Lawrence, Indiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lawrence, Indiana
City
Houses along 45th street in Lawrence
Flag
Location in Marion County, Indiana
Country	United States
State	Indiana
County	Marion
Area
• Total	20.25 sq mi (52.43 km2)
• Land	20.15 sq mi (52.18 km2)
• Water	0.10 sq mi (0.25 km2)
Elevation	853 ft (260 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	49,370
• Density	2,450.37/sq mi (946.11/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	46216, 46226, 46235, 46236
Area code(s)	317, 463
FIPS code	18-42426
GNIS feature ID	2395647

United States Post Office in Lawrence

Building housing government offices in Lawrence

Lawrence is a city in Marion County, Indiana, USA. It's a special city because it has its own government, even though it's part of a bigger county system called Unigov. Lawrence is home to Fort Benjamin Harrison, which is now part of Fort Harrison State Park. In 2020, about 49,370 people lived there. You can find Lawrence on the northeast side of Indianapolis.

The Story of Lawrence: How the City Began

Lawrence started as a planned community in 1849. It was first called "Lanesville." But there was already another Lanesville in Indiana. So, people tried other names.

Naming the City: From Lanesville to Lawrence

For a while, the town was called "Jamestown." This name honored James White, who founded the town. But in 1866, the county leaders decided on the name "Lawrence." This name also belongs to the larger area, Lawrence Township. The city was named after Captain James Lawrence. He was a brave naval hero from the War of 1812.

Becoming an Independent Town

In 1929, the people of Lawrence voted to become an independent town. This meant they could set up their own local government. They created roles like a town marshal and other important government positions.

Lawrence and Unigov: A Unique Government System

In 1969, Indianapolis and Marion County joined together. This created a single government structure called Unigov. Lawrence is one of four "excluded cities." This means it still has its own city government. People in Lawrence vote for their own mayor and city council. They also vote for the mayor of Indianapolis and members of the Indianapolis City-County Council.

Exploring Lawrence: Location and Landscape

Lawrence is located in the northeastern part of Marion County. To its east, you'll find Hancock County, which includes the town of McCordsville. Downtown Indianapolis is about 9 miles (14 km) to the southwest.

Major Roads and Waterways

U.S. Route 36 (Pendleton Pike) runs through Lawrence. This road goes northeast for about 22 miles (35 km) to Pendleton. US 36 meets Interstate 465, which is a big highway that circles Indianapolis. This meeting point is at Exit 42, on the southwest side of Lawrence. Another exit, Exit 40 on I-465, is along the western edge of Lawrence.

Land and Water Features

The city covers about 20.25 square miles (52.43 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. Only a small part, about 0.10 square miles (0.25 square kilometers), is water. Fall Creek flows through the northwest part of Lawrence. This creek eventually flows into the White River. In some places, Fall Creek forms the city's northwest border. Fort Harrison State Park is also located in the northwest part of the city.

Lawrence's Climate: What to Expect

The weather in Lawrence has hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cold. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Lawrence has a humid continental climate. This means it has hot summers and rain throughout the year.

People of Lawrence: Population and Diversity

Lawrence has grown quite a bit over the years. In 1880, only 253 people lived there. By 2020, the population had grown to 49,370 people.

A Look at the 2010 Census

In 2010, there were 46,001 people living in Lawrence. They lived in 17,864 households. The city had about 2,285 people per square mile (882 people per square kilometer).

The city is home to a diverse group of people. In 2010, about 63.2% of residents were White, and 25.8% were African American. About 11.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Many households (38.7%) had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.56 people. The average family had 3.12 people. The median age in Lawrence was 34.2 years. This means half the people were younger than 34.2 and half were older.

Learning in Lawrence: Schools and Education

The Lawrence Township school district is one of the biggest and fastest-growing in Indiana. It helps many students learn and grow.

Schools in the District

The district has:

• Four Early Learning Centers (for young children)
• Eleven elementary magnet schools (grades 1–6)
• Two middle schools (grades 7–8)
• Two high schools: Lawrence Central and Lawrence North
• A center for innovation and technology
• An alternative high school setting

In the 2018–2019 school year, over 16,000 students attended these schools. The high school graduation rate was very high, at 92.7%.

Programs and Achievements

Lawrence Township schools offer many special programs. These include:

• Programs for students with high abilities
• Advanced Placement (AP) and Advanced College Project (ACP) courses
• The International Baccalaureate Program
• Vocational and career education programs
• Bilingual programs

The district has won many awards. They have 45 state championships and 5 national titles in various competitions. These include championships in basketball for Lawrence North (2006) and marching band for Lawrence Central (1998, 2001, and 2004).

Higher Education and Libraries

Lawrence also has an Ivy Tech Community College campus. This campus is connected to the main Indianapolis campus. The city also has a public library, which is a branch of the Indianapolis Public Library.

Famous Faces from Lawrence

Many talented people have lived in Lawrence, Indiana. Here are a few:

• Mike Conley: A professional basketball player.
• Forrest Landis: An actor.
• Pat McAfee: A sports radio host and former All-Pro NFL punter for the Indianapolis Colts.
• Greg Oden: A professional basketball player.
• John Slagle: A baseball player.

See also

In Spanish: Lawrence (Indiana) para niños