Lawrenceburg, Indiana

Lawrenceburg Clock and Chimes on Ohio River Waterfront

A Visit to Aurora and Lawrenceburg, Indiana

Lawrenceburg, Indiana

County - Dearborn

Area

Total - 5.0 sq mi (13.1 km2)

Land - 4.9 sq mi (12.7 km2)

Water - 0.1 sq mi (0.4 km2)  2.78%

Elevation - 479 ft (146 m)

Population (2000)

Total 4,685

Density 956.1/sq mi (369.2/km2)

Time zone EST (UTC-5)

ZIP code 47025

Area code(s) 812

 Lawrenceburg Short History

Surveyors William Vance, James Hamilton and Benjamin Chambers laid out the town of Lawrenceburg in April 1802. Vance had settled in the Cincinnati and became familiar with the best sites along the Ohio River. He decided that a site just west of the junction of the Miami River and the Ohio River would be an ideal site for a city.

Dearborn County

Dearborn County was organized on March 7, 1803, and officials chose Lawrenceburg as the county seat. Because of a political struggle with nearby Rising Sun, the county seat moved on September 26, 1836 to Wilmington where it remained until April 1, 1844, when Lawrenceburg again became the County Seat through an act of the Legislature on January 3, 1844. The Court House currently in use was built during the years of 1870 and 1871.

Samuel Vance (1770-1830)

The son of William Vance and Sarah Colville Vance, Samuel was native to Bath, Pennsylvania. He trained as a surveyor and migrated to Cincinnati, Ohio sometime before 1803. During that year married Mary Morris Lawrence, the granddaughter of General and Northwest Territory governor Arthur St. Clair.  The couple had nine children. Vance served under General Anthony Wayne in the Northwest Indian Wars and served on the board of the Indiana Canal Company at its formation in 1805. Vance also fought in the War of 1812. he settled permanently in Lawrenceburg in 1818. Vance purchased the land that would become Lawrenceburg at the Cincinnati Land Office. Vance surveyed the town of Lawrenceburg in April 1802, using his wife's maiden name to name the town.

Important Transportation Hub

The city was an important city early in the state's history due to its location on the Ohio River. It became an important railroad center as well, and two rail lines, the Central Railroad Co. of Indiana and the CSX Transportation Inc. still run through the city. Lawrenceburg also served as the southern terminus of the Whitewater Canal, built in the 1840's. The downtown area borders the shoreline of the Ohio River that you may see from the Levee Walk that is located at the end of Walnut Street. The Levee Walk is a part of the longer

Lawrenceburg Transportation

Lawrenceburg, Indiana has one major highway, US 50, connecting it with Aurora, Versailles, Seymour and Vincennes to the west and Cincinnati, Ohio to the east. Indiana State Road 1 connects Lawrenceburg with I-74 to the north.

For more information about shopping, dining and lodging in Lawrenceburg, contact the Dearborn County Visitor Center.

Dearborn County Visitor Center

320 Walnut Street

Lawrenceburg, IN 47025

Phone: 812-537-0814

Toll Free: 800-322-8198

Fax: 812-537-0845

E-mail: dearborn@visitsoutheastindiana.com

Attractions

Dearborn Trails

Vance-Tousey House

Lawrenceburg Antique Gallery

Hickory Lakes Campground

Dearborn Highlands Arts Council

Dearborn County Historical Society

Ohio River Marinas in the Lawrenceburg and Aurora Indiana Areas

Dearborn Trails – Aurora – Lawrenceburg – Greendale Indiana

Argosy Casino And Hotel

Tri-State Antique Market

Lawrenceburg Speedway

Perfect North Slopes

Dearborn Competition Go-Kart Racing

Salatin’s Orchard

© Indiana Places 2016