Lawrence County, Alabama

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




map size = 150
founded =February 6, 1818
seat =Moulton| largest city = Moulton
area_total_sq_mi =718
area_land_sq_mi =693
area_water_sq_mi =25
area percentage =3.44%
census yr = 2000
pop = 34,803
density_km2 = 8
web =
|

Lawrence County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is included in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, as well as the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. Its name is in honor of J. Lawrence, a captain in the United States Navy from Vermont. As of the 2006 census estimates, the population was 34,321. Its county seat is Moulton and it's a prohibition or dry county.

History

Lawrence County was established on February 6, 1818.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 718 square miles (1,860 km²), of which, 693 square miles (1,796 km²) of it is land and 25 square miles (64 km²) of it (3.44%) is water.

Major highways

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Rail

*Norfolk Southern Railway

River

*Tennessee River

Adjacent counties

*Limestone County (northeast)
*Morgan County (east)
*Cullman County (southeast)
*Winston County (south)
*Franklin County and Colbert County (west)
*Lauderdale County (northwest)

National protected area

* William B. Bankhead National Forest (part)

Education

Lawrence County is home to seven high schools. They include East Lawrence High School (4A), Hatton High School (2A), Hazlewood High School (1A), Lawrence County High School (4A), Mount Hope School (1A), R.A. Hubbard School (1A), and Speake School (1A). Lawrence County also has four elementary schools and two middle schools. Lawrence County also has additional centers such as The Lawrence County Center of Technology and the Judy Jester Learning Center. There is a strong movement to consolidate to three or less high schools, but the opposition to consolidation is as equally strong. Lawrence County does, however, boast to be one of the highest school system in the state in regards to graduation rates and has one of the lowest drop-out rates in the state.

Famous residents

*Lucas Black, actor (Speake)
*Mary Lee Cagle (born in 1864), one of the founders of the Nazarene Church
*Antonio Langham, former NFL and University of Alabama star, and 1992 SEC Championship Game MVP (Town Creek)
*Jesse Owens, four-time Olympic gold medalist (Oakville)
*General Joseph Wheeler (Pond Spring)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 34,803 people, 13,538 households, and 10,194 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile (19/km²). There were 15,009 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 77.77% White, 13.36% Black or African American, 5.36% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 3.08% from two or more races. 1.05% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 13,538 households out of which 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.50% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.70% were non-families. 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.50% 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 2.99.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.70% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 30.10% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,549, and the median income for a family was $38,565. Males had a median income of $31,519 versus $20,480 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,515. About 13.10% of families and 15.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.80% of those under age 18 and 24.50% of those age 65 or over.

Municipalities

*Courtland
*Hillsboro
*Moulton
*North Courtland
*Town Creek

Communities

*Caddo
*Chalybeate
*Five Points
*Hatton
*Landersville
*Mallard Creek
*Mount Hope
*Oakville
*Pittsburg
*Red Bank
*Speake
*Wheeler
*Wren

See also

*Dry county

References

External links

* [http://www.lawrencealabama.com/ Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.eastlawrencehighschool.org/ East Lawrence High School]
* [http://www.naiap.com/index.html Lawrence County, Alabama site]
* [http://www.lawrenceal.org Lawrence County School System]