Kentucky

Lawrence

16,293
2020 population
1830
first census record
20
census records

About Lawrence

Lawrence, Kentucky, first appears in the United States federal census in 1830, when it recorded a population of 3,900. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 16,293.

Its recorded population peaked at 20,067 in 1910, and has since declined by roughly 19 percent.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Action at Lawrence County (Louisa area, 1863), and 10 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202016,293
201015,860
200015,569
199013,998
198014,121
197010,726
196012,134
195014,418
194017,275
193016,713
192017,643
191020,067
190019,612
189017,702
188013,262
18708,497
18607,601
18506,281
18404,730
18303,900
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Lawrence

Military engagements that took place in Lawrence, Kentucky.

Action at Lawrence County (Louisa area, 1863)
1863

Historic places in Lawrence

National Register of Historic Places listings in Lawrence, Kentucky.

First United Methodist Church
Louisa
Big Sandy Milling Company
Louisa
Yatesville Covered Bridge
Fallsburg
Vinson, Fred M., Birthplace
Louisa
Freese, Capt., House
Louisa
Louisa Commercial Historic District
Louisa
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Everything a full report reveals about Lawrence County, Kentucky

This page charts the census history of Lawrence County, Kentucky. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Lawrence

When does Lawrence first appear in the US census?
Lawrence, Kentucky first appears in the federal census in 1830, with a recorded population of 3,900.
What is the population of Lawrence?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Lawrence had a recorded population of 16,293.
When did Lawrence's population peak?
Lawrence's recorded population peaked at 20,067 in 1910.
Were any battles fought in Lawrence?
1 documented military engagement took place in Lawrence, including Action at Lawrence County (Louisa area, 1863).
How many historic places are in Lawrence?
10 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Lawrence, Kentucky.
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