View source for Lawrence County, Missouri

{{short description|County in Missouri, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Lawrence County
 | state                = Missouri
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1845
 | founded date         = February 14
 | seat wl              = Mount Vernon
 | largest city wl      = Monett
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 613
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 612
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 1.6
 | area percentage      = 0.3
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 38001
 | pop_est_as_of        = 
 | population_est       = 
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = https://www.lawrencecountymo.org/
 | named for            = [[James Lawrence]]
 | district             = 7th
 | ex image             = Lawrence County MO Courthouse 20151022-120.jpg
 | ex image cap         = The Lawrence County Courthouse in Mt. Vernon
}}

'''Lawrence County''' is located in the southwest portion of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Missouri]], in the area of the Ozarks. As of the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]], the population was 38,001.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lawrence County, Missouri|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Lawrence_County,_Missouri?g=050XX00US29109|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=June 13, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Mount Vernon, Missouri|Mount Vernon]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county was organized in 1845 and named for [[James Lawrence]], a naval officer from the [[War of 1812]] known for his battle cry, "Don't give up the ship!"<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_RfAuAAAAYAAJ | title=How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named | publisher=The State Historical Society of Missouri | author=Eaton, David Wolfe | year=1916 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_RfAuAAAAYAAJ/page/n81 184]}}</ref>

A previous Lawrence County, established in 1815 with its county seat at what is now [[Davidsonville Historic State Park]] in [[Arkansas]], covered much of what is now southern Missouri and the northern third of Arkansas. When the [[Arkansas Territory]] was created from [[Missouri Territory]] in 1819, some of that earlier county became organized as [[Lawrence County, Arkansas]].<ref>{{cite news|title=1815 city got off to fine start|url=http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2015/nov/01/1815-city-got-off-to-fine-start-2015110/?f=news-arkansas|access-date=November 2, 2015|publisher=[[Arkansas Democrat-Gazette]] (behind paywall)|date=November 1, 2015}}</ref>

Just before that, in 1818, Missouri divided its part of the old Lawrence County into [[Wayne County, Missouri|Wayne County]] and [[Madison County, Missouri|Madison County]]; with population increases, those counties were later divided into others, including the present Lawrence County.

==Racial history==
Following the [[Reconstruction era]], southwestern Missouri became increasingly hostile to African Americans, and whites attacked blacks in Lawrence and other counties, seeking to expel them from the region. An African-American man was [[Lynching in the United States|lynched]] in [[Verona, Missouri]] on January 26, 1894; his name was not recorded.<ref>[http://cousin-collector.com/projects/index.php/saline-county/history/1754-lynching-in-missouri "Lynching in Missouri"], Saline County, Missouri/MOGenWeb Project, 1996-2018; accessed April 12, 2018</ref> On August 19, 1901, three men were lynched by a white mob in the county seat, [[Pierce City, Missouri|Pierce City]], in Lawrence County. The mob also burned down some black homes, and drove roughly 30 families, a total of 300 African Americans, out of the city altogether. Whites took over their properties and the African Americans were never compensated for losses.<ref name="aamuseum">{{cite web|url=http://oaahm.omeka.net/exhibits/show/exodus/ozarksraceriots/springfield|title=Pierce City: August 19th, 1901|publisher=Ozarks Afro-American History Museum Online|website=oaahm.omeka.net|access-date=October 31, 2016}}</ref>

As a result of such incidents, many African Americans left Southwest Missouri in the early 20th century.<ref name="harper">[https://books.google.com/books?id=QRR-xMoF0BIC&q=William+Allen,+Springfield,+April+15,+1906 Kimberly Harper, ''White Man's Heaven: The Lynching and Expulsion of Blacks in the Southern Ozarks, 1894-1909''], University of Arkansas Press, 2012</ref><ref name="lynching">[https://eji.org/sites/default/files/lynching-in-america-third-edition-summary.pdf ''Lynching in America''/ ''Supplement: Lynchings by County, 3rd edition''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023063004/https://eji.org/sites/default/files/lynching-in-america-third-edition-summary.pdf |date=October 23, 2017 }}, Montgomery, Alabama: Equal Justice Initiative, 2015, p. 7</ref> The extrajudicial murders were part of a pattern of discrimination, repeated violence and intimidation of African Americans in southwest Missouri from 1894 to 1909.<ref name="harper"/> Whites in [[Greene County, Missouri|Greene]] conducted a mass lynching of three African-Americans in 1906 in the courthouse square.<ref name="harper"/><ref name="lynching"/>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|613|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|612|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.6|sqmi}} (0.3%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 16, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913002155/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt|archive-date=September 13, 2014}}</ref> [[Ozark Cavefish National Wildlife Refuge]] is located in Lawrence County.

