Lawrenceville, Georgia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lawrenceville, Georgia
City
Gwinnett County Courthouse
Nickname(s):  The Crepe Myrtle City
Location in Gwinnett County and the state of Georgia
Lawrenceville, Georgia Location in Metro Atlanta
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Gwinnett
Named for	James Lawrence
Government
• Type	Mayor-council government
Area
• Total	13.80 sq mi (35.73 km2)
• Land	13.69 sq mi (35.46 km2)
• Water	0.11 sq mi (0.28 km2)
Elevation	1,066 ft (325 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	30,629
• Density	2,237.33/sq mi (863.83/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	30042-30046, 30049
Area code(s)	404/678/770
FIPS code	13-45488
GNIS feature ID	0316699

Lawrenceville is a city in and the county seat of Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States. It is a suburb of Atlanta, located approximately 30 miles (50 km) northeast of downtown. As of the 2020 census, the population of Lawrenceville was 30,629. In 2019, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city population to be 30,834. Lawrenceville has six ZIP codes (30042-30046, 30049), and it is part of the 678/770/404 telephone area code, which is used throughout metropolitan Atlanta.

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.

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.

Another resident, Oliver Hardy, became a world-renowned comic actor, a member of the film duo Laurel and Hardy from the 1920s to the 1940s. He lived as a child in downtown Lawrenceville around 1900. But his stay was brief, because his family moved often within Georgia.

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

Geography

Lawrenceville is located in central Gwinnett County at 33°57′11″N 83°59′33″W / 33.95306°N 83.99250°W / 33.95306; -83.99250 (33.953052, -83.992469). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.5 square miles (35.0 km²), of which 13.4 square miles (34.7 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²), 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

Downtown Lawrenceville (as of June 2006)

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 30,629 people, 10,524 households, and 7,071 families residing in the city.

2010 census

As of 2010 Census, Lawrenceville had a population of 28,546. The median age was 32.4. The racial composition of the population was 48.0% white, 32.0% black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 1.1% Asian Indian, 4.7% other Asian, 10.3% from some other race, and 3.4% from two or more races. 22.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.4% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 35.3% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,779, and the median income for a family was $38,557. Males had a median income of $27,263 versus $24,903 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,649. About 28.7% of families and 40.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Roads and expressways

Lawrenceville can be accessed through several highways. Georgia 316 passes through Lawrenceville to Athens and connects to Interstate 85 at Exit 106. Interstate 85 South then travels through Atlanta, which is roughly 25 to 30 miles away southwest. Lawrenceville can also be accessed by U.S. 78 (Stone Mountain Freeway) and then Scenic Highway (Georgia 124) via Snellville. Some southern unincorporated areas with Lawrenceville addresses can be accessed by Ronald Reagan Parkway. Other highways that pass through Lawrenceville are US 29, GA 8, GA 20, and GA 120.

Transit systems

Xpress GA/ RTA Commuter buses and Gwinnett County Transit serve the city.

Pedestrians and cycling

Currently, Lawrenceville has limited walkability options available. However, in October 2017 plans were announced for the formation of a 2.2 mile linear park that will connect Georgia Gwinnett College with the downtown district.

Airport

Lawrenceville is home to Gwinnett County's only public airport, Gwinnett County Airport-Briscoe Field (IATA: LZU, ICAO: KLZU, FAA LID: LZU) . With its daytime control tower, several FBOs (Fixed-Base Operators), and flight-training schools, Brisco Field primarily serves general aviation and some commercial aircraft.

Downtown

The Aurora Theatre

Historically significant buildings in downtown Lawrenceville include the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse and Lawrenceville Female Seminary. Also downtown are various landmarks and antique locations. Lawrenceville's revitalization plan was strengthened in 2005 when the city crafted a unique partnership with the Aurora Theatre (Gwinnett county's only professional theatre), which relocated from the nearby town of Duluth to a permanent site in downtown Lawrenceville in May 2007 for the opening of its eleventh season. The Aurora Theatre also conducts Lawrenceville Ghost Tours—a 90-minute walking tour of the historic downtown area led by professional storytellers. Ghost tour guides recount town lore and legends including Lawrenceville's role in the trial of Larry Flynt and the kidnapping of Barbara Jane Mackle.

Economy

Scientific Atlanta, now owned by Cisco Systems, is based near Lawrenceville.

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.

Sports

The Triple-A Minor League Baseball Gwinnett Stripers of the Triple-A East play at Coolray Field.

Education

Gwinnett County Public Schools operates public schools.

Schools with Lawrenceville mailing address

The following is a list of schools with a Lawrenceville mailing address, with its high school cluster in parenthesis.

Elementary schools

• J.A. Alford Elementary School (Discovery)
• Baggett Elementary School (Discovery)
• Benefield Elementary School (Discovery)
• Bethesda Elementary School (Berkmar)
• Cedar Hill Elementary School (Discovery)
• Corley Elementary School (Berkmar)
• Craig Elementary School (Brookwood)
• Gwin Oaks Elementary School (Brookwood)
• Lawrenceville Elementary School (Central Gwinnett)
• Simonton Elementary School (Central Gwinnett)
• Kanoheda Elementary School (Berkmar)
• Margaret Winn Holt Elementary School (Central Gwinnett)
• Jackson Elementary School (Peachtree Ridge)
• Woodward Mill Elementary School (Mountain View)
• Freeman's Mill Elementary School (Mountain View)
• Lovin Elementary School (Archer)
• K.E. Taylor Elementary School (Collins Hill)
• McKendree Elementary School (Collins Hill)
• Jenkins Elementary School (Central Gwinnett)
• Rock Springs Elementary School (Collins Hill)

Middle schools

• Moore Middle School (Central Gwinnett)
• J.E. Richards Middle School (Discovery)
• Creekland Middle School (Collins Hill)
• Jordan Middle School (Central Gwinnett)
• Five Forks Middle School (Brookwood)
• Alton C. Crews Middle School (Brookwood)
• Sweetwater Middle School (Berkmar)

High schools

• Archer High School
• Central Gwinnett High School
• Discovery High School
• Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology
• Maxwell High School
• Mountain View High School
• Phoenix High School

Other schools

• Gwinnett Intervention Education (GIVE) Center East
• Hooper Renwick School
• Sola Fide Academy

Colleges and university

Within Lawrenceville are two public colleges:

• Gwinnett Technical College
• Georgia Gwinnett College

Libraries

Gwinnett County Public Library operates the Collins Hill, Five Forks and Lawrenceville branches. The Five Forks and Collins Hill branches are in an unincorporated area.

Notable people

See also

In Spanish: Lawrenceville (Georgia) para niños