Lawrence, Indiana, is located along the northeast side of Indianapolis. The area is known for state of the art schools, unique business opportunities and the comforts of living in a small town. As part of the larger, nine-county Indianapolis metropolitan area, Lawrence has much to offer individuals and families who choose to call it home. Its unique position allows residents access to many major highways including I69, I475 and I70. Fort Harrison State Park and Fort Benjamin Harrison are located close by, which accounts for the large number of military families in the area. Lawrence is an extremely active town, with a full social event calendar. There is always something to do within the city and the surrounding township.
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Lawrence is a fast growing community. In 2013, the city's population was approximately 47,135. In 2010, the number was closer to 46,001, with 17,864 households of which were 11,949 families. Almost 51% of the population was married as of 2013. Close to 38% of the households had children under the age of 18. Over 17% of the households had a single female as the head of household. Over 63% of the population was White. Just under 26% of the population was African American and over 11% were of Hispanic or Latino origin. The median age of Lawrence residents was just over 34 years of age.
The estimated median income for a Lawrence resident was just over $50,184, which was just over the state median income at $47,529. Manufacturing and retail jobs are the most prevalent in the area coming in at 16% and 12% respectively. Approximately 20% of Lawrence's population has achieved a Bachelor's degree or higher in education, with just under 40% completing their high school diploma. When taking this last statistic into account, it must be remembered that just under 30% of the city's population is under the age of 18 and still attending school.
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Lawrence is a central Indiana community that is rich in both history and culture. Fort Benjamin Harrison was named after President Benjamin Harrison who was born in Indianapolis. Land was purchased for the Fort in 1903. During World Wars I and II, the Fort was extremely active. Although delegated to surplus property status in 1947, the Fort has remained in active use for training and other vital military maneuvers. Because Lawrence is both a city and a township, it has two state of the art libraries and several landmarks and museums for residents to explore. Lawrence residents are proud of their city's rich history and the culture that has grown and developed over the years. As a suburb of Indianapolis, residents can also enjoy the cultural diversity of the state capital as well as the unique elements of their hometown.
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Lawrence offers an extremely high quality of life. Schools in the area receive high marks from many local educators, with just over 17 to 1 student to teacher ratio, which is one of the lowest in the state. The local crime rate is well below the state average due to neighborhood watch groups and the vigilance of the local law enforcement agencies. The cost of living is approximately 8.80% which is below the national average. With the U.S. unemployment average reporting in at 6.3%, Lawrence is again below average with numbers falling in the 5.30% range. The median cost for a home in 2013 was approximately $132,900 with a home appreciation value at close to 8.0%.
With Indianapolis and the surrounding metropolitan area firmly in the grasp of an economic upswing, residents in the area can look forward to continued growth and a resurgence of urban renewal and development. The area has much to offer prospective home buyers who are looking to raise a family in a safe, quiet and well-maintained neighborhood. Many of the current residents have chosen to stay in Lawrence, even after accepting jobs and employment opportunities in other areas. The average commute time for a Lawrence resident is approximately 25 minutes, which is close to the national average. Another advantage of living in Lawrence is being close to many of the top rated hospital in the country. St. Vincent's, Wishard and Riley's Children's Hospital are well-known across the nation for the quality of care they provide.
Lawrence is best known for being the home of Fort Benjamin Harrison. In addition to that, however, Lawrence is known throughout the Indianapolis area for its community and educational athletic programs. Local schools repeatedly produce both academic and athletically sound students who have gone on to excel at the college level. The downtown district is also well known for its variety of shops and local businesses that help to give Lawrence its own unique identity. For residents who are in the mood for a trip to the big city, they only have to travel a few miles to reach downtown Indianapolis. Whether you are interested in a night on the town or a day with the family, there is always something to do.