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Dade County, Missouri|Dade County]] (north)
*[[Greene County, Missouri|Greene County]] (northeast)
*[[Christian County, Missouri|Christian County]] (southeast)
*[[Stone County, Missouri|Stone County]] (southeast)
*[[Barry County, Missouri|Barry County]] (south)
*[[Newton County, Missouri|Newton County]] (southwest)
*[[Jasper County, Missouri|Jasper County]] (west)

===Major highways===
*[[Image:I-44 (MO).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 44 (Missouri)|Interstate 44]]
*[[Image:US 60.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 60 (Missouri)|U.S. Route 60]]
*[[Image:US 66.svg|20px]] ''[[U.S. Route 66 (Missouri)|U.S. Route 66]]'' (1926–1985)
*[[Image:MO-39.svg|20px]] [[Missouri Route 39|Route 39]]
*[[Image:MO-96.svg|20px]] [[Missouri Route 96|Route 96]]
*[[Image:MO-97.svg|20px]] [[Missouri Route 97|Route 97]]
*[[Image:MO-266.svg|20px]] [[Missouri Route 266|Route 266]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 4859
|1860= 8840
|1870= 12977
|1880= 17583
|1890= 26228
|1900= 31662
|1910= 26583
|1920= 24211
|1930= 23774
|1940= 24637
|1950= 23420
|1960= 23260
|1970= 24585
|1980= 28973
|1990= 30236
|2000= 35204
|2010= 38634
|2020= 38001
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 16, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=November 16, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mo190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 16, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 16, 2014}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/29109.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 10, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607042229/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/29109.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 35,204 people, 13,568 households, and 9,728 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|57|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 14,789 housing units at an average density of {{convert|24|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 95.68% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.27% [[Black (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.76% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.22% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.67% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.37% from two or more races. Approximately 3.39% of the population were [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 13,568 households, out of which 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.20% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,239, and the median income for a family was $36,846. Males had a median income of $27,309 versus $18,990 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $15,399. About 11.00% of families and 14.10% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 19.50% of those under age 18 and 11.80% of those age 65 or over.

===2020 Census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Lawrence County Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web|title =P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lawrence County, Missouri|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Lawrence%20County,%20Missouri&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (NH)
|32,401
|85.26%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (NH)
|134
|0.35%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] (NH)
|333
|0.9%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]] (NH)
|171
|0.45%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|40
|0.11%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]] (NH)
|1,935
|5.1%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|2,987
|7.86%
|}

==Education==
===Public schools===
*[http://www.aurora8-mo.schoolloop.com/ Aurora R-VIII School District] – [[Aurora, Missouri|Aurora]] 
**Pate Early Childhood Center (PK-02) 
**Robinson Elementary School (03-04) 
**Robinson Intermediate School (05-06) 
**Aurora Junior High School (07-08) 
**Aurora High School (09-12) 
*[http://www.marionville.us/ Marionville R-IX School District] – [[Marionville, Missouri|Marionville]]
**Marionville Elementary School (PK-05) 
**Marionville Middle School (06-08) 
**Marionville High School (09-12) 
*[http://www.millerschools.org/ Miller R-II School District] – [[Miller, Missouri|Miller]]
**Central Elementary School (K-06) 
**Miller High School (07-12) 
*[http://www.mtvernon.k12.mo.us/ Mt. Vernon R-V School District] – [[Mount Vernon, Missouri|Mt. Vernon]] 
**Mt. Vernon Elementary School (PK-02) 
**Mt. Vernon Intermediate School (03-05) 
**Mt. Vernon Middle School (06-08) 
**Mt. Vernon High School (09-12) 
*[http://www.pcschools.net/ Pierce City R-VI School District] – [[Pierce City, Missouri|Pierce City]]
**Central Elementary School (PK-05) 
**Pierce City Middle School (06-08) 
**Pierce City High School (09-12) 
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20111208192458/http://verona.k12.mo.us/ Verona R-VII School District] – [[Verona, Missouri|Verona]]
**Verona Elementary School (PK-06) 
**Verona High School (07-12)

