Lawrence County is a county in the

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...

of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 86,070. The county seat is New Castle. Lawrence County comprises the entire

New Castle, PA New Castle is a city in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Lawrence County. It is northwest of Pittsburgh, and near the Pennsylvania–Ohio border, just southeast of Youngstown, Ohio. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, ...

Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the larger Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-WV-OH Combined Statistical Area.

History

Lawrence County was created on March 20, 1849, from parts of

Beaver Beavers are large, semiaquatic rodents in the genus ''Castor'' native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere. There are two extant species: the North American beaver (''Castor canadensis'') and the Eurasian beaver (''C. fiber''). Beavers ar ...

and

Mercer Mercer may refer to: Business * Mercer (car), a defunct American automobile manufacturer (1909–1925) * Mercer (consulting firm), a large human resources consulting firm headquartered in New York City * Mercer (occupation), a merchant or trader ...

counties due to the rapid growth of New Castle, which was primarily in Mercer County but was rapidly expanding into Beaver County. The former borders between Beaver and Mercer Counties are still evident in Lawrence County today, as the northern borders of

North Beaver Township North Beaver Township is a township in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,959 at the 2020 census, a decline from the figure of 4,121 tabulated in 2010. The Slovene National Benefit Society applied to have thei ...

, Shenango Township, and Slippery Rock Township with (respectively) the southern borders of Mahoning Township, Hickory Township, and Scott Township make up the former boundaries between Beaver and Mercer Counties. In addition, County Line Road in New Castle where the Lawrence County Courthouse is located also marks the former boundaries. The county was named after the

flagship A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, characteristically a flag officer entitled by custom to fly a distinguishing flag. Used more loosely, it is the lead ship in a fleet of vessels, typically the fi ...

Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry Oliver Hazard Perry (August 23, 1785 – August 23, 1819) was an American naval commander, born in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. The best-known and most prominent member of the Perry family naval dynasty, he was the son of Sarah Wallace Ale ...

, the USS ''Lawrence'', which was disabled in the 10 September 1813 Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. The ship's complement included local raw recruits. That niagara-class

brig A brig is a type of sailing vessel defined by its rig: two masts which are both square rig, square-rigged. Brigs originated in the second half of the 18th century and were a common type of smaller merchant vessel or warship from then until the ...

(more correctly: snow) was itself a namesake, of Perry's friend and naval officer James Lawrence, who died during the War of 1812.

Geography

According to the

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.3%) 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. It has a humid continental climate (''Dfa''/''Dfb'') and average monthly temperatures in New Castle range from 27.7 °F in January to 72.2 °F in July

Adjacent counties

* Mercer County, Pennsylvania, Mercer County (north) * Butler County (east) * Beaver County (south) *

Columbiana County, Ohio Columbiana County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 101,877. The county seat is Lisbon and its largest city is Salem. The county name is derived from the explorer of the Americas, Christo ...

(southwest) *

Mahoning County, Ohio Mahoning County is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 228,614. Its county seat and largest city is Youngstown, Ohio, Youngstown. The county is List of ...

(west)

Demographics

As of the 2000 census 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 Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 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 Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race. 34.2% English or

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

, 14.6% were of Italian, 12.4%

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

, 9.0%

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

, 8.1% Irish, and 6.8% Scotch-Irish, 2.5%

Polish Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Poles, people from Poland or of Polish descent * Polish chicken *Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin screenwr ...

, and 1.9%

African African or Africans may refer to: * Anything from or pertaining to the continent of Africa: ** People who are native to Africa, descendants of natives of Africa, or individuals who trace their ancestry to indigenous inhabitants of Africa *** Ethn ...

ancestry. 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 Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

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.

2020 Census

Micropolitan Statistical Area

The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Lawrence County as the New Castle, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As of the

2010 U.S. Census The United States census of 2010 was the twenty-third United States national census. National Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2010. The census was taken via mail-in citizen self-reporting, with enumerators servin ...

the micropolitan area ranked 3rd most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 48th most populous in the United States with a population of 91,108. Lawrence County is also a part of the Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV Combined Statistical Area (CSA), which combines the population of Lawrence, as well as the Allegheny,

Armstrong Armstrong may refer to: Places * Armstrong Creek (disambiguation), various places Antarctica * Armstrong Reef, Biscoe Islands Argentina * Armstrong, Santa Fe Australia * Armstrong, Victoria Canada * Armstrong, British Columbia * Armstrong ...

