Lawrence, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lawrence, Illinois
|
|
|---|---|
 Lawrence, Illinois
Location in Illinois
Lawrence, Illinois
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Illinois |
| County | McHenry |
| Township | Chemung |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.37 sq mi (0.95 km2) |
| • Land | 0.37 sq mi (0.95 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 906 ft (276 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 220 |
| • Density | 597.83/sq mi (231.07/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 815 & 779 |
| GNIS feature ID | 411867 |
Lawrence is a small, unincorporated community in Illinois, United States. It is located in McHenry County, within Chemung Township. Lawrence is about 2 miles (3.2 km) northwest of the town of Harvard. In 2020, it was officially recognized as a census-designated place, and its population was 220 people.
History of Lawrence
The community of Lawrence got its name from a person named Lawrence Bigsby. He was the original owner of the land where the town was built.
A post office was opened in Lawrence in 1856. It helped people send and receive mail for many years. However, the post office eventually closed down in 1903.
Population of Lawrence
Lawrence was first counted as a special place by the United States Census Bureau in 2020. This means it was officially recognized for population counting purposes.
In the 2020 census, the total population of Lawrence was 220 people.
The 2008 Tornado and Train Incident
In early January 2008, a strong tornado, rated as an EF3, moved through Lawrence. This tornado caused significant damage to several homes in the community. Luckily, no one died, but some people were injured.
After the tornado, there was another serious event. A train operated by Wisconsin rail went off its tracks. One of the train cars, which was carrying certain materials, crashed into the front part of the train. This caused a fire and led to concerns in the community. People in Lawrence and nearby areas of Harvard had to be evacuated for safety.
The tornado itself caused some minor damage outside of Lawrence. However, the total damage from both the tornado and the train crash was estimated to be about $8.3 million.
