Lawrenceville, Virginia

Lawrenceville is a town in Brunswick County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,438 at the 2010 census. Located by the Meherrin River, it is the county seat of Brunswick County.[5] In colonial times, Lieutenant Governor Alexander Spotswood had a stockade built nearby, called Fort Christanna, where converted Native American allies were housed and educated.

Lawrenceville, Virginia
Town
Corner in downtown Lawrenceville
Location of Lawrenceville, Virginia
Coordinates: 36°45′30″N 77°51′2″W
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	Brunswick
Area [1]
• Total	1.15 sq mi (2.98 km^2)
• Land	1.15 sq mi (2.98 km^2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km^2)
Elevation	266 ft (81 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	1,438
• Estimate  (2019)[2]	1,020
• Density	886.19/sq mi (342.07/km^2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	23868
Area code(s)	434
FIPS code	51-44520[3]
GNIS feature ID	1498503[4]
Website	www.lawrencevilleweb.com

Historically black Saint Paul's College, founded in 1888 and affiliated with the Episcopal Church, operated here until 2013. Lumber, tobacco, livestock, and other farm products are grown in the area. In a county along the southern border of the state, the town is near the northernmost area for cotton growing.

History

The county was an area of tobacco production in colonial times, and later mixed farming, both dependent on enslaved African-American workers. In addition to Fort Christanna and St. Paul's College, the Brunswick County Courthouse Square, Gholson Bridge, and Lawrenceville Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[6] In the 21st century, the economy is also based on lumber, livestock and farm products.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.4 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	238		—
1890	305		28.2%
1900	760		149.2%
1910	1,733		128.0%
1920	1,439		−17.0%
1930	1,629		13.2%
1940	1,703		4.5%
1950	2,239		31.5%
1960	1,941		−13.3%
1970	1,636		−15.7%
1980	1,484		−9.3%
1990	1,486		0.1%
2000	1,275		−14.2%
2010	1,438		12.8%
Est. 2019	1,020	[2]	−29.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 1,275 people, 376 households, and 209 families living in the town. The population density was 1,391.1 people per square mile (535.1/km²). There were 459 housing units at an average density of 500.8 per square mile (192.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 33.25% White, 64.63% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.24% Asian, and 1.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.41% of the population.

There were 376 households, out of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.1% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.4% were non-families. 39.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 17.3% under the age of 18, 33.2% from 18 to 24, 17.5% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 76.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $28,594, and the median income for a family was $41,875. Males had a median income of $31,583 versus $18,056 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,353. About 12.7% of families and 21.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.2% of those under age 18 and 18.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

The Virginia Department of Corrections Brunswick Correctional Center was near Lawrenceville.[8]

Notable people

• Duke Brett, former Major League Baseball pitcher
• George Coke Dromgoole, who represented Virginia in the United States House of Representatives, was born in Lawrenceville.
• Thomas Emmerson, Tennessee judge and first mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee, was born here.
• E. Franklin Frazier, sociologist and author of the classic Black Bourgeoisie, taught at St. Paul's College.
• Albertis Harrison, state Governor from 1962–1966, was a native of Lawrenceville, where he practiced law.
• John Hartwell Marable, who represented Tennessee in the House of Representatives, was born here.
• David Nolan, author and historian, worked for the Virginia Students Civil Rights Committee in Lawrenceville in the 1960s.
• Chandler Owen, co-editor, with A. Philip Randolph of The Messenger, attended St. Paul's College.
• Peter B. Starke, former Confederate Army general in the Civil War. Buried near Lawrenceville, where he owned a plantation.
• Bryant Stith, former University of Virginia and NBA basketball player.

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
6. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
7. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
8. "Brunswick." Virginia Department of Corrections. Retrieved on October 7, 2018. "1147 Planters Road [...] Lawrenceville, VA 23868"