Lawrence is a city in Douglas County, Kansas with a population of 95,358 as of the 2020 US Census. Located about 25 miles east of Topeka, it is best known as the home of the University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University.
History
Lawrence was founded in 1854 by settlers affiliated with the New England Emigrant Aid Company, which sought to establish the city as an anti-slavery bastion. The city was named after Amos Lawrence, a politician and abolitionist from Massachusetts who helped fund the settlement. During the Bleeding Kansas era in the 1850s, Lawrence was a focal point of violence between anti-slavery and pro-slavery factions. On August 21, 1863, the city was attacked by Confederate guerillas led by William Quantrill in what became known as the Lawrence Massacre. The devastated town recovered after the Civil War and continued to grow.
Demographics
As of the 2020 census, Lawrence had a population of 95,358, making it the 6th largest city in Kansas. The racial makeup of the city was 78.2% White, 5.1% African American, 3.5% Asian, 3.4% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. 10.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
31.9% of the population was under age 18 and 8.6% was over age 65. The median age was 28.3 years old. The city had 39,636 housing units with an average household size of 2.26 people.
The population density was 2,111 people per square mile. Lawrence had a relatively high percentage of residents between ages 18 and 24, largely attributable to the presence of the University of Kansas. Around 27,000 KU students lived in Lawrence.
Economy and Major Employers
The economy of Lawrence is heavily dependent on public entities like the University of Kansas, Lawrence Public School District, Douglas County government, and municipal government. The largest private employers are Lawrence Memorial Hospital and Hallmark Cards. Other major employers include Procter & Gamble, General Dynamics, the BNSF railroad, leading bioscience and technology companies, and various industrial firms.
The University of Kansas is the largest employer with over 12,000 employees. Lawrence Public School District is next with over 2,000 employees. The city and county governments employ over 1,500 people combined. Other major employers include Lawrence Memorial Hospital (1,500 employees), Hallmark Cards (900), Procter & Gamble (500), BNSF Railroad (260), Amarr Garage Doors (200), and General Dynamics (140).
Several industrial firms are located south of the Kansas River in East Lawrence, while bioscience and technology companies cluster around the KU campus and major research centers like Bioscience & Technology Business Center and Kansas University Center for Research.
Landmarks and Attractions
As a college town, Lawrence offers an array of cultural attractions and events related to the University of Kansas. Athletic events at Allen Fieldhouse and David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium draw huge crowds. The Lied Center of Kansas is a major regional performing arts center.
Downtown Lawrence features a variety of shops, restaurants, music venues, and art galleries. The city hosts several major public events each year like the Art Tougeau Parade, Lawrence Busker Festival, and the Free State Festival. A local point of pride is the Free State Brewing Company, which opened in 1989 as the first legal brewery in Kansas in over 100 years.
Other notable landmarks include the Watkins Museum of History, Old West Lawrence Historic District, Eldridge Hotel, Lawrence Public Library, South Park, Kansas Freedom Torch, and various buildings on the KU Campus like Spooner Hall and the Campanile.
Government
Lawrence has a commission-manager form of government. The city commission consists of 5 commissioners elected at-large for staggered 4-year terms. The commission appoints a professional city manager to serve as chief administrative officer. The current city manager is Craig Owens.
The Lawrence City Commission meets publicly at least twice per month. Residents can find information about city government, meetings, budgets, and services on the city’s website. Lawrence is also the county seat of Douglas County, and houses county administrative offices and courts.
Culture and Sports
As a youthful college town, Lawrence offers a vibrant local music and arts scene. The city hosts the annual Busker Festival which brings in street performers from across the country. Local venues like the Bottleneck, Granada Theater, Liberty Hall, and the Jazzhaus present live music nights.
For sports fans, the Kansas Jayhawks provide major college athletics. KU has storied basketball and football programs that have produced numerous Olympians, NBA players, and Super Bowl champions. Lawrence is also home to the Kansas Half Marathon event.
The city has an active Facebook page to engage with residents and promote local events. Community organizations like the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, Arts Center, Public Library, and Boys and Girls Club enrich the local cultural scene.
Education
The largest educational institution is the University of Kansas, with over 27,000 students. Haskell Indian Nations University also provides tribally-focused education. Public primary and secondary schools are managed by the Lawrence Public School District which has over 12,000 students.
Lawrence is located in the Douglas County Unified School District 497. There are 14 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, 2 high schools – Lawrence Free State High School and Lawrence High School, and several other educational facilities.
The Lawrence Public Library system has four branch locations throughout the city. Lawrence also has several private Christian schools and academies like Bishop Seabury Academy and the Cair Paravel Latin School.
Media
Lawrence is home to one daily newspaper, the Lawrence Journal-World. The University of Kansas’s The University Daily Kansan also provides news coverage of the city and campus. Lawrence has no broadcast TV stations but is served by radio stations like KLWN, KMXN, and KJHK.
Transportation
Lawrence is located along the intersections of Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 59. It is connected to the Kansas City metro by I-70 and to Topeka by US-59. The city is served by Lawrence Municipal Airport to the south. Public transit is provided by Lawrence Transit.
Lawrence lies approximately 40 miles west of Kansas City International Airport, the largest airport in the region. The airport offers many direct flight connections across the United States.
Sports Teams
The University of Kansas’s athletic teams, known as the Jayhawks, are the predominant sports presence in Lawrence. KU has won multiple national championships in men’s basketball and competes in the NCAA’s Division I Big 12 Conference. The Jayhawks football team plays at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
Many famous athletes have played for KU like basketball legends Wilt Chamberlain, JoJo White, Danny Manning, and Paul Pierce. Other major sports at KU include volleyball, baseball, softball, track and field, and women’s basketball.
Beyond KU, Lawrence has semi-professional baseball and soccer teams. The Lawrence Dumars play baseball in the summer Jayhawk Collegiate League. The Lions play in the USL League Two soccer league and have won two national championships.