Lawrence is a river city located in Douglas County, Kansas, 41 miles (66 km) west by south of Kansas City, along both banks of the Kaw River. In 1900, 10,862 people lived in Lawrence; in 1910, 12,374; in 1920, 12,456; and in 1940, 14,390. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 80,098. Lawrence is the county seat of Douglas County, and is the home of the University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University.
Lawrence is located at 38°57'36" North, 95°15'12" West (38.959902, -95.253199).
This is about 25 miles (40 km) west of Kansas City, and about 20 miles (30 km) east of Topeka.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 74.3 km2 (28.7 mi2). 72.8 km2 (28.1 mi2) of it is land and 1.5 km2 (0.6 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 2.06% water.
Google Earth, software that allows the user to "fly" over the surface of the earth, mapped with high-quality satellite photography and accurate topographical data, has a default position when started up that is centered exactly on the town of Lawrence (specifically, on a house lying between Compton Square and Regency Place). This may be verified by running the software and zooming in from the default start position--which appears to be selected roughly for the best view of the North American continent--without rotating the virtual globe at all.
As of the census of 2000, there are 80,098 people, 31,388 households, and 15,725 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,100.2/km2 (2,849.4/mi2). There are 32,761 housing units at an average density of 450.0/km2 (1,165.4/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 83.80% White, 5.09% African American, 2.93% Native American, 3.78% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.36% from other races, and 2.97% from two or more races. 3.65% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 31,388 households out of which 25.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.0% are married couples living together, 8.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 49.9% are non-families. 30.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 5.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.30 and the average family size is 2.93.
In the city the population is spread out with 18.6% under the age of 18, 30.7% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 15.1% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 25 years. For every 100 females there are 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 98.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $34,669, and the median income for a family is $51,545. Males have a median income of $33,481 versus $27,436 for females. The per capita income for the city is $19,378. 18.9% of the population and 7.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 10.6% of those under the age of 18 and 7.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Lawrence is in northeast Kansas, on the Kansas River, and west of Kansas City. It was founded in 1854 for the New England Emigrant Aid Company. It was founded by Charles Robinson, who later served as governor of Kansas, and named after Amos Adams Lawrence, a prominent politician and abolitionist and the son of famed philanthropist Amos Lawrence.
In the Civil War era, Lawrence was a center of anti-slavery sentiment. On May 21, 1856, a pro-slavery posse led by Sheriff Samuel J. Jones burned the Free-State Hotel, destroyed the equipment of two anti-slavery newspapers, and looted several other businesses. No loss of life was recorded (see Sacking of Lawrence). On August 21, 1863, however, pro-slavery forces led by William Quantrill burned most of the houses and commercial buildings in Lawrence and killed 150-200 of the men they found in Lawrence (see Lawrence Massacre).
The University of Kansas was founded in Lawrence in 1866 by the citizens of Lawrence under a charter granted by the Kansas Legislature, with the donation of 40 acres (160,000 m2) of land on Mount Oread by former Kansas Governor Charles Robinson and his wife, Sara, and small monetary gift from Amos Adams Lawrence. As a college town, Lawrence is known for its liberal philosophy and unique culture.
Lawrence also holds the distinction of being the site of operation for the state's first railroad in 1871 and the city where the state's first telephone was installed in 1877. In 1989, when the Free State Brewing Co. opened in Lawrence, it was the first legal brewery in Kansas in more than 100 years. The restaurant is in a renovated inter-urban trolly station in downtown Lawrence.
Lawrence has two public high schools: Lawrence High School and Lawrence Free State High School. The athletic teams of the former are nicknamed the "Chesty Lions," and those of the latter are nicknamed the "Firebirds." Private high schools include Bishop Seabury Academy, which is affiliated with the Episcopal Church, and the non-denominational Veritas Christian School.
Lawrence's sister cities are Eutin, Germany, Hiratsuka, Japan, and El Papaturro, El Salvador.
Source:
Lawrence, KS
HOTELS • REAL ESTATE • JOBS