Butler A butler is a person who works in a house serving and is a domestic worker in a large household. In great houses, the household is sometimes divided into departments with the butler in charge of the dining room, wine cellar, and pantry. Some a ...

, Fayette, Indiana, Washington and Westmoreland county areas in Pennsylvania. In West Virginia the counties included are

Brooke Brooke may refer to: People * Brooke (given name) * Brooke (surname) * Brooke baronets, families of baronets with the surname Brooke Places * Brooke, Norfolk, England * Brooke, Rutland, England * Brooke, Virginia, US * Brooke's Point, Palawan ...

and Hancock. And in Ohio, Jefferson County. The Combined Statistical Area ranked 4th in the State of Pennsylvania and 20th most populous in the United States with a population of 2,660,727.

Government and politics

As of February 21, 2022, there are 55,823 registered voters in Lawrence County. * Republican: 26,478 (47.43%) * Democratic : 22,567 (40.43%) * Independent: 4,564 (8.18%) * Third Party: 2,214 (3.97%)

County commissioners

* Morgan Boyd, Chairman, Republican * Dan Vogler, Republican * Loretta Spielvogel, Democrat

Other county officials

* Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary, Jodi Esoldo, 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 * Coroner, Richard Johnson, Democrat

State House of Representatives

* Christopher Sainato, Democrat, 9th district * Aaron Bernstine, Republican, 10th district * Parke Wentling, Republican, 17th district

State Senators

Elder Vogel Elder Vogel, Jr. (born July 9, 1956) is a Republican member of the Pennsylvania State Senate. He has represented the 47th district since 2009. Professional career Vogel is a fourth generation dairy farmer who operates his family's farm in New ...

, Republican, 47th district

United States House of Representatives

* Mike Kelly, Republican, 16th district

United States Senate

* Pat Toomey, Republican * Bob Casey, Jr.,

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

Education

Colleges

Butler Community College
Lawrence Crossing Campus * Westminster College - New Wilmington

Public school districts

Blackhawk School District The Blackhawk School District is a tiny, rural public school district that spans portions of two counties in Pennsylvania, United States. Blackhawk School District encompasses approximately . In Beaver County it covers the boroughs of Darlingt ...

(part) * Ellwood City Area School District (part) * Laurel School District *

Mohawk Area School District Mohawk Area School District is a rural, public school system in Bessemer, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States. Mohawk Area School District encompasses approximately . It is the largest school district in Lawrence County by area, serving ...

Neshannock Township School District Neshannock Township School District is a public school district located in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. The district serves Neshannock Township, Pennsylvania, a community featuring a variety of suburban-style homes. The district features Neshan ...

New Castle Area School District New Castle Area School District is a public school district located in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. The district serves the city of New Castle and Taylor Township. New Castle Area School District encompasses approximately . According to 20 ...

* Shenango School District *

Union Area School District Union Area School District is a diminutive, suburban public school district located in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. The Union Area School District encompasses approximately . The District serves Union Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania as ...

Wilmington Area School District Wilmington Area School District is a public school district located in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and Mercer County, Pennsylvania. The district serves the boroughs of New Wilmington and Volant plus Pulaski, Wilmington, Washington Washin ...

(part)

Tech schools

* Lawrence County Career Technology Center - New Castle * New Castle School of Trades - New Castle

Private schools

* Apple Grove School - New Wilmington * Cherry Hill School - New Wilmington * Cotton School - New Wilmington * Ellwood City Children's Center, Inc. * Faith Country Chapel Preschool and Kindergarten - New Castle * Fayette School - Volant * Hillside Parochial School - New Wilmington * Indian Run School - New Wilmington * J R Wilson School - New Wilmington * Ligo School - New Wilmington * Little Beaver Parochial School - Enon Valley * Lusk School - Volant * Meadow Lark School - New Wilmington * New Castle Christian Academy - New Castle * Parents Preschool Ellwood City * Shepherd School - Volant * St Vitus Catholic School - New Castle * Thorn Hill School - Volant * Westminster Preschool - New Wilmington Per data provided at Pennsylvania EdNA

Libraries

* Ellwood City Area Public Library * F D Campbell Memorial Library - Bessemer * Lawrence County Federated Library System - New Castle * New Castle Public Library

Transportation

Airports

New Castle Municipal Airport New Castle Municipal Airport is a small municipal airport located in Union Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania serving Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. Union Township is an outskirt of New Castle, Pe ...

