Lawrenceburg, Tennessee

Lawrenceburg, Tennessee
City

Town square in Lawrenceburg with a statue of David Crockett in the center.
Motto: "Where Tradition Meets Progress"

Location of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee
Coordinates: 35°14′37″N 87°20′4″W / 35.24361°N 87.33444°W / 35.24361; -87.33444Coordinates: 35°14′37″N 87°20′4″W / 35.24361°N 87.33444°W / 35.24361; -87.33444
Country United States
State Tennessee
County Lawrence
Founded 1819[1]
Incorporated 1825
Named for James Lawrence
Government
 • Type Mayor/Council/Administrator
 • Mayor Keith Durham
 • City Administrator Chris Shaffer
 • City Council
Area
 • Total 12.6 sq mi (32.6 km2)
 • Land 12.6 sq mi (32.6 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 1,120+ feet, 335+ meters ft (273 m)
Population (2013)
 • Total 15,423
 • Density 857.6/sq mi (331.1/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 38464
Area code(s) 931
FIPS code 47-41340[2]
GNIS feature ID 1290790[3]
Website www.lawrenceburgtn.gov

Lawrenceburg is a city in Lawrence County, Tennessee, United States, on the banks of Shoal Creek. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's population was 10,428 in 2010, with an estimate of over 14,000 as of the end of 2013. Lawrenceburg is the county seat of Lawrence County.[4] The city is named after War of 1812 American Navy officer James Lawrence.

Located around 80 miles (130 km) southwest of Nashville at the junction of U.S. Routes 43 and 64, Lawrenceburg is called the "Crossroads of Dixie." With a population nearing 15,000 as of 2015, it has become a destination city in south-central Tennessee.

History

According to a recent theory, the Lawrenceburg area is the likely site of "Chicasa" — the place where Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto and his men wintered in 1540-41 (earlier theories have suggested this campsite to have been in northern Mississippi). The Cherokee sold the area to the USA in 1806.

Upon moving from East Tennessee in the early 19th century, around 1817, David Crockett served as a justice of the peace, a colonel of the militia, and a state representative. David Crockett established a powder mill on Shoal Creek originally called the (Sycamore River). this area is now known as his namesake, David Crockett State Park. Crockett was elected as a commissioner and served on the board that placed Lawrenceburg four miles (6 km) west of the geographic center of Lawrence County. Crockett was opposed to the city being located in its current location, largely out of fear of flooding. He and his family lived in Lawrenceburg for several years before moving to West Tennessee after a flood destroyed his mill.

After World War II, the Murray Ohio Manufacturing Company, a U.S. producer of bicycles and outdoor equipment, moved its manufacturing operations to Lawrenceburg, building a new factory and assembly plant. Over the next several decades, the Murray factory grew to be one of the largest in the United States: 42.7 acres (173,000 m2) under roof.

A 500-year flood struck Lawrenceburg in July 1998. Two people were killed during the flood on Shoal Creek.[5]

Geography

Lawrenceburg is located at 35°14′37″N 87°20′4″W / 35.24361°N 87.33444°W / 35.24361; -87.33444 (35.243491, -87.334563).[6]

The city of Lawrenceburg has a total area of 12.6 square miles (33 km2). It is the largest city on the state line between Chattanooga and Memphis. Lawrenceburg is located on the southern Highland Rim, with elevations ranging between 910 feet (280 m) to over 1,120 feet (340 m).

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1870351—
188050343.3%
189061822.9%
190082333.2%
19101,687105.0%
19202,46145.9%
19303,10226.0%
19403,80722.7%
19505,44242.9%
19608,04247.8%
19708,88910.5%
198010,18414.6%
199010,4122.2%
200010,7963.7%
201010,428−3.4%
Est. 201510,569[7]1.4%
Sources:[8][9]

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 10,428 people residing in the city. The population density was 857.6 people per square mile (331.1/km²). There were 5,166 housing units at an average density of 410.4 per square mile (158.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94% White, 2.6% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 0.6% from Some Other Race, and 2.1% from Two or More Races. Hispanic or Latino people represented 2% of the population.

There were 4,579 households, out of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39% were a husband-wife family living together, 15% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.1% were nonfamily households. 36.4% of nonfamily households were made up of a householder living alone, and 18.1% of nonfamily households consisted of a person living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23, and the average family size was 2.89.

The median age of a person in Lawrenceburg during the 2010 United States Census was 40.8 years. The population was 53.4% female and 46.6% male.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,286, and the median income for a family was $47,143. Median earnings for male full-time, year-round workers was $34,960 versus $26,188 for female full-time, year-round workers. The per capita income for the city was $20,587. About 12.6% of families and 18.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.5% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.

Fred Thompson Rally in Lawrenceburg, 2008

Culture

Tourist attractions include David Crockett State Park and Amish Country.

Lawrence County is the birthplace of Southern Gospel Music and visitors to historic downtown Lawrenceburg can see where it all began at the James D. Vaughan Museum on the Square.

The downtown area has a statue of David Crockett, a replica of Crockett's office, and one of the only two Mexican-American War monuments in the U.S.

Major annual events

Event Setting and Details
Christmas In the Country Antiques, arts & crafts, food, toys, gifts, and much more. Event is held Friday, Saturday and Sunday before Thanksgiving at Rotary Park.
Crossroads of Dixie Antique Tractor Show Two-day event in August at Rotary Park, showcasing hundreds of antique tractors, engines, and farm equipment are on display along with music, food and other entertainment.
David Crockett Days Held in August at David Crockett State Park, this event celebrates David Crockett's birthday with outdoor events, food, and crafts.
James D Vaughan Festival This annual event is held in July at the Historic Crockett Theater, featuring two nights of gospel music quartets.
Middle Tennessee District Fair Hosted at Rotary Park, the week-long fair is the largest annual event in the county, featuring food, shopping, livestock, craft and food exhibits, a midway with rides and games, and nightly events such as the "Fairest of the Fair" beauty pageants, demolition derby, and more.
Southeast Law Enforcement Training Seminar Since the late 1990s, the annual educational and training event has hosted around 1,000 police officers at local venues for a week each summer. Internationally recognized law enforcement specialists conduct presentations and offer courses during the convention.

Education

The city is home to Lawrence County High School, E.O. Coffman Middle School, Ingram Sowell Elementary School, David Crockett Elementary School, New Prospect Elementary, and Lawrenceburg Public Elementary School. The local school district also operates an adult secondary educational facility and a specialized achievement school for K-12 students within the city's borders.

Private School Sacred Heart Elementary.

Post-Secondary Lawrenceburg is home to a satellite campus of Columbia State Community College.

Radio broadcasting

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ Paul Hellman, Historical Gazetteer of the United States (Taylor and Francis, 2005), p. 1018.
  2. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  5. ↑ Tennessee Flooding Events: Lawrenceburg, TN - July 1998 - Shoal Creek. Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center, National Weather Service. Retrieved 2013-12-21.
  6. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  7. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing: Decennial Censuses". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-03-04.
  9. ↑ "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 11 December 2013.

External links

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