The population was 964 at the 2020 census. It is host to a historic Labor Day weekend "Ox Roast & Homecoming Festival" (www.lawrenceoxroast.com), also a summer Farmer's Market every Saturday. Lawrence also hub for the Van Buren County Intermediate School District.
History
Founded 1835 as "Mason" (in honor of then popular first Territorial Governor Stevens T. Mason) by speculator/developer John Allen of Ann Arbor. Allen purchased 40 acres at the location of today's Brush Creek and Paw Paw River. He constructed a sawmill there in 1836, and by 1843 it was a small village of 10 homes. Each of the residents families engaged in various trades: carpenter, farming, livestock trading, 2 blacksmiths. During these first 7 years John Allen renamed the new village "Brush Creek", then selling all his interests to Paw Paw resident John R. Baker. Allen left Michigan, taking his profits to California to try other real estate deals.
Mr Baker did not care for the new Brush Creek name, stating "not to call my bright little village by the ugly name of Brush Creek." He rechristened it Lawrence, following the name of Lawrence Township which had been previously established in 1835. The Lawrence Township name was derived from James Lawrence, a hero from the War of 1812.
Population greatly increased from about 70 residents in 1840 to 339 in 1860, and to 555 by 1870. In March 1869, The Village of Lawrence was incorporated under act of Legislature, with approval by election of village officers May 1869 with 139 men voting.
As of the 2010 the census[5] of 2010, there were 996 people, 371 households, and 251 families living in the village. The population density was 582.5 inhabitants per square mile (224.9/km2). There were 436 housing units at an average density of 255.0 per square mile (98.5/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 79.4% White, 27.2% Hispanic or Latino,1.4% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 15.6% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races.
There were 371 households, of which 41.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 16.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 8.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.3% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.25.
The median age in the village was 31.7 years. 32% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.8% were from 25 to 44; 22.1% were from 45 to 64; and 9.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 50.5% male and 49.5% female.
Architecture
Marshall's Store - 102 E St Joseph St. known today as the DeHaven Store. 3 story Italianate built 1874, closed as store 1965.
Marshall’s Store - now DeHavens
Webster Circus House. -305 E St Joseph. Built 1850 by Ohio native Razleman Newton Webster. In 1873 Burr Robbins of the Robbins Traveling Circus, painted the signature red and yellow circus theme colors that exist today Webster house - Lawrence Michigan
Lawrence Old Town Hall - 126 W St Joseph St. Built 1902. Operated as a vaudeville stop, community theatre, dance hall, movie theater, library and Township meeting offices. Presently under control by The Lawrence Townhall Preservation Foundation.
Lawrence Old Town Hall - built 1902
American Legion Hess-Eastman Post 174 - 130 E St Joseph St
Van Buren County Intermediate School District www.vbisd.org
Notable people
Shayne Whittington, Professional basketball player born 1991. Played for Lawrence High School, Western Michigan University, Indiana Pacers, and in Spain, Russia, & Japan. His jersey #32 was retired by Lawrence in 2015.
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