Public transit

New Castle Area Transit Authority New Castle Area Transit Authority is a public transportation service located in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. It provides inter-city bus and paratransit service to select communities within the county. Because the region is located within the metr ...

Major roads and highways

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Recreation

Parks

Cascade Park
(New Castle)

(Ellwood City) * Gaston Park (New Castle) *

McConnells Mill State Park McConnells Mill State Park is a List of Pennsylvania state parks, Pennsylvania state park in Perry Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, Perry and Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, Slippery Rock Townships, Lawrence County, ...

(Slippery Rock Twp) * Pearson Park (Neshannock Twp)
West Park Nature Center
(Union Twp) * Marti Park * New Wilmington Borough Park

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
*Neshannock Trail

Municipalities

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases,

towns A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world. Origin and use The word "town" shares an ori ...

. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Lawrence County:

City

* New Castle (county seat)

Boroughs

* Bessemer * Ellport *

Ellwood City Ellwood City is a Borough (Pennsylvania), borough primarily in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a small district in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Beaver County. The population was 7,031 at the 2020 ...

(partly in Beaver County) * Enon Valley * New Beaver *

New Wilmington New Wilmington is a borough in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States, first platted in 1824 and established as a borough on April 9, 1863. The population was 2,097 at the 2020 census. It is home to Westminster College and serves the Old O ...

* S.N.P.J. * South New Castle *

Volant Volant may refer to: *Volant (heraldry), an attitude of heraldry, a position of a bird emblazoned as a charge, supporter or crest *Flying and gliding animals *Volant skis, a U.S. ski manufacturer *Volant, Pennsylvania Volant is a borough in Law ...

* Wampum

Townships

Hickory Hickory is a common name for trees composing the genus ''Carya'', which includes around 18 species. Five or six species are native to China, Indochina, and India (Assam), as many as twelve are native to the United States, four are found in Mexi ...

* Little Beaver * Mahoning * Neshannock * North Beaver * Perry * Plain Grove * Pulaski *

Scott Scott may refer to: Places Canada * Scott, Quebec, municipality in the Nouvelle-Beauce regional municipality in Quebec * Scott, Saskatchewan, a town in the Rural Municipality of Tramping Lake No. 380 * Rural Municipality of Scott No. 98, Saska ...

* Shenango * Slippery Rock *

Taylor Taylor, Taylors or Taylor's may refer to: People * Taylor (surname) **List of people with surname Taylor * Taylor (given name), including Tayla and Taylah * Taylor sept, a branch of Scottish clan Cameron * Justice Taylor (disambiguation) Plac ...

* Union * Washington * Wayne * Wilmington

Census-designated places

Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the

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. * Chewton * Frizzleburg *

New Bedford New Bedford (Massachusett: ) is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts. It is located on the Acushnet River in what is known as the South Coast region. Up through the 17th century, the area was the territory of the Wampanoag Native American pe ...

* New Castle Northwest *

Oakland Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. A major West Coast port, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third largest city overall in the Bay A ...

* Oakwood * West Pittsburg

Unincorporated communities

Various unincorporated communities that lie within and are part of official municipalities. * Altman * Castlewood * Cottage Grove * Coverts * Duckrun * Eastbrook * Edinburg * Energy * Gibsondale * Grant City * Harbor * Harlansburg * Hillsville * Joyce * McCaslin * Moravia * Mount Jackson * Pulaski * Rockville * Rose Point * Skidmore * Sunset Valley * Villa Maria * Walmo * Wiegletown * Wurtemberg

Former community

* Big Beaver Borough- became a borough on March 7, 1958. Until that date it was known as Big Beaver Township which was formed in 1802 when South Beaver Township was divided. In 1849 when Lawrence County was created, the new county line split Big Beaver leaving a township of that name in each county. Big Beaver in Lawrence County is now known as New Beaver Borough.

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Lawrence County. † ''county seat''

References

External links

* Tourism - http://www.visitlawrencecounty.com/ * Government - http://www.co.lawrence.pa.us/ * Economic Development - http://www.lawrencecounty.com/ * Chamber of Commerce - https://web.archive.org/web/20071006161144/http://www.lawrencecountychamber.com/ * Fishing - http://www.fish.state.pa.us/ * Hunting - http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/ * History - http://www.lawrencechs.com/ {{authority control Pittsburgh metropolitan area Populated places established in 1849 1849 establishments in Pennsylvania Counties of Appalachia