Lawrence County, Ohio

History

The earliest European-American settlers, Luke Kelly and his family, and May Keyser, settled at Hanging Rock along the Ohio River in 1796, having migrated from the east. Lawrence County was formed on December 20, 1816, from parts of Gallia and Scioto counties, with the county seat named as Burlington. In 1851, the county seat was moved from Burlington to Ironton. A new courthouse was built at that time. It burned in 1857. The present Lawrence County Courthouse was built in 1908.

Men from Lawrence County served in the Mexican–American War, with at least one having died during that conflict. By 1862, about 3,200 of Lawrence County's men were soldiers in the Union Army in the American Civil War. During World War I, 2,200 of Lawrence County's men served in the armed forces, and 99 died.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 457 sqmi, of which 453 sqmi is land and 3.9 sqmi (0.9%) is water. It is the southernmost county in the state of Ohio and part of Appalachian Ohio.

Adjacent counties

• Jackson County (north)
• Gallia County (northeast)
• Cabell County, West Virginia (southeast)
• Wayne County, West Virginia (south)
• Boyd County, Kentucky (southwest)
• Greenup County, Kentucky (southwest)
• Scioto County (northwest)

National protected area

• Wayne National Forest (part)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 58,240. The median age was 43.1 years. 21.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.7 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 93.2% White, 1.9% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian,

54.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 45.3% lived in rural areas.

There were 23,872 households in the county, of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 46.6% were married-couple households, 17.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 26,501 housing units, of which 9.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.4% were owner-occupied and 28.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.9%.

Racial and ethnic composition

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 62,450 people, 24,974 households, and 17,405 families living in the county. The population density was 137.7 PD/sqmi. There were 27,603 housing units at an average density of 60.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 95.9% white, 2.0% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 18.0% were American, 15.4% were German, 12.9% were Irish, and 10.8% were English. In Lawrence County, less than 1% of people who self-identify as "Irish" are Catholic. Scholars believe this is part of a trend in which people are vaguely aware that at least some of their ancestors come from Ireland, but that population is primarily of "Scots-Irish" or "Ulster Scots" ancestry, and those identifying as "Irish" are simply unaware of the distinction. Those citing "American" ancestry in Lawrence County are of overwhelmingly English extraction, most English Americans identify simply as American because their ancestors have been in North America for centuriesin some cases since the 1600s.

Of the 24,974 households, 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.3% were non-families, and 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.95. The median age was 40.1 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,461 and the median income for a family was $46,732. Males had a median income of $38,170 versus $28,251 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,452. About 15.2% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.0% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 62,319 people, 24,732 households, and 17,807 families living in the county. The population density was 137 PD/sqmi. There were 27,189 housing units at an average density of 60 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 96.55% White, 2.09% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. 0.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 24,732 households, out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.00% were married couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,127, and the median income for a family was $35,308. Males had a median income of $30,622 versus $20,961 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,678. About 15.10% of families and 18.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.30% of those under age 18 and 12.90% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Lawrence County tends to support the Republican Party in presidential elections. Bill Clinton was the last Democrat to win the county, in 1996 – a distinction shared with 16 other Ohio counties, mostly in this region. Despite this fact, Democrats continued to crack 40% in election years. This changed in 2016, as with much of Appalachia, when Hillary Clinton's 26.03% was the lowest in nearly 90 nears. Four years later, Joe Biden barely did better.

Government

Lawrence County Elected Officials:

Commissioner: Dr. Colton Copley (R-South Point)

Commissioner: DeAnna Holliday (R-Ironton)

Commissioner: Mike Finley (R-Ironton)

Auditor - Paul David Knipp (R-Ironton)

Treasurer - Tresa Baker (R-Proctorville)

Clerk of Courts - Mike Patterson (D-Kitts Hill)

Sheriff - Jeff Lawless (R-Ironton)

Recorder - Lori Morris (R-Kitts Hill)

Coroner - Ben Mack (R-Crown City)

Prosecutor - Brigham Anderson (R-Ironton)

Engineer - Patrick Leighty (R-South Point)

Common Pleas Judge - Andrew Ballard (D-Proctorville)

Common Pleas Judge - Christen Finley (R-South Point)

Juvenile/Probate Judge - Patricia Sanders (R-South Point)

Primary Political Parties:

• Lawrence County Democratic Party
• Lawrence County Republican Party

Communities

City

• Ironton (county seat)

Villages

• Athalia
• Chesapeake
• Coal Grove
• Hanging Rock
• Proctorville
• South Point

Townships

• Aid
• Decatur
• Elizabeth
• Fayette
• Hamilton
• Lawrence
• Mason
• Perry
• Rome
• Symmes
• Union
• Upper
• Washington
• Windsor

Census-designated places

• Burlington
• Miller

Unincorporated communities

• Eifort
• Etna
• Firebrick
• Kitts Hill
• Pedro
• Rock Camp
• Scottown
• Waterloo
• Willow Wood

References

References

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7. ''Ironton Register'', October 9, 1862
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18. "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Ohio: Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin".
19. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Lawrence County, Ohio".
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22. included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
23. included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
24. not an option in the 1980 Census
25. not an option in the 1990 Census
26. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". [[United States Census Bureau]].
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38. (November 5, 2024). "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)".
39. (August 3, 2024). "Lawrence County Board of Elections".