Lawrence, Illinois
Census-designated place
Lawrence is located in Illinois
Lawrence
Lawrence
Lawrence is located in the United States
Lawrence
Lawrence
Coordinates: 42°26′28″N 88°38′28″W / 42.44111°N 88.64111°W / 42.44111; -88.64111
Country United States
State Illinois
CountyMcHenry
TownshipChemung
Area
[1]
 • Total0.37 sq mi (0.95 km2)
 • Land0.37 sq mi (0.95 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
906 ft (276 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total220
 • Density597.83/sq mi (231.07/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)815 & 779
GNIS feature ID411867[2]

Lawrence is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Chemung Township, McHenry County, Illinois, United States. Lawrence is 2 miles (3.2 km) northwest of Harvard. It was named a CDP before the 2020 census, at which time it had a population of 220.[3]

History

A post office called Lawrence was established in 1856, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1903.[4] The community was named for Lawrence Bigsby, the owner of the original town site.[5]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
2020220—
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
2020[7]

2020 census

Lawrence CDP, Illinois - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2020[7] % 2020
White alone (NH) 159 72.27%
Black or African American alone (NH) 6 2.73%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 0 0.00%
Asian alone (NH) 2 0.91%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0 0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 0 0.00%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 11 5.00%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 42 19.09%
Total 220 100.00%

January 2008 Tornado

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In early January 2008, an ef3 tornado went through Lawrence. This caused major damage to several houses in the community. Although no deaths were reported, several injuries occurred. Although the initial tornado did little damage, a train that was operated by Wisconsin rail had been derailed and a tanker car containing radioactive elements smashed into the back of the locomotive before flipping over and leaking radioactive elements over the rails. This caused concerns to the community of Lawrence and later evacuating people in Lawrence and northern areas of the nearby town of Harvard. a fire was reported after the derailing of the train. The damage in the train crash is not known. Although the tornado alone caused about 8.3 million dollars in damages most likely from the train crash as the tornado did minor damage outside of Lawrence.

References

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lawrence, Illinois
  3. ^ "Lawrence CDP, Illinois". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  4. ^ "McHenry County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  5. ^ Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 93.
  6. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  7. ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Lawrence CDP, Illinois". United States Census Bureau.


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