===Private schools===
*[http://www.acacrusaders.com/ Aurora Christian Academy] – [[Aurora, Missouri|Aurora]] (K-12) – [[Baptist]] (Special Education Emphasis)
*Harvest Christian Academy – [[Aurora, Missouri|Aurora]] (K-12) – [[Nondenominational Christian]] 
*[http://www.roundgrovechristianacademy.org/ Round Grove Christian Academy] – [[Miller, Missouri|Miller]] (PK-09) – [[Baptist]] 
*[http://www.trinityfreistatt.org/Trinity_Lutheran_School/ Trinity Lutheran School] – [[Freistatt, Missouri|Freistatt]] (PK-08) – [[Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod|Lutheran]] 
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130130034632/http://stmaryspiercecity.catholicweb.com/ St. Mary’s Catholic School] – [[Pierce City, Missouri|Pierce City]] (PK-08) – [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]]

===Public libraries===
*Barry-Lawrence Regional Library<ref>{{cite web | last = Breeding | first = Marshall | title = Barry-Lawrence Regional Library | publisher = Libraries.org | url = https://librarytechnology.org/library/20234 | access-date = May 8, 2017}}</ref>

==Communities==
===Cities===
*[[Aurora, Missouri|Aurora]]
*[[Marionville, Missouri|Marionville]]
*[[Miller, Missouri|Miller]]
*[[Monett, Missouri|Monett]]
*[[Mount Vernon, Missouri|Mount Vernon]] (county seat)
*[[Pierce City, Missouri|Pierce City]]
*[[Stotts City, Missouri|Stotts City]]
*[[Verona, Missouri|Verona]]

===Villages===
*[[Freistatt, Missouri|Freistatt]]
*[[Halltown, Missouri|Halltown]]
*[[Hoberg, Missouri|Hoberg]]

===Census-designated place===
*[[Chesapeake, Missouri|Chesapeake]]

===Other unincorporated places===
{{Div col|colwidth=10em|rules=yes}}
* [[Albatross, Missouri|Albatross]]
* [[Bowers Mill, Missouri|Bowers Mill]]
* [[Clarkson, Missouri|Clarkson]]
* [[Elliott, Missouri|Elliott]]
* [[Grays Point, Missouri|Grays Point]]
* [[Heatonville, Missouri|Heatonville]]
* [[Lawrenceburg, Missouri|Lawrenceburg]]
* [[Logan, Lawrence County, Missouri|Logan]]
* [[McKinley, Missouri|McKinley]]
* [[Minden, Lawrence County, Missouri|Minden]]
* [[Olinger, Missouri|Olinger]]
* [[Opal, Missouri|Opal]]
* [[Orange, Missouri|Orange]]
* [[Paris Springs Junction, Missouri|Paris Springs Junction]]
* [[Phelps, Missouri|Phelps]]
* [[Plew, Missouri|Plew]]
* [[Red Oak, Missouri|Red Oak]]
* [[Rescue, Missouri|Rescue]]
* [[Round Grove, Missouri|Round Grove]]
* [[Spencer, Missouri|Spencer]]
* [[Stinson, Missouri|Stinson]]
{{div col end}}

==Politics==
{{Unreferenced section|date=June 2014}}
{{update|section|date=April 2023}}

===Local===
The [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] completely controls politics at the local level in Lawrence County. Republicans hold all elected positions in the county.

{{Missouri county elected officials
| name              =Lawrence County, Missouri
| assessor          =Doug Bowerman
| assessorparty     =Republican
| circuitclerk      =Steven W. Kahre
| circuitclerkparty =Republican
| countyclerk       =Gary Emerson
| countyclerkparty  =Republican
| presiding         =Sam Goodman
| presidingparty    =Republican
| district1         =Joe Ruscha
| district1party    =Republican
| district2         =Rodney Barnes
| district2party    =Republican
| collector         =Kelli McVey
| collectorparty    =Republican
| coroner            =Scott Lakin
| coronerparty    =Republican
| prosecutor        =Darlene Parrigon
| prosecutorparty   =Republican
| administrator     =Pam Fobair
| administratorparty=Republican
| recorder          =Pam Robertson
| recorderparty     =Republican
| sheriff           =Brad DeLay
| sheriffparty      =Republican
| surveyor         =Aaron Austin
| surveyorparty    =Republican
| treasurer         =Kathy Fairchild
| treasurerparty    =Republican
}}

