Lawrence | Massachusetts, United States - Encyclopedia Britannica

Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos Lawrence Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics Images Lawrence Quizzes Tower Bridge over the Thames River in London, England. Opened in 1894. Remains an Important Traffic Route with 40,000 Crossings Every Day. Guess the City by Its River Quiz Britannica AI Icon Contents Geography & Travel Cities & Towns Cities & Towns H-L CITE verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/place/Lawrence-Massachusetts Feedback External Websites Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
  • Official Site of the City of Lawrence, Massachusetts, United States
Lawrence
Lawrence High Service Water Tower, Lawrence, Mass. (more)
Lawrence Massachusetts, United States Ask Anything Homework Help Written and fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors History Britannica AI Icon Britannica AI Ask Anything Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything

Lawrence, city, Essex county, northeastern Massachusetts, U.S. It lies along the Merrimack River, 26 miles (42 km) north of Boston. The site at Bodwell’s Falls (the source of abundant waterpower) was promoted for industry in 1845 by the Essex Company, formed by a group of Boston financiers that included Abbott Lawrence, for whom the town was named. In 1847 it was set off from Andover and Methuen and incorporated as a town, and it developed as one of the largest woolen-textile centres in the United States after completion of the Boston and Maine Railroad (now closed). In 1912 Lawrence was the scene of a great strike involving out-of-town militia and the Industrial Workers of the World; known as the “Bread and Roses” strike (owing to a banner carried by some of the striking women textile workers), it was settled when the labourers won a one-cent hourly increase. The city’s industry has diversified since 1950, and its manufactures now include textiles, electronics, and computerized systems. Services and trade are also important. It is nevertheless an area of destitute families, many of them immigrants. More than one-fourth of residents live below the poverty level. Inc. city, 1853. Pop. (2000) 72,043; (2010) 76,377.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kenneth Pletcher.

Tag » What County Is Lawrence Ma In