Fast Facts
Brief overview of facts and statistics about Lawrence.
Visitor Information
The Lawrence Visitor Information Center is located in the restored Union Pacific depot just north of the Kansas River at the corner of Second and Locust streets. Contact us by email at visinfo@visitlawrence.com or call 1-888-LAW-KANS for additional information.
Download our 2007-2008 Visitor Guide Here!
| Douglas County Population | 102,316 |
|---|---|
| Lawrence Population | 81,604 |
| Location | Located in northeast Kansas, just 30 minutes west of Kansas City and 20 minutes east of Topeka, the state capital. |
| Annual Avg. Temp. | Average 56°F / High 67°F / Low 45°F |
| January Avg. Temp. | High 38°F / Low 18°F |
| July Avg. Temp. | High 91°F / Low 69°F |
| Annual Avg. Snowfall | 21" |
| Annual Avg. Precipitation | 37" |
| Sister Cities | Hiratsuka, Japan Eutin, Germany |
Historic Facts
- Lawrence was founded in 1854 by the New England Emigrant Aid Society in an effort to keep the territory free from slavery. It is said that Lawrence is one of the few cities in the U.S. founded strictly for political reasons.
- Both the Oregon and Santa Fe trails run through parts of Lawrence and Douglas County, Kansas.
- Lawrence streets are named after the states in the order they came into the Union, beginning with Delaware. Massachusetts Street was designated the "main" street because Lawrence's founders were from Massachusetts.
- Boyhood home of writer and poet Langston Hughes whose novel Not Without Laughter is said to be based on his life in Lawrence.
- Home to the late beat writer and artist William S. Burroughs.
Rankings
- The National Trust for Historic Preservation ranked Lawrence among its "Dozen Most Distinctive Destinations," touting it as one of the best-preserved and unique communities in America.
- Lawrence has been rated among the top 15 in "The 100 Best Small Arts Towns in America" by author John Villani.
- USA Today ranked Lawrence as one of the least segregated communities in the country.
- The League of American Cyclists ranked Lawrence as one of the country's most bike-friendly towns in 2005.
- The Lied Center of Kansas, the University of Kansas' multimillion-dollar performing arts center, was ranked by International Arts Manager magazine as one of the "Top U.S. University Presenters."
- The National Endowment for the Arts has ranked Lawrence in the top 12 among cities in the U.S. with the largest percentage of professional artists in the work force.
- WheatFields Bakery & Cafe was awarded the 2004 Best Breads in Kansas designation by the Kansas Restaurant Hospitality Association and the Kansas Wheat Commission.
- Golf Digest consistently lists Lawrence's Alvamar golf course among the 100 best public golf courses in the nation.
- Clinton Lake is ranked among the top 50 lakes in the country by Boating World Magazine, July 2000.
- The July 2000 issue of Sports Travel named Lawrence as one of nine "high achievers" in the world of sports.
- In the September 2000 issue of Reader's Digest "New Choices: living even better after 50," Lawrence is listed #4 in college towns to which most people want to move.
- The League of American Bicyclists designated Lawrence a "Bicycle-Friendly Community" in 2000.
- Forbes magazine ranked Lawrence as the 6th-best smaller metro area to launch a business or a career in 2004.
- Lawrence is ranked 43rd in Expansion Management's January 2001 listing of "America's 50 Hottest Cities for Business Relocation and Expansion."
- Lawrence secondary schools rank 2nd among the nation's 370 metropolitan areas by Expansion Management magazine, a national publication for site location advisors.