===State===
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
! Year
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Third Party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2016|2016]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''69.34%''' ''11,565''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|26.87% ''4,482''
|align="center" |3.79% ''632''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2012|2012]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''57.51%''' ''9,022''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|39.91% ''6,261''
|align="center" |2.58% ''405''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2008|2008]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''49.15%''' ''8,118''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|47.94% ''7,918''
|align="center" |2.91% ''482''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2004|2004]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''70.22%''' ''11,069''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|28.55% ''4,500''
|align="center" |1.23% ''194''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2000|2000]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''58.24%''' ''7,447''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|39.93% ''5,106''
|align="center" |1.82% ''233''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1996|1996]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''54.20%''' ''6,695''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|42.13% ''5,204''
|align="center" |3.68% ''454''
|}

Lawrence County is divided into two legislative districts in the [[Missouri House of Representatives]], both of which are held by Republicans.

*District 157 — [http://house.mo.gov/member.aspx?year=2017&district=157 Mike Moon] (R-[[Ash Grove, Missouri|Ash Grove]]). Consists of most of the entire county. 
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 157 — Lawrence County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Mike Moon'''
  |votes      = '''11,632'''
  |percentage = '''74.17%'''
  |change     = '''-1.94'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = Stephanie Davis
  |votes      = 4,050
  |percentage = 25.83%
  |change     = +25.83
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 157 — Lawrence County (2014)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Mike Moon'''
  |votes      = '''6,407'''
  |percentage = '''76.11%'''
  |change     = '''-23.89'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Vince Jennings
  |votes      = 2,011
  |percentage = 23.89%
  |change     = +23.89
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 157 — Lawrence County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Don Ruzicka'''
  |votes      = '''13,426'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

*District 158 — [http://house.mo.gov/member.aspx?year=2017&district=158 Scott Fitzpatrick] (R-[[Shell Knob, Missouri|Shell Knob]]). Consists of a part of the southwest corner of the county, including about half of Pierce City.
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 158 — Lawrence County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Scott Fitzpatrick'''
  |votes      = '''434'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 158 — Lawrence County (2014)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Scott Fitzpatrick'''
  |votes      = '''246'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     = '''+16.55'''
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 158 — Lawrence County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Scott Fitzpatrick'''
  |votes      = '''373'''
  |percentage = '''83.45%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Constitution Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Sue Beck
  |votes      = 74
  |percentage = 16.55%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

All of Lawrence County is a part of Missouri's 29th District in the [[Missouri Senate]] and is currently represented by [http://www.senate.mo.gov/mem29/ David Sater] (R-[[Cassville, Missouri|Cassville]].
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate — District 29 — Lawrence County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''David Sater'''
  |votes      = '''14,298'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate — District 29 — Lawrence County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''David Sater'''
  |votes      = '''13,580'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

===Federal===
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate — Missouri — Lawrence County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Roy Blunt'''
  |votes      = '''11,525'''
  |percentage = '''69.04%'''
  |change     = '''+14.46'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jason Kander
  |votes      = 4,336
  |percentage = 25.98%
  |change     = -11.41
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jonathan Dine
  |votes      = 440
  |percentage = 2.64%
  |change     = -5.39
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Green Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Johnathan McFarland
  |votes      = 192
  |percentage = 1.15%
  |change     = +1.15
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Constitution Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Fred Ryman
  |votes      = 199
  |percentage = 1.19%
  |change     = +1.19
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate — Missouri — Lawrence County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Todd Akin'''
  |votes      = '''8,510'''
  |percentage = '''54.58%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Claire McCaskill
  |votes      = 5,830
  |percentage = 37.39%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jonathan Dine
  |votes      = 1,252
  |percentage = 8.03%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

