Lawrence, Massachusetts

Lawrence, Massachusetts

Lawrence is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, along the Merrimack River. As of the 2020 census, the city had 89,143 people. It is next to several towns, including Methuen to the north, North Andover to the east, and Andover to the southwest. With Salem, Lawrence used to be an important city for Essex County’s government, but this changed in 1999. Lawrence is in a region called the Merrimack Valley.

The city has made many things over time, like electronic equipment, textiles, shoes, paper goods, computers, and food. Lawrence has special links to famous people. The poet Robert Frost went to school here when he was young, and his early writings were in the newspaper of the Lawrence High School. The city is also where two famous performers were born: composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein in 1918, and singer Robert Goulet in 1933.

History

Indigenous history

Native Americans lived along the Merrimack River for thousands of years before European settlers came. They farmed and made tools, and evidence of this can be found in places like Den Rock Park.

In the early 1600s, groups such as the Pennacook and Massachusett lived in the area. The land that became Lawrence was bought from local leaders in the mid-1600s for settlements like Haverhill and Andover.

Founding and rise as a textile center

Europeans first settled near Haverhill in 1640. The land that would become Lawrence was part of Methuen and Andover. The first settlement inside today’s city limits was built in 1655.

In 1844, business leaders bought land along the Merrimack River to build mills. They created the Essex Company and started building a large dam for power. The city was incorporated in 1853 and named after a leader named Abbott Lawrence.

Many workers, including Irish immigrants, came to build and operate the mills. The work was often dangerous, and accidents happened often.

Bread and Roses Strike of 1912

In 1860, a textile mill in Lawrence collapsed, and many workers were killed. This led to poor conditions in the mills. In 1912, workers went on strike to protest these conditions. This strike, known as the Bread and Roses Strike, became an important event in labor history. Workers, including many women and recent immigrants, stood together for better pay and conditions. After protests and support from people in other states, mill owners agreed to give workers small raises.

Post-War history

Lawrence was a major center for wool processing until the 1950s when the industry declined. The city’s population dropped as people moved away. Efforts to renew the city faced challenges, especially in changing neighborhoods.

In the 1980s and 1990s, new groups of immigrants arrived from places like the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Sometimes, tensions arose between different groups.

In recent years, the city has seen improvements in safety and new business growth, especially along the river. Some old mills are being turned into homes and offices.

Gas explosion

In 2018, a series of gas explosions and fires damaged homes in Lawrence and nearby areas. One person died, and many had to leave their homes. Another gas leak happened in 2019, causing more evacuations.

Timeline

Here are some important dates in Lawrence’s history:

• 1845: The Essex Company started building a dam and canal on the Merrimack River.
• 1847: Lawrence became an official town.
• 1853: Lawrence was incorporated as a city.
• 1860: A mill collapsed, killing many workers.
• 1912: The Bread and Roses Strike took place.
• 1950s: The wool industry declined, affecting the city.
• 2018: Gas explosions caused damage and danger in the area.

History of Lawrence immigrant communities

Lawrence has been called the “Immigrant City” because many different groups have lived there over time.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, people from Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, and many other places came to work in the mills. Each group formed its own communities and built churches and clubs.

After strict immigration laws in the 1920s, fewer new immigrants arrived. But in the 1960s and later, new groups came from Latin America, Southeast Asia, and other places. Today, Lawrence’s population includes people from many different backgrounds, and some churches now hold services in multiple languages.

Geography

Lawrence is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, on the Merrimack River. The city covers 7.4 square miles (19 km²), with 7.0 square miles (18 km²) of land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) of water. It is about 26 miles (42 km) from the Atlantic Ocean. Lawrence is surrounded by Methuen to the north and North Andover and Andover to the south and southwest. The city is near Newburyport, Boston, and Manchester, New Hampshire.

Lawrence has other water features like the Spicket River and the Shawsheen River. There are also two old power canals and a large dam called the Great Stone Dam. The city's highest point is Tower Hill, about 240 feet (73 m) above sea level. There are parks and hills in the area, including Den Rock Park.

Demographics

See also: List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Lawrence had 89,143 people. The middle age was 33 years. 26% were younger than 18 and 11% were 65 or older. For every 100 girls and women, there were 94 boys and men, and for every 100 girls and women age 18 and over, there were 90 boys and men age 18 and over.

Most people, 82%, were Hispanic or Latino. 12% were White, 2% were Black, 2% were Asian, and smaller groups were Native American, Pacific Islander, or mixed race.

