Harman Patil (Editor)

Lawrence County, Mississippi

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Named for
  
James Lawrence

Congressional district
  
3rd

Founded
  
1814

Population
  
12,514 (2013)

Unemployment rate
  
6.3% (Apr 2015)

Largest town
  
Monticello

Time zone
  
Central: UTC-6/-5

Area
  
1,129 km²

County seat
  
Monticello


Cities
  
Monticello, Silver Creek, New Hebron

Rivers
  
Pearl River, Bahala Creek, Fair River, East Topisaw Creek

Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2010 census, the population was 12,929. Its county seat is Monticello. The county is named for the naval hero James Lawrence.

Contents

Map of Lawrence County, MS, USA

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

    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.

    Towns

  • Monticello
  • New Hebron
  • Silver Creek
  • Unincorporated communities

  • Jayess
  • Nola
  • Oak Vale (partly in Jefferson Davis County)
  • Oma
  • Sontag
  • Wanilla
  • Notable people

  • Earl W. Bascom (1906-1995), "Father of Modern Rodeo" and Hall of Fame cowboy who worked on the Hickman Ranch near Arm, Mississippi in the mid 1930s.
  • 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 2001-2004 under President George W. Bush. Rod Paige was born and raised in Lawrence County.
  • References

    Lawrence County, Mississippi Wikipedia