Lawrenceville, GA
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Lawrenceville is a city in and the
county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...
of
Gwinnett County Gwinnett County ( ) is located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. It forms part of the Atlanta metropolitan area, being located about northeast of Atlanta city limits. In 2020, the population was 957,062, making it the ...
,
Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...
, United States. It is a
suburb A suburb (more broadly suburban area) is an area within a metropolitan area. They are oftentimes where most of a metropolitan areas jobs are located with some being predominantly residential. They can either be denser or less densely populated ...
of
Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...
, located approximately northeast of
downtown ''Downtown'' is a term primarily used in American and Canadian English to refer to a city's sometimes commercial, cultural and often the historical, political, and geographic heart. It is often synonymous with its central business district ( ...
. It was incorporated on December 15, 1821. As of the 2020 census, the population of Lawrenceville was 30,629.


History

Lawrenceville was incorporated by an act of the Georgia General Assembly on December 15, 1821. This makes Lawrenceville the second oldest city in the metropolitan Atlanta area. The city is named after Commodore
James Lawrence James Lawrence (October 1, 1781 – June 4, 1813) was an officer of the United States Navy. During the War of 1812, he commanded in a single-ship action against , commanded by Philip Broke. He is probably best known today for his last words, ...
, commander of the frigate '' Chesapeake'' during the
War of 1812 The War of 1812 was fought by the United States and its allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom and its allies in North America. It began when the United States United States declaration of war on the Uni ...
. Lawrence, a native of
New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
, is probably best known today for his dying command, "Don't give up the ship!" William Maltbie, the town's first postmaster, suggested the name of "Lawrenceville." In 1821, a permanent site for the county courthouse was selected and purchased, the four streets bordering the square were laid out along with other streets in the village, and a public well was dug. Major Grace built the first permanent courthouse, a brick structure, in 1823–24 for a cost of $4,000. The courthouse presently on the square was constructed in 1885. Most of Lawrenceville's residents farmed cotton. During the tumultuous era of the
Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...
,
Gwinnett County Gwinnett County ( ) is located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. It forms part of the Atlanta metropolitan area, being located about northeast of Atlanta city limits. In 2020, the population was 957,062, making it the ...
stood as a notable exception, casting its vote against secession. At the heart of this dissent was Lawrenceville, the county seat, which dispatched three delegates to represent its staunch opposition to secession. This resistance stemmed partly from the county's unique demographic makeup, characterized by a relatively low slave population, where the ratio of whites to slaves stood at 4 to 1. Despite its initial reluctance to join the secessionist cause, Lawrenceville found itself drawn into the conflict as it rallied to support the
Confederate A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a political union of sovereign states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issu ...
war effort. The bustling town was home to the Lawrenceville Manufacturing Company, a prominent cotton mill established in the 1850s. This mill played a vital role in producing essential textile goods, including uniforms, to supply the
Confederate army The Confederate States Army (CSA), also called the Confederate army or the Southern army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fi ...
. While Lawrenceville itself remained untouched by the direct clashes of battle, it was not spared the ravages of war. The infamous March to the Sea led by
