Place:Lawrence, Tennessee, United States

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source: Family History Library Catalog

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population was 39,926. The 2005 Census Estimate placed the population at 41,101.. The 2010 Census Estimate placed the population of Lawrence County Tennessee at 47,823. It's Estimated to be over 50,000 by the end of 2012. [1]. Its county seat is Lawrenceburg. Lawrenceburg in Lawrence County is the largest city on the Tennessee state line between Memphis and Chattanooga Tennessee.

History

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

Created by an act of the Tennessee General Assembly on October 21, 1817, Lawrence County was formed from lands previously part of Hickman and Giles Counties.

It was named in honor of Captain James Lawrence (1781–1813), who while commanding the USS Chesapeake in an 1813 battle with the Royal Navy frigate HMS Shannon, issued his famous command: "Don't give up the ship! Blow her up." His men did anyway and Lawrence died of wounds.

The earliest white settlers were mostly from the Carolina s. In its early years, most residents were farmers, supported by a few tradesmen, such as harness-makers, blacksmiths, and carpenters.

Lawrenceburg was chosen as the county seat in 1819 as it was near the center of the county and because Jackson's Military Road ran just east of the town. In April 1821, the road was redirected through the center of the Lawrenceburg. The military road, the main route from Natchez, Mississippi, to Nashville, Tennessee, played a significant role in the county's development.

An early resident was David Crockett, who served as one of the county's first commissioners and justices of the peace. Crockett lived in the county for several years and ran a water-powered grist mill, powder mill and distillery on Shoal Creek, where David Crockett State Park is now located.

In the early 1870s, many German Catholics moved into the area, including skilled tradesmen. After the arrival of the railroad in 1883, the county became a major source of iron ore.

Between 1908 and 1915, there was an influx of settlers from Alabama. Most were cotton growers or worked in the timber industry. Logging soon declined, since the forests were not replanted after trees were harvested; however, cotton continued to be a major crop until the 1960s.

In 1944, Amish people moved to the area and established a community in the north of the county. The Old Order Amish community has now become a tourist attraction.

Timeline

Population History

source: Source:Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790-1990

Research Tips

External Links

• Outstanding guide to Lawrence County family history and genealogy resources (FamilySearch Research Wiki). Birth, marriage, and death records, censuses, wills, deeds, county histories, cemeteries, churches, naturalizations, newspapers, libraries, and genealogical societies.