Lawrenceville, GA

Lawrenceville is a city in and the county seat of Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States. It is a suburb of Atlanta, located approximately northeast of downtown. 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, commander of the frigate '' Chesapeake'' during the War of 1812. Lawrence, a native of New Jersey, 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, Gwinnett County 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 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.

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 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.

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 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, born in 1921, grew up in Cincinnati, 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 by unanimous decision on September 27, 1950.

Lawrenceville was one of many venues in the nation where '' Hustler'' magazine publisher Larry Flynt 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 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.

Since 1988, Lawrenceville has been the headquarters of the Presbyterian Church in America.

Geography

Lawrenceville is located in central Gwinnett County. According to the United States Census Bureau, 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 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 (Köppen climate classification ''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, 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 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 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 Gwinnett Stripers of the International League play at Coolray Field.

Education

Gwinnett County Public Schools

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