General Sherman William Tecumseh Sherman ( ; February 8, 1820February 14, 1891) was an American soldier, businessman, educator, and author. He served as a General officer, general in the Union Army during the American Civil War (1861–1865), earning recognit ...
brought the conflict to its doorstep. The town became a target for frequent raids by Union forces, disrupting daily life and instilling fear among its inhabitants. One of the most devastating blows came when Union soldiers set fire to the Lawrenceville Manufacturing Company, dealing a severe blow to the city's commercial infrastructure. This act of destruction not only symbolized the toll of war on the town's economy but also underscored the intense division and strife tearing through the nation during this tumultuous period. By the end of the war, half of the wealth of Lawrenceville was lost by the
Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...
. Courtland Winn served two terms as mayor starting in 1884 when he was 21 years old. The two most famous people born in Lawrenceville gained their fame elsewhere. Charles Henry Smith, born in 1826, left as a young man and lived most of his life in other Georgia towns. During the
Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...
he wrote humorous pieces for Atlanta newspapers under the name Bill Arp. He has been described as the South's most popular writer of the late 19th century, though he is not much read today.
Ezzard Charles Ezzard Mack Charles (July 7, 1921 – May 28, 1975), was an American professional boxer who competed from 1940 to 1959. Known as "the Cincinnati Cobra", Charles was respected for his slick defense and precision, and is often regarded as the gre ...
, born in 1921, grew up in
Cincinnati Cincinnati ( ; colloquially nicknamed Cincy) is a city in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. Settled in 1788, the city is located on the northern side of the confluence of the Licking River (Kentucky), Licking and Ohio Ri ...
, where opportunities for African-Americans were far better at the time than in the Deep South. He eventually became the World Heavyweight boxing champion by defeating
Joe Louis Joseph Louis Barrow (May 13, 1914 – April 12, 1981) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1934 to 1951. Nicknamed "the Brown Bomber", Louis is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential boxers of all time. He r ...
by unanimous decision on September 27, 1950. Lawrenceville was one of many venues in the nation where '' Hustler'' magazine publisher
Larry Flynt Larry Claxton Flynt Jr. (; November 1, 1942 – February 10, 2021) was an American publisher and the president of Larry Flynt Publications (LFP). LFP mainly produces pornographic magazines, such as '' Hustler'', pornographic videos, and three p ...
faced obscenity charges in the late 1970s. On March 6, 1978, during a lunch break in his Lawrenceville trial, he and his local attorney Gene Reeves were shot by a sniper near the courthouse. Both survived, though Flynt was seriously disabled. Years later, imprisoned serial killer
Joseph Paul Franklin Joseph Paul Franklin (born James Clayton Vaughn Jr.; April 13, 1950 – November 20, 2013) was an American serial killer, white supremacist, and domestic terrorist who engaged in a murder spree spanning the late 1970s and early 1980s. Frankli ...
claimed to have been the shooter, but he never produced any proof and was not charged in the case. (Franklin was executed in 2013 in Missouri for a 1977 sniper slaying.) A heavily fictionalized treatment of the Flynt shooting can be seen in the 1996 movie '' The People vs. Larry Flynt''. The Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center was built in 1988 at a cost of $72 million to replace the original Gwinnett County Courthouse, which had been built in 1872 shortly after the
American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
. Since 1988, Lawrenceville has been the headquarters of the
Presbyterian Church in America The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) is the second-largest Presbyterian church body, behind the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the largest conservative Calvinist denomination in the United States. The PCA is Calvinist, Reformed in theolog ...
.


