Lawrence County, Mississippi

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Lawrence County, Mississippi
Lawrence County Courthouse
Location in the state of Mississippi
Mississippi's location in the U.S.
Founded	1814
Named for	James Lawrence
Seat	Monticello
Largest town	Monticello
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	436 sq mi (1,129 km²) 431 sq mi (1,116 km²) 5.1 sq mi (13 km²), 1.2
Population  - (2020)  - Density	12,016
Congressional district	3rd
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Website	http://lawrencecountyms.com/

Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,016. Its county seat is Monticello. The county is named for the naval hero James Lawrence.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 436 square miles (1,130 km²), of which 431 square miles (1,120 km²) is land and 5.1 square miles (13 km²) (1.2%) is water.

Major highways

• U.S. Route 84
• Mississippi Highway 27
• Mississippi Highway 43
• Mississippi Highway 44

Adjacent counties

• Simpson County (northeast)
• Jefferson Davis County (east)
• Marion County (southeast)
• Walthall County (south)
• Lincoln County (west)
• Copiah County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1820	4,916		—
1830	5,293		7.7%
1840	5,920		11.8%
1850	6,478		9.4%
1860	9,213		42.2%
1870	6,720		−27.1%
1880	9,420		40.2%
1890	12,318		30.8%
1900	15,103		22.6%
1910	13,080		−13.4%
1920	12,663		−3.2%
1930	12,471		−1.5%
1940	13,983		12.1%
1950	12,639		−9.6%
1960	10,215		−19.2%
1970	11,137		9.0%
1980	12,518		12.4%
1990	12,458		−0.5%
2000	13,258		6.4%
2010	12,929		−2.5%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

2020 census

Lawrence County racial composition

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	7,807	64.97%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	3,690	30.71%
Native American	17	0.14%
Asian	33	0.27%
Pacific Islander	4	0.03%
Other/Mixed	258	2.15%
Hispanic or Latino	207	1.72%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 12,016 people, 4,849 households, and 3,385 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,258 people, 5,040 households, and 3,749 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile (12/km²). There were 5,688 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 66.94% White, 32.07% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.09% from other races, and 0.44% from two or more races. 0.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,040 households, out of which 35.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.90% were married couples living together, 14.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.60% were non-families. 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.30% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,495, and the median income for a family was $37,899. Males had a median income of $28,925 versus $18,707 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,469. About 16.60% of families and 19.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.10% of those under age 18 and 19.50% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Towns

• Monticello
• New Hebron
• Silver Creek

Unincorporated communities

• Arm
• Jayess
• Oak Vale (partly in Jefferson Davis County)
• Sontag
• Topeka

Education

Public education is governed by the Lawrence County School District, which encompasses the entire county.

Notable people

• Earl W. Bascom (1906-1995), rodeo champion, cowboy artist, inventor, Mississippi Rodeo Hall of Fame inductee, "Father of Modern Rodeo" "Father of Mississippi Rodeo"
• Edgar Godbold (1872-1952), president of two Southern Baptist colleges, was a school principal in Lawrence County from 1905 to 1906.
• Rod Paige, Secretary of Education from 2001 to 2004 under President George W. Bush. Rod Paige was born and raised in Lawrence County.

Politics

United States presidential election results for Lawrence County, Mississippi

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	4,285	64.80%	2,260	34.18%	68	1.03%
2016	4,091	64.28%	2,195	34.49%	78	1.23%
2012	4,192	62.59%	2,468	36.85%	38	0.57%
2008	4,369	62.33%	2,587	36.91%	53	0.76%
2004	3,956	62.73%	2,308	36.60%	42	0.67%
2000	3,674	55.78%	2,841	43.13%	72	1.09%
1996	2,392	44.54%	2,481	46.19%	498	9.27%
1992	2,689	44.12%	2,582	42.36%	824	13.52%
1988	3,682	59.17%	2,517	40.45%	24	0.39%
1984	3,970	63.49%	2,274	36.37%	9	0.14%
1980	2,781	50.02%	2,692	48.42%	87	1.56%
1976	2,109	47.54%	2,242	50.54%	85	1.92%
1972	3,394	81.70%	709	17.07%	51	1.23%
1968	329	8.45%	740	19.00%	2,825	72.55%
1964	2,373	90.95%	236	9.05%	0	0.00%
1960	259	15.69%	469	28.41%	923	55.91%
1956	276	18.17%	1,025	67.48%	218	14.35%
1952	556	33.23%	1,117	66.77%	0	0.00%
1948	13	0.97%	66	4.92%	1,262	94.11%
1944	45	2.85%	1,535	97.15%	0	0.00%
1940	37	2.95%	1,218	97.05%	0	0.00%
1936	34	2.57%	1,286	97.35%	1	0.08%
1932	31	3.21%	933	96.68%	1	0.10%
1928	210	21.67%	759	78.33%	0	0.00%
1924	55	7.54%	674	92.46%	0	0.00%
1920	131	19.88%	526	79.82%	2	0.30%
1916	18	2.41%	725	97.18%	3	0.40%
1912	9	2.43%	332	89.49%	30	8.09%

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Lawrence County, Mississippi

External links

• Lawrence County Courthouse Pictures
• Lawrence County Mississippi Genealogy and History