Lawrence, Indiana, sits just along the northeast border of Indianapolis in Marion County. It is well known throughout the state for the military training facility located at Fort Benjamin Harrison. Considered one of the "excluded cities", Lawrence is a well maintained and vibrant community that offers small town living with the big town glamour that many people find exciting. Lawrence was originally established and platted in 1849. Along with the other popular Indianapolis suburb, the city has continued to grow and expand. The Lawrence real estate market has also seen substantial growth, and with the amenities residents enjoy in the area, it's no surprise.
Residents of Lawrence have embraced the national movement towards better health by utilizing the main walkways and hiking trails throughout the area. Fort Harrison State Park has a large network of trails in addition to the parks and recreational areas in the city itself. School and community athletic programs are rated some of the best in the state. The community as a whole has taken steps to encourage family participation in fitness programs and athletic events that support charitable causes like Relay For Life and the Special Olympics. With a population of 45,779, Lawrence is a growing community that is dedicated to physical fitness and the importance of both academic and athletic prowess.
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Economic growth in the Indianapolis area has brought many new employment opportunities to Lawrence and many of the surrounding communities. The unemployment rate for Lawrence is 5.3%, which is far below the national average. Manufacturing is the area with the strongest growth when it comes to jobs. 16% of Lawrence residents work in the manufacturing industry, while 12% work in occupations associated with retail sales. Construction accounts for almost 11% of the workforce, with healthcare workers making up an additional 7%. Urban renewal and the revitalization of downtown has contributed to the increase of new jobs in the Lawrence area.
Indianapolis was the birthplace of President Benjamin Harrison. Fort Benjamin Harrison was named after the president as was the Fort Harrison State Park. When Fort Benjamin Harrison was first established in 1903, it was an active military installation. After seeing service in World War I and World War II, it was eventually deemed surplus property in 1947. In the last few decades, the Fort has been converted to a state of the art training facility where many of the state's National Guard troops receive their first taste of military life. Along with the Fort and the State Park, Indianapolis also takes great pride in being the birthplace of the 23rd President of the United States.
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Lawrence has many local parks and recreational areas. A few of the most popular include Lee Road Park, Oren Alexander Memorial Park, Veterans Memorial Park, Lawrence Community Park and Explorer Park. The community calendar is always full of local events for families to participate in. If you want other types of adventure, there is always the White River State Park, the Eiteljorg Museum, the Children's Museum, the Indianapolis Zoo and a multitude of small festivals and fairs that go one throughout the year. Many of the surrounding communities have local Farmer's Markets where vendors sell home grown produce, crafts and any number of items. For those who like to shop, Pendleton Pike Mall, Castleton Square and Geist Shopping Center offer an abundance of retail stores too choose from. There are also many downtown shops to serve the more eclectic tastes.
When it comes to entertainment, the sky is the limit in the Indianapolis area. For those who want to spend the night out on the town, there are several nightclubs in the downtown area that offer live music as well as DJ's. Crackers Comedy Club is also a hit. Restaurants are close by to serve every taste, from the Italian fare of the Olive Garden to the American stylings of Beef O'Brady's and Joe's Crab Shack. If you like professional sports, there is a team for every season. The Indianapolis Colts provides NFL excitement, while the NBA is represented by the Indiana Pacers. The Indianapolis Ice brings hockey to area fans and the Indianapolis Indians are available for baseball fans to enjoy. If you have a need for speed, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosts open wheel, Formula One racing at its finest with the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR's famed Brickyard or Allstate 400. Indianapolis Raceway Park hosts the NHRA Summer Nationals every year over Labor Day weekend. No matter what you like to do for fun, Lawrence