Geography

Lawrenceville is located in central Gwinnett County. According to the
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the city has a total area of , of which is land and , or 0.83%, is water. Nearby cities are Dacula to the east, Buford to the north, Suwanee to the north-northwest,
Duluth Duluth ( ) is a Port, port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of St. Louis County, Minnesota, St. Louis County. Located on Lake Superior in Minnesota's Arrowhead Region, the city is a hub for cargo shipping. The population ...
to the northwest, Norcross to the west, Lilburn to the southwest, Snellville to the south, and Grayson to the southeast.


Climate

Lawrenceville has a
humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...
(
Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
''Cfa'').


Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 30,629 people, 10,524 households, and 7,071 families residing in the city.


Economy

Atlanta Biologicals is located in Lawrenceville. Peach State Federal Credit Union headquartered in Lawrenceville serves 39,800 members across Barrow, Clarke, DeKalb, Forsyth, Gwinnett,
Jackson Jackson may refer to: Places Australia * Jackson, Queensland, a town in the Maranoa Region * Jackson North, Queensland, a locality in the Maranoa Region * Jackson South, Queensland, a locality in the Maranoa Region * Jackson oil field in Durham, ...
, Oconee, and Walton Counties. It hosts the headquarters of KiK Consumer Products, parent company of BioLab Inc. According to the City of Lawrenceville’s 2045 Comprehensive Plan, the primary employment sectors in Lawrenceville include healthcare (9,451 workers), public administration (7,822 workers), education (5,346 workers), and retail (3,292 workers), reflecting the city's role as a regional center for medical services, government operations, and education. Several major employers in Gwinnett County also contribute to the local economy, including Gwinnett County Public Schools, Gwinnett County Government, Northside Hospital, Publix, Georgia Gwinnett College, Gwinnett Technical College, and America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses.


2045 Comprehensive Plan

The Lawrenceville 2045 Comprehensive Plan is the city’s official long-range planning document, outlining its vision, goals, and strategies for development through the year 2045. The plan was developed with input from residents, stakeholders, and officials, and addresses areas such as land use, transportation, housing, economic development, broadband access, and community development. It is intended to guide growth and infrastructure investment while maintaining aspects of the city's historic character.


Land Use

The plan emphasizes redevelopment of underutilized parcels and promotes mixed-use developments, with the objective of improving walkability and situating new projects near public transportation hubs. These developments aim to integrate residential, commercial, and recreational spaces within the city.


Transportation

Transportation initiatives in the plan include expanding access to public transit and enhancing infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists. Proposed improvements involve the addition of bike lanes and active transportation routes to support a multimodal mobility network.


Housing

The housing strategy outlined in the plan includes efforts to preserve existing affordable housing while supporting the development of mixed-income and executive housing options. The plan aims to accommodate a range of income levels and housing needs.


Community Development

The plan includes initiatives to support workforce diversity, local entrepreneurship, and digital accessibility. Efforts are underway to expand broadband internet access, particularly in underserved areas, as part of a broader strategy focused on digital equity and innovation.


Arts and culture

The Old Seminary Building, Isaac Adair House and Gwinnett County Courthouse in Lawrenceville are listed on the
National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
. The Lawrenceville Arts Center (LAC), the new home of the Aurora Theatre, brings art and culture together in the center of the historic square. The LAC features a 500-seat Proscenium theatre, a cabaret, an outdoor public courtyard, and an art gallery. A second building, the Bobby Sikes Fine Arts Building, features a 225-seat theatre and black box theatre. The Lawrenceville Arts Center averages 80,000 visitors per year and is owned by the City of Lawrenceville. The Lawrenceville Lawn is a city park offering an amphitheater, playground, volleyball courts, dog park, and walking path. It is also the location of concerts and community events. Rhodes Jordan Park, named for the former mayor, is a 162-acre park with a fishing lake, playground, extensive sports facilities, swim facilities, 1.9 mile paved trail, and the Lawrenceville Community Garden. Fallen Heroes Memorial & Armed Forces Monument pays tribute to all Gwinnett residents who died in the line of duty in either military or public safety service. The memorial honors roughly 700 individuals. The Lawrenceville Heritage Trail follows a series of medallions throughout the historic downtown, each dedicated to the individuals who have made significant contributions to the City of Lawrenceville throughout its history.
Gwinnett County Public Library The Gwinnett County Public Library is located in unincorporated Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States, northeast of Atlanta. The library currently has 15 branches throughout the county and employs an interlibrary loan system for those with a va ...
operates a library in Lawrenceville. The Gwinnett County Public Library and the City of Lawrenceville are preserving the Hooper-Renwick Historic School Site into the first themed library of its kind in the southeastern United States. It will incorporate cultural and historic objects and artifacts with the library's resources and information, offering the opportunity for the public to learn the history of segregation and desegregation in Gwinnett. Lawrenceville Historic Cemetery is located approximately one-half mile from the historic square and is the resting place of several city founders. Freeman's Grist Mill is a Gwinnett County Park located in Lawrenceville. It features a playground that replicates a gristmill, a picnic pavilion, multi-purpose trail, and the historic mill. Lawrenceville Ghost Tours are available annually in September and October. The City of Lawrenceville is home to several public murals commissioned by the Lawrenceville Arts Commission. The City of Lawrenceville hosts an average of 30 free community events annually in the downtown historic district. The City of Lawrenceville was designated a Tree City by the Arbor Day Foundation on February 18, 2023. The City of Lawrenceville was declared a Purple Heart City on August 24, 2020, by Mayor David Still. The annual Polish Pierogi Festival occurs in August, and includes food booths, music, and competitions.


