Lawrence County, Pennsylvania

Lawrence County, Pennsylvania
Lawrence County Courthouse
Location in the state of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location in the U.S.
Founded	March 20, 1849
Seat	New Castle
Largest city	New Castle
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	363 sq mi (940 km²) 361 sq mi (935 km²) 2 sq mi (5 km²), 0.63%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	91,108 252/sq mi (97.4/km²)
Website	www.co.lawrence.pa.us

Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. In 2010, its population was 91,108. The county was added to the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area in 2003. The county seat is New Castle^[1].

Lawrence County was created on March 20, 1849, from parts of Beaver and Mercer counties. It was named after the USS Lawrence, Oliver Hazard Perry's original flagship at the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 363 square miles (940.2 km²), of which 360 square miles (932.4 km²) is land and 2 square miles (5.2 km²) (0.63%) is water. Major waterways are the Shenango River, Neshannock Creek and the Mahoning River which form the Beaver River. Also, the Slippery Rock Creek and Connoquenessing Creak empty into the Beaver River.

Adjacent counties

• Mercer County (north)
• Butler County (east)
• Beaver County (south)
• Columbiana County, Ohio (southwest)
• Mahoning County, Ohio (west)

Government and politics

As of November 2008, there are 62,505 registered voters in Lawernce County [1].

• Democratic: 34,728 (55.56%)
• Republican: 22,509 (36.01%)
• Other Parties: 5,268 (8.43%)

County commissioners

• Dan Vogler, Chairman, Republican
• Bob Del Signore, Republican
• Steve Craig, Democrat

Other county officials

• Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary, Helen Morgan, Democrat
• Controller, David Gettings, Republican
• District Attorney, Joshua Lamancusa, Democrat
• Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds, Janet Kalajainen, Democrat
• Sheriff, Perry Quahliero, Democrat
• Treasurer, Richard Rapone, Democrat

State Representatives

• Christopher Sainato, Democrat, 9th district
• Jaret Gibbons, Democrat, 10th district
• Michele Brooks, Republican, 17th district

State Senators

• Elder Vogel, Republican, 47th district
• Robert D. Robbins, Republican, 50th district

US Representative

• Jason Altmire, Democrat, 4th district

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1850	21,079		—
1860	22,999		9.1%
1870	27,298		18.7%
1880	33,312		22.0%
1890	37,517		12.6%
1900	57,042		52.0%
1910	70,032		22.8%
1920	85,545		22.2%
1930	97,258		13.7%
1940	96,877		−0.4%
1950	105,120		8.5%
1960	112,965		7.5%
1970	107,374		−4.9%
1980	107,150		−0.2%
1990	96,246		−10.2%
2000	94,639		−1.7%
2010	91,108		−3.7%
[2][3]

As of the census^[4] of 2000, there were 94,643 people, 37,091 households, and 25,889 families residing in the county. The population density was 263 people per square mile (101/km²). There were 39,635 housing units at an average density of 110 per square mile (42/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.98% White, 3.61% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. 0.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 26.1% were of Italian, 21.7% German, 9.3% Irish, 6.8% English and 6.8% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 37,091 households out of which 28.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.50% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.10% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 19.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.90 males.

Municipalities

Map of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Cities and Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Lawrence County:

Cities

• New Castle

Boroughs

Bessemer Ellport Ellwood City Enon Valley

New Beaver New Wilmington S.N.P.J.

South New Castle Volant Wampum

Townships

Hickory Township Little Beaver Township Mahoning Township Neshannock Township North Beaver Township Perry Township

Plain Grove Township Pulaski Township Scott Township Shenango Township Slippery Rock Township

Taylor Township Union Township Washington Township Wayne Township Wilmington Township

Census-designated places

Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well.

• New Castle Northwest
• Oakland
• Oakwood

Other Communities

Various unincorporated communities that lie within and are part of official municipalities.

• Castlewood (Shenango Twp)
• Chewton (Wayne Twp)
• Eastbrook (Hickory Twp)
• Edinburg (Mahoning Twp)
• Energy (Slippery Rock Twp)
• Frizzleburg (Pulaski Twp)
• Harlansburg (Scott Twp)
• Hillsville (Mahoning Twp)
• Moravia (Taylor Twp)
• Mount Jackson (North Beaver Twp)
• New Bedford (Pulaski Twp)
• West Pittsburg (Taylor Township)
• Wurtemburg (Taylor Twp)

Education

Map of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts

Public School Districts

• Blackhawk School District (part)
• Ellwood City Area School District (part)
• Laurel School District
• Mohawk Area School District
• Neshannock Township School District
• New Castle Area School District
• Shenango School District
• Union Area School District
• Wilmington Area School District (part)

Colleges

• Butler Community College Lawrence Crossing Campus
• Erie Business College
• Westminster College

Transportation

Airports

• New Castle Municipal Airport (Union Twp)

Public Transit

• New Castle Area Transit Authority

Major Roads

• Interstate 76
• Interstate 79
• Interstate 376
• Pennsylvania Route 18
• Pennsylvania Route 65
• Pennsylvania Route 388
• Pennsylvania Route 551
• U.S. Route 19
• U.S. Route 224
• U.S. Route 422

Recreation

Parks

• Cascade Park (New Castle)
• Ewing Park (Ellwood City)
• Gaston Park (New Castle)
• McConnells Mill State Park (Slippery Rock Twp)
• Pearson Park (Neshannock Twp)
• West Park Nature Center (Union Twp)

State Game Lands

• SGL 148 (New Beaver)
• SGL 150 (Pulaski Twp)
• SGL 151 (Washington Twp)
• SGL 178 (Neshannock Twp)
• SGL 216 (Scott Twp)

Trails

• North Country Trail
• Stavich Bike Trail

See also

• List of municipal authorities in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania

References

1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
2. ^ http://factfinder2.census.gov
3. ^ http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/
4. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 

External links

• Tourism - http://www.visitlawrencecounty.com/
• Government - http://www.co.lawrence.pa.us/
• Economic Development - http://www.lawrencecounty.com/
• Chamber of Commerce - http://www.lawrencecountychamber.com/
• Fishing - http://www.fish.state.pa.us/
• Hunting - http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/
• History - http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/phmc_home/1426

Coordinates: 40°59′N 80°20′W / 40.99°N 80.33°W / 40.99; -80.33