Lawrence, Indiana is a city located in Marion County, just northeast of downtown Indianapolis. As of the 2020 census, the population of Lawrence was 48,964, making it the second largest city in Marion County after Indianapolis.
Population
The population of Lawrence has grown steadily over the past few decades. Here is a look at the historical population data for Lawrence:
- 1970 – 16,461
- 1980 – 30,481
- 1990 – 38,915
- 2000 – 38,915
- 2010 – 46,001
- 2020 – 48,964
As you can see, the population has nearly tripled since 1970 as the city has grown into a bedroom community for Indianapolis. The growth rate leveled off in the 2000s and 2010s but the population continues to climb. For more information, see the Lawrence, Indiana Demographics page on Wikipedia.
Economy and Major Employers
Lawrence has a diverse economic base of industries providing employment for local residents. Some of the major employers in Lawrence include:
- Fort Harrison State Park
- Lawrence Township Schools
- Kroger Midwest Distribution Center
- Walmart
- Sam’s Club
- Lowe’s Home Improvement
- Community Health Network
- Citizens Energy Group
Other major industries that contribute to the local economy include healthcare, education, manufacturing, retail, and logistics/distribution. The largest employers are generally in the government, education, and healthcare sectors. Unemployment in Lawrence is low, at around 3.5% as of June 2023.[1]
Landmarks
Some of the most notable landmarks in Lawrence include:
- Fort Harrison State Park – A 1,700 acre state park located in northeast Lawrence with historic military structures and recreational facilities. The park gets over 1 million visitors per year.[2]
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway – The famous speedway where the Indy 500 race takes place. The track straddles both Lawrence and Speedway, Indiana.[3]
- Lawrence North High School – One of the largest high schools in the state with over 3,000 students.
Sports
Here are some of the local sports teams and facilities in Lawrence:
- Lawrence North High School Wildcats – The Wildcats compete in the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference across 14 varsity sports. The basketball team has won multiple state championships.[4]
- Lawrence Township Soccer Club – Youth soccer club that competes in the Midwest United Soccer League.
- Post Road Little League – Baseball and softball leagues for local youth.
The proximity to Indianapolis provides Lawrence residents access to top-tier professional sports including the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, NBA’s Indiana Pacers, Indy Eleven soccer club, and more. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway also hosts NASCAR and IndyCar races.
Tourism
Some of the top attractions drawing visitors to Lawrence include:
- Fort Harrison State Park – Offers hiking, camping, picnic shelters, and more in a beautiful outdoor setting.
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Hall of Fame Museum – Tour the famous track and see racing history exhibits.
- Lawrence Community Park – Large park with athletic fields, trails, aquatic center, and recreation facilities.
- Traders Point Creamery – Dairy farm offering tours and fresh ice cream.
For more ideas on things to do, places to stay, events and more, see the Visit Indy guide to Lawrence.
Government
The government of the city of Lawrence is led by an elected mayor and city council. The current mayor is Steve Collier. The city council is made up of 7 members, 4 elected from districts and 3 elected at-large. The city handles services like police, fire, streets, parks, utilities and more. For more information, see the City of Lawrence website.
You can follow news and updates from the city on the City of Lawrence Facebook page. The page shares information on community events, government notices, job openings and more.