Sports

The Triple-A
Minor League Baseball Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is a professional baseball organization below Major League Baseball (MLB), constituted of teams affiliated with MLB clubs. It was founded on September 5, 1901, in response to the growing dominance of the National Le ...
Gwinnett Stripers The Gwinnett Stripers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. They play their home games at Coolray Field in unincorporated Gwinnett County, Georgia ...
of the
International League The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major ...
play at Coolray Field.


Education

Gwinnett County Public Schools The Gwinnett County Public Schools is a school district operating in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States. GCPS is the largest school system in Georgia,Alton C. Crews Middle School (Brookwood) * Sweetwater Middle School (Berkmar)


High schools

* Archer High School * Central Gwinnett High School * Discovery High School * Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology * Maxwell High School * Mountain View High School * Phoenix High School


Other schools

* Gwinnett Intervention Education (GIVE) Center East * Hooper-Renwick School * Sola Fide Academy


Colleges and university

Within Lawrenceville are two public colleges: * Gwinnett Technical College *
Georgia Gwinnett College Georgia Gwinnett College (Georgia Gwinnett or GGC) is a public college in Lawrenceville, Georgia. It is a member of the University System of Georgia. Georgia Gwinnett College opened on August 18, 2006. It has grown from its original 118 students ...

Reformed UniversityUniversity of Georgia - Gwinnett Campus


Infrastructure


Transportation


Roads and expressways

* Georgia 316, U.S. 78 (Stone Mountain Freeway),
US 29 U.S. Route 29 or U.S. Highway 29 (US 29) is a north–south United States Numbered Highway that runs for from Pensacola, Florida, to Ellicott City, Maryland, just west of Baltimore, Maryland, in the Eastern United States, connect ...
, GA 8, GA 20, and GA 120.


Transit systems

Xpress GA/ RTA Commuter buses and Gwinnett County Transit serve the city.


Airport

Gwinnett County Airport is partially located in Lawrenceville.


Hospitals

Northside Hospital Gwinnett is located in Lawrenceville.


Biorepository

The CDC and ATSDR Specimen Packaging, Inventory and Repository (CASPIR) biorepository located in Lawrenceville, Georgia holds over 6.5 million samples.


