County Economics

Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 15,569. Its county seat is Louisa. The county is named for James Lawrence. It is the home of country music star Ricky Skaggs. It is the birthplace of the late Chief Justice of the United States Frederick Moore Vinson and former Kentucky Governor Paul E. Patton. Lawrence County is one of 55 counties in Kentucky that is a dry county, meaning the sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited everywhere in the county.

As of the census  of 2000, there were 15,569 people, 5,954 households, and 4,477 families residing in the county. The population density was 37 per square mile (14 /km2). There were 7,040 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (6.6 /km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.93% White, 0.10% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 0.41% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Cities & Towns

• Blaine


• Louisa

Adjacent Counties

• Carter County (northwest)
• Boyd County (north)
• Wayne County, West Virginia (east)
• Martin County (southeast)
• Johnson County (south)
• Morgan County (southwest)
• Elliott County (west)

Points of Interest

The bridge from Louisa, in eastern Lawrence County, to Fort Gay, W.V. is something of a geographic and architectural oddity. The quarter-mile concrete span spans two forks of the Big Sandy River, connects two states and has a right turn at its halfway point, which connects traffic to the Point Section neighborhood of Louisa.