All residents lived in urban areas.

There were 29,000 homes, and 42% had children under 18. 31% were married couples, 21% had a man as the main person with no partner, and 39% had a woman as the main person with no partner. 24% of homes had just one person, and 9% had someone alone who was 65 or older.

There were 30,000 places to live, and 4% were empty. The rate for empty homes people owned was very low, at less than 1%, and the rate for empty rental homes was 3%.

2010 census

The 2010 Census said the city had 76,377 people. There were 27,137 homes, with 25,181 of them filled.

2000 census

In 2000, 72,043 people lived in Lawrence. There were 24,463 homes and 16,903 families.

The people were mostly from many races. About 49% were White, 5% were African American, 3% were Asian, 1% were Native American, and less than 1% were Pacific Islander. Many were from other races or two or more races.

In homes, most had children under 18. Many homes had just one parent. Some homes had just one person.

The middle age was 30 years. Many people were young, and some were older.

For every 100 girls and women, there were 92 boys and men. For every 100 girls and women age 18 and over, there were 87 boys and men.

The money a home made was $25,983, which is less than most places. Families made $29,809. Men made $27,772 and women made $23,137. The per capita income was $11,360. Many families and people were below the poverty line, especially children and older people.

Language

The past Mayor, Daniel Rivera, said the city had many Spanish speakers.

Economy

Lawrence, Massachusetts has some important businesses. New Balance makes shoes there, and it is one of their factories in the United States. Another company, Charm Sciences, also works in Lawrence. They make test kits to check for safe substances.

Arts and culture

Lawrence has many interesting places to visit. Some of these include the Bellevue Cemetery, Campagnone Common, the Essex Art Center, and the Great Stone Dam. There are also special events like the Saint Alfio Society feast and Semana Hispana.

The Lawrence Public Library has been open since 1872. It gets money from the city to help the community.

Government

Lawrence is one of the two main cities in Essex County, along with Salem. This means it has important offices like courts and a regional office for car registrations.

Lawrence has a mayor who is chosen by voters to lead the city. The city also has a council made up of members elected from different parts of the city. There are nine council members and six school committee members. The mayor also serves on the school committee. Elections for these positions happen without party labels, and new terms start in January.

Currently, the mayor is Brian A. De Peña. The city council includes members from different districts, and the school committee also has members from each district, with the mayor joining as the seventh member. Lawrence is represented in the state government by several officials and in the federal government by members of the United States House of Representatives and Senate.

Education

Lawrence has public schools run by Lawrence Public Schools. In 2011, the state took over the schools for a short time.

The city has several schools, including:

• Lawrence High School
• Greater Lawrence Technical School – for Lawrence and nearby towns
• Lawrence Family Development Charter School
• Community Day Charter Public School

There are also private schools, such as:

• Bellesini Academy
• Esperanza Academy
• Lawrence Catholic Academy
• Central Catholic High School
• Notre Dame Cristo Rey High School

For higher learning, there is Northern Essex Community College and Cambridge College.

Media

Lawrence's main newspaper is The Eagle-Tribune. It started in Lawrence in 1890 but later moved to North Andover. The city also has a bilingual newspaper called Rumbo. There are three AM radio stations: WNNW/800, WCAP/980, and WLLH/1400. There is also one FM station: WEEI-FM/93.7. The only television station based in Lawrence is WMFP, and the city is part of the Boston television area.

Infrastructure

Lawrence is connected by several major roads. Interstate 495 runs through the eastern part of the city. Other important roads are Route 28, Route 110, and Route 114. There are bridges and a railroad crossing over the river in Lawrence.

The city has bus service run by the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority. It has a main transportation center called the Senator Patricia McGovern Transportation Center and a train stop on the Haverhill/Reading Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail, linking Haverhill to Boston’s North Station. There is a small airport nearby called Lawrence Municipal Airport. The city is also close to larger airports in Manchester and Boston.

Lawrence General Hospital, founded in 1895, is the main hospital for the city and the area south of it. Other hospitals close by are in Methuen, Haverhill, and Lowell. The city has its own police and fire departments, and Massachusetts State Police also help keep the area safe.

Notable people

Further information: List of people from Lawrence, Massachusetts

Lawrence, Massachusetts, has been home to many famous people. They have made their mark in sports, entertainment, and other areas. This shows how the city has influenced the wider world.