Notable people

* Kenny Adeshigbin, soccer player *
Moisés Arias Moisés Arias (born April 18, 1994) is an American actor. He portrayed Rico in the Disney Channel series ''Hannah Montana'', Biaggio in the 2013 Sundance film '' The Kings of Summer'', Cokestraw in the 2019 SXSW comedy-drama '' The Wall of Mexi ...
, television and film actor * Jonathan Babineaux, former
NFL The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The N ...
defensive tackle *
Ezzard Charles Ezzard Mack Charles (July 7, 1921 – May 28, 1975), was an American professional boxer who competed from 1940 to 1959. Known as "the Cincinnati Cobra", Charles was respected for his slick defense and precision, and is often regarded as the gre ...
, boxing champion who defeated
Joe Louis Joseph Louis Barrow (May 13, 1914 – April 12, 1981) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1934 to 1951. Nicknamed "the Brown Bomber", Louis is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential boxers of all time. He r ...
* Wes Chatham, actor,
The Unit ''The Unit'' is an American action-drama television series created by David Mamet that aired on CBS from March 7, 2006, to May 10, 2009, with the total of four seasons and 69 episodes. The series focuses on a top-secret military unit modeled ...
,
The Help ''The Help'' is a historical fiction novel by American author Kathryn Stockett published by Penguin Books in 2009. The story is about African Americans working in white households in Jackson, Mississippi, during the early 1960s. A ''USA Today' ...
and Barbershop * EJay Day, singer, finalist on first season of ''
American Idol ''American Idol'' is an American Music competition, singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle (company), Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It a ...
'' * Carder England, poker player * Rachel Farley, country music singer *
Jennifer Ferrin Jennifer Ferrin (born February 25, 1979) is an American actress. Early life and education Ferrin was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia. She attended Brookwood High where she was the lead in many high school plays and was a member of the choir. Upo ...
, actress *
Ric Flair Richard Morgan Fliehr (born February 25, 1949), known professionally as Ric Flair, is an American retired professional wrestler. Widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, Flair's career spanned 50 years. He is ...
, retired professional wrestler * Rachel G. Fox, teen actress *
Jeff Francoeur Jeffrey Braden Francoeur (; born January 8, 1984), nicknamed "Frenchy", is an American former professional baseball right fielder, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, Kansas City Royals ...
, former MLB right fielder *
Joe Gebbia Joseph Gebbia Jr. (; born August 21, 1981) is an American designer and entrepreneur, and a co-founder of Airbnb. Gebbia is on the board of directors of Airbnb, but has not been involved in the operations of the company since 2022. In 2022, Gebb ...
, designer and co-founder of
Airbnb Airbnb, Inc. ( , an abbreviation of its original name, "Air Bed and Breakfast") is an American company operating an online marketplace for short-and-long-term homestays, experiences and services in various countries and regions. It acts as a ...
* Kelly Gissendaner, murderer executed in Georgia *
Taylor Heinicke Taylor Heinicke ( ; born March 15, 1993) is an American professional football quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Old Dominion Monarchs football, Old Dominion Monarch ...
, quarterback for the
Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta. The Falcons compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. The Falcons were founded o ...
* Russell Horning, dancer * Ricardo Hurtado, teen actor known for ''
School of Rock ''School of Rock'' (titled on screen as ''The School of Rock'') is a 2003 comedy film directed by Richard Linklater, produced by Scott Rudin and written by Mike White (filmmaker), Mike White. The film stars Jack Black, Joan Cusack, White and Sa ...
'' *
Hamilton Jordan William Hamilton McWhorter Jordan () (September 21, 1944 – May 20, 2008) was an American politician who served as Chief of Staff to President of the United States Jimmy Carter. Early life Jordan was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, the son ...
, Chief of Staff to President
Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (October 1, 1924December 29, 2024) was an American politician and humanitarian who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party ...
* Michael Kelly, actor, ''
House of Cards A house of cards (also known as a card tower or card castle) is a structure created by stacking playing cards on top of each other, often in the shape of a pyramid. "House of cards" is also an expression that dates back to 1645 meaning a struc ...
'' *
Jonathan Massaquoi Jonathan Massaquoi (born 11 May 1988) is a Liberian former professional American football linebacker. He was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL draft. He played college football at Troy. College career After playi ...
, former NFL football player * Jimmy Maurer, soccer playerGreat Crowd Support In 2-1 Loss
*Brian McCann (baseball), Brian McCann, former MLB catcher *Migos, rap group *Grace Min, tennis player *Maya Moore, basketball player, forward for the Minnesota Lynx *Raju Rai, badminton national champion *Ted Roof, football coach *Junior Samples, comedian *Kobe Smith, NFL player *Christin Stewart, MLB baseball player *Cassandra Trenary, ballet dancer *Darius Walker, football player * Courtland Winn, politician and lawyer *Rob Woodall, politician and former member of U.S. House of Representatives *Walker Zimmerman, soccer player


References


External links

*
Georgia.gov: Lawrenceville
{{authority control Cities in Georgia (U.S. state) Cities in Gwinnett County, Georgia County seats in Georgia (U.S. state) Populated places established in 1821