All of Lawrence County is included in [[MO-07|Missouri's 7th Congressional District]] and is currently represented by [[Billy Long]] (R-[[Springfield, Missouri|Springfield]]) in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]].
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 7th Congressional District — Lawrence County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Billy Long'''
  |votes      = '''11,622'''
  |percentage = '''70.77%'''
  |change     = '''+12.23'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Genevieve Williams
  |votes      = 3,813
  |percentage = 23.22%
  |change     = -6.55
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Benjamin T. Brixey
  |votes      = 987
  |percentage = 6.01%
  |change     = -5.68
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 7th Congressional District — Lawrence County (2014)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Billy Long'''
  |votes      = '''5,078'''
  |percentage = '''58.54%'''
  |change     = '''-6.22'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jim Evans
  |votes      = 2,583
  |percentage = 29.77%
  |change     = +1.17
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Kevin Craig
  |votes      = 1,014
  |percentage = 11.69%
  |change     = +5.05
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 7th Congressional District — Lawrence County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Billy Long'''
  |votes      = '''9,956'''
  |percentage = '''64.76%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jim Evans
  |votes      = 4,397
  |percentage = 28.60%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Kevin Craig
  |votes      = 1,020
  |percentage = 6.64%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

====Political culture====
{{PresHead|place=Lawrence County, Missouri|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 25, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|14,426|3,214|295|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|13,089|2,901|821|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|11,421|4,017|317|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|11,263|5,097|325|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|11,194|4,506|106|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|8,305|4,235|363|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|6,099|4,465|1,768|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|5,608|4,666|2,617|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|6,911|4,432|36|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|8,370|3,720|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|7,921|4,670|252|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|5,784|5,315|38|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|8,445|3,130|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|6,834|3,710|898|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|6,047|6,383|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|8,406|4,483|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|7,372|4,789|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|8,029|4,232|34|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|5,392|4,649|17|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|6,836|3,859|27|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|7,317|5,279|45|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|6,185|6,184|70|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|4,146|6,411|175|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|6,328|3,646|43|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|4,499|3,768|849|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|6,093|3,532|310|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|3,228|2,809|313|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,312|2,384|1,920|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|3,028|2,532|392|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|3,077|2,372|406|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|3,552|3,313|177|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|2,962|3,369|44|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|2,623|2,428|851|Missouri}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Republican|2,460|2,181|542|Missouri}}

===Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)===
{{main|2008 Missouri Democratic presidential primary|2008 Missouri Republican presidential primary}}
Voters in Lawrence County from both political parties supported candidates who finished in second place in the state at large and nationally. Former [[Governor of Arkansas|Governor]] [[Mike Huckabee]] (R-[[Arkansas]]) received more votes, a total of 2,628, than any candidate from either party in Lawrence County during the 2008 presidential primary.

{{clear}}

==See also==
* [[List of counties in Missouri]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Missouri, Counties L-N#Lawrence County|National Register of Historic Places listings in Lawrence County, Missouri]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* Spilman, John F. "History of Sylvan School, Lawrence County, Missouri." ''Missouri Historical Review'' 50 (October 1955): 30-43. [http://digital.shsmo.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/mhr/id/25374/rec/1?_gl=1*2jrsey*_ga*MTkyNjAzOTc5My4xNjk4NDYxMDM0*_ga_B5NXL6MKLP*MTY5ODY1MTgyMC40LjEuMTY5ODY1MTg5My4wLjAuMA.. online] formed 1q852; now part of Pierce City schools.

==External links==
* [http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/specialcollections/platbooks.htm Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Lawrence County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816173126/http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/specialcollections/platbooks.htm |date=August 16, 2011 }} from [[University of Missouri]] Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books
* https://www.webcitation.org/609AsaFfq?url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/29109.html

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Lawrence County, Missouri
|North     = [[Dade County, Missouri|Dade County]]
|Northeast = [[Greene County, Missouri|Greene County]]
|East      = 
|Southeast = [[Christian County, Missouri|Christian County]] and [[Stone County, Missouri|Stone County]]
|South     = [[Barry County, Missouri|Barry County]]
|Southwest = [[Newton County, Missouri|Newton County]]
|West      = [[Jasper County, Missouri|Jasper County]]
|Northwest = 
}}

{{Lawrence County, Missouri}}
{{Missouri}}

{{authority control}}

{{coord|37.11|-93.83|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MO_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Lawrence County, Missouri| ]]
[[Category:1845 establishments in Missouri]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1845]]