Lawrence County, Pennsylvania


Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 91,108. The county seat is New Castle.
Lawrence County makes up the entire New Castle, PA 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 and Mercer 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, Shenango Township, and Slippery Rock Township with 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 of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, 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 niagra-class brig 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 county has a total area of, of which is land and 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 and average monthly temperatures in New Castle range from 27.7 °F in January to 72.2 °F in July.

Adjacent counties

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. There were 39,635 housing units at an average density of 110 per square mile. 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. 34.2% English or Welsh, 14.6% were of Italian, 12.4% American, 9.0% German, 8.1% Irish, and 6.8% Scotch-Irish, 2.5% Polish, and 1.9% African 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 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.

Micropolitan Statistical Area

The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Lawrence County as the New Castle, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area . As of the 2010 U.S. Census 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 , which combines the population of Lawrence, as well as the Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Indiana, Washington and Westmoreland county areas in Pennsylvania. In West Virginia the counties included are Brooke 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 November 2008, there were 62,505 registered voters in Lawrence County.

Colleges

Per data provided at Pennsylvania EdNA

Libraries

Airports

Recreation

Parks

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:

City

s 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.
Various unincorporated communities that lie within and are part of official municipalities.
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Lawrence County.
† county seat
RankCity/Town/etc.Municipal typePopulation
1† New CastleCity23,273
2Ellwood City Borough7,921
3New WilmingtonBorough2,466
4OakwoodCDP2,270
5OaklandCDP1,569
6New BeaverBorough1,502
7New Castle NorthwestCDP1,413
8EllportBorough1,180
9BessemerBorough1,111
10New BedfordCDP925
11West PittsburgCDP808
12WampumBorough717
13South New CastleBorough709
14FrizzleburgCDP602
15ChewtonCDP488
16Enon ValleyBorough306
17VolantBorough168
18S.N.P.J.Borough19