Lawrence, Massachusetts

Lawrence is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, sitting along the Merrimack River. As of the 2020 census, the city was home to 89,143 people. It is surrounded by several communities, including Methuen to the north, North Andover to the east, and Andover to the southwest. Together with Salem, Lawrence used to be one of the main cities for the county government of Essex County, though this ended in 1999 when the state changed its system. Lawrence is part of a region known as the Merrimack Valley.

The city has been a place for making many things, such as electronic equipment, textiles, shoes, paper goods, computers, and food. Lawrence has some special ties to famous people. The well-known poet Robert Frost went to school here when he was young, and his early writings appeared 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 arrived. Evidence of their farming and tool-making has been found in places like Den Rock Park.

In the early 1600s, different 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 the area around Haverhill in 1640. The land that would become Lawrence was part of Methuen and Andover. The first settlement within today’s city limits was built in 1655.

In 1844, a group of 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 one of the leaders, Abbott Lawrence.

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

Bread and Roses Strike of 1912

In 1860, a textile mill in Lawrence collapsed, killing many workers. 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. Tensions sometimes 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, located 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 lies about 26 miles (42 km) from the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Methuen to the north and North Andover and Andover to the south and southwest. The city is also near Newburyport, Boston, and Manchester, New Hampshire.

Besides the Merrimack River, 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 throughout 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 a population of 89,143. The median age was 33.0 years. 26.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 10.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.3 males age 18 and over.

Hispanic or Latino residents comprised 81.7% of the population, 12.3% were non-Hispanic White, 2.3% were non-Hispanic Black, 1.7% were Asian, 0.1% were Native American or Pacific Islander, and 1.9% of residents identified as mixed or other races.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 28,955 households in Lawrence, of which 42.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 31.3% were married-couple households, 20.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 38.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 30,008 housing units, of which 3.5% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 2.6%.

2010 census

According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2010 Census, the city's population is 76,377, the population density is 10,973.7 per square mile (4237/km²), and there are 27,137 households (25,181 occupied).

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 72,043 people, 24,463 households, and 16,903 families residing in the city. The population density was 10,351.4 inhabitants per square mile (3,996.7/km²). There were 25,601 housing units at an average density of 3,678.4 per square mile (1,420.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 48.64% White (U.S. Average: 72.4%), 4.88% African American (U.S. Average: 12.3%), 2.65% Asian (U.S. Average: 3.6%), 0.81% Native American (U.S. Average: 0.1%), 0.10% Pacific Islander (U.S. Average: 0.1%), 36.67% from other races (U.S. Average: 5.5%), 6.25% from two or more races (U.S. Average: 2.4%).

There were 24,463 households where the average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.46.

• 41.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them. (U.S. Average: 32.8%)
• 36.6% were married couples living together. (U.S. Average: 51.7%)
• 25.7% had a female householder with no husband present. (U.S. Average: 12.2%)
• 30.9% were non-families. (U.S. Average: 31.9%)
• 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals. (U.S. Average: 25.8%)
• 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. (U.S. Average: 9.2%)

In the city, the population had a median age was 30.0 years (U.S. Average: 35.3):

• 32.0% under the age of 18
• 11.1% from 18 to 24
• 30.3% from 25 to 44
• 16.7% from 45 to 64
• 9.8% were 65 years of age or older.

For every 100 females, there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,983 (U.S. Average: $41,994), and the median income for a family was $29,809 (U.S. Average: $50,046). Males had a median income of $27,772 versus $23,137 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,360. About 21.2% of families (U.S. Average: 9.2%) and 34.3% (U.S. Average: 12.4%) of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.7% of those under age 18 and 20.1% of those age 65 or over.

Language

The former Mayor of Lawrence, Daniel Rivera, said the city was "approximately 75% Spanish" following an incident where Spanish and other non-English speaking callers were allegedly hung up on by a 911 operator.

Economy

Lawrence, Massachusetts has some important businesses. New Balance makes shoes there, and it is one of their five factories in the United States. Another company, Charm Sciences, works in Lawrence too. They make test kits and systems to check for things like antibiotics, drugs for animals, and other substances that should be safe.

Arts and culture

Lawrence has many interesting places to see and 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 around since 1872. It receives funding from the city to serve 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 directly 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 as part of 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 a public school system run by Lawrence Public Schools. In 2011, the state took over the schools for a time.

The city has several schools including:

• Lawrence High School
• Greater Lawrence Technical School – serving 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 was 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, including Interstate 495, which runs through the eastern part of the city with three exits inside the city and two more just outside. Other important roads are Route 28, running north to south, Route 110, going east to west through the northern part, and Route 114, which starts at Route 28 by the Merrimack River. There are several bridges and a railroad crossing over the river in Lawrence.

The city is a central point for 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 also a small airport nearby in North Andover called Lawrence Municipal Airport, and the city is roughly the same distance from 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 throughout history. Some have made their mark in sports, entertainment, and other fields, showing the city's influence on the wider world.