families residing in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile (22 people/km2). There were 14,789 housing units at an average density of 24 units per square mile (9.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.68% White, 0.27% Black or African American, 0.76% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.67% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Approximately 3.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 13,568 households, out of which 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.20% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,239, and the median income for a family was $36,846. Males had a median income of $27,309 versus $18,990 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,399. About 11.00% of families and 14.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.50% of those under age 18 and 11.80% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public schools

• Aurora R-VIII School District – Aurora Pate Early Childhood Center (PK-02) Robinson Elementary School (03-04) Robinson Intermediate School (05-06) Aurora Junior High School (07-08) Aurora High School (09-12)
• Marionville R-IX School District – Marionville Marionville Elementary School (PK-05) Marionville Middle School (06-08) Marionville High School (09-12)
• Miller R-II School District – Miller Central Elementary School (K-06) Miller High School (07-12)
• Mt. Vernon R-V School District – Mt. Vernon Mt. Vernon Early Learning Center (2021) (Unknown) Mt. Vernon Elementary School (1956) (PK-02) Mt. Vernon Intermediate School (Around 1997) (03-05) Mt. Vernon Middle School (Former High School until 1997) (1955) (06-08) Mt. Vernon High School (1997) (09-12)
• Pierce City R-VI School District – Pierce City Central Elementary School (PK-05) Pierce City Middle School (06-08) Pierce City High School (09-12)
• Verona R-VII School District – Verona Verona Elementary School (PK-06) Verona High School (07-12)

Private schools

• Aurora Christian Academy – Aurora (K-12) – Baptist (Special Education Emphasis)
• Harvest Christian Academy – Aurora (K-12) – Nondenominational Christian
• Round Grove Christian Academy – Miller (PK-09) – Baptist
• Trinity Lutheran School – Freistatt (PK-08) – Lutheran
• St. Mary’s Catholic School – Pierce City (PK-08) – Roman Catholic

Public libraries

• Barry-Lawrence Regional Library

Communities

Cities

• Aurora
• Marionville
• Miller
• Monett
• Mount Vernon (county seat)
• Pierce City
• Stotts City
• Verona

Villages

• Freistatt
• Halltown
• Hoberg

Census-designated place

• Chesapeake

Other unincorporated places

• Albatross
• Bowers Mill
• Clarkson
• Elliott
• Grays Point
• Heatonville
• Lawrenceburg
• Logan
• McKinley
• Minden
• Olinger
• Opal
• Orange
• Paris Springs Junction
• Phelps
• Plew
• Red Oak
• Rescue
• Round Grove
• Spencer
• Stinson

Politics

Local

The Republican Party completely controls politics at the local level in Lawrence County. Republicans hold all elected positions in the county.

State

Lawrence County is divided into two legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, both of which are held by Republicans.

• District 157 — Mike Moon (R-Ash Grove). Consists of most of the entire county.

• District 158 — Scott Fitzpatrick (R-Shell Knob). Consists of a part of the southwest corner of the county, including about half of Pierce City.

All of Lawrence County is a part of Missouri's 29th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by David Sater (R-Cassville.

Federal

All of Lawrence County is included in Missouri's 7th Congressional District and is currently represented by Billy Long (R-Springfield) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Political culture

Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)

Voters in Lawrence County from both political parties supported candidates who finished in second place in the state at large and nationally. Former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-Arkansas) received more votes, a total of 2,628, than any candidate from either party in Lawrence County during the 2008 presidential primary.

See also

• List of counties in Missouri
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Lawrence County, Missouri

Further reading

• Spilman, John F. "History of Sylvan School, Lawrence County, Missouri." Missouri Historical Review 50 (October 1955): 30-43. formed 1q852; now part of Pierce City schools.

External links

• from University of Missouri Special Collections and Archives, Plat Books of Missouri Counties Collection, Plat Book of Lawrence County, Missouri

37°07′N 93°50′W/37.11°N 93.83°W/ 37.11; -93.83