Lawrence

Formed February 6, 1818 (11^th county)

Lawrence County (33,077), Moulton (3,401)

An Art Deco masonry structure is the county courthouse.  It was built in 1938.  It is located on a square surrounded by Court, Lawrence, Market and Main streets.  Alabama State Highway 33 is Market Street passing through the city.  The architects are Warren Knight & Davis.  An Annex was added in 1955 and a Judicial and Administrative Center in 2012.  Veteran memorials are on the courthouse grounds.  Moulton was named for soldier Michael Moulton.  The county was named for Naval Captain J. Lawrence.  Lawrence County was formed on February 6, 1818 from Cherokee Territory as the 11^th county.  Moulton has been the county seat since the county formation. 

Lawrence County government consists of a sheriff, revenue commissioner, and coroner (executive).  It has 5 commissioners (legislative.)  A Circuit Judge, a District Judge, a Probate Judge, a District Attorney, and a County Clerk serve Lawrence County (judicial.)  Lawrence County is located in northwest Alabama.  The Tennessee River forms the northern border of the county.  The center of the county is 6.5 miles North of Moulton.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Limestone, Morgan, Cullman, Winston, Franklin, Colbert, and Lauderdale counties.  Moulton is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 10.3% of the county population.  The county seat is pronounced MOLE-TON. 

The county has an area of 690.7 square miles.  It ranks 33 out of 67 in size.  It ranks 35 out of 67 in population in the state.  It has a density of 48.1 persons per square mile making it 34 out of 67 in the state.  Lawrence County has 17.9% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 72 Alternate passes through the county from Morgan County, east, to Colbert County, west.  A bag of popcorn is the overall county shape.  Moulton is south of center in the county.  The county is in the Decatur Metropolitan Statistical Area.