According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 592 square miles (1,530 km2), of which 588 square miles (1,520 km2) is land and 4.7 square miles (12 km2) (0.8%) is water.[5]
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 16,216 people, 6,463 households, and 4,466 families residing in the county.
2000 census
As of the 2000 census,[14] there were 17,774 people, 7,108 households, and 5,011 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 people per square mile (12 people/km2). There were 8,085 housing units at an average density of 14 units per square mile (5.4 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.78% White, 0.44% Black or African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. 0.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 7,108 households, out of which 30.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.00% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,139, and the median income for a family was $32,163. Males had a median income of $26,288 versus $18,518 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,785. About 13.90% of families and 18.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.50% of those under age 18 and 20.10% of those age 65 or over.
Government
United States presidential election results for Lawrence County, Arkansas[15]
Townships in Arkansas are the divisions of a county. Each township includes unincorporated areas; some may have incorporated cities or towns within part of their boundaries. Arkansas townships have limited purposes in modern times. However, the United States census does list Arkansas population based on townships (sometimes referred to as "county subdivisions" or "minor civil divisions"). Townships are also of value for historical purposes in terms of genealogical research. Each town or city is within one or more townships in an Arkansas county based on census maps and publications. The townships of Lawrence County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township.
[16][17]
^Lawrence County Historical Society (2001). Mother of counties : Lawrence County, Arkansas : history and families. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company. ISBN9781563117534. LCCN2001091090.
McLeod, Walter E. (Spring 1944). "Early Lawrence County History". The Arkansas Historical Quarterly. 3 (1). Arkansas Historical Association: 37–52. doi:10.2307/40027462. JSTOR40027462.
