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GENERAL INFORMATION
Location [top]
Located 70 miles south of Indianapolis and 70 miles north of Louisville, Kentucky, Lawrence County’s location in south central Indiana makes it convenient to the major U.S. markets. Distances to major markets from Lawrence County include:
City and State Distance/Miles
Indianapolis, Indiana...............................70 miles
Louisville, Kentucky.................................70 miles
Cincinnati, Ohio......................................125 miles
St. Louis, Missouri..................................250 miles
Chicago, Illinois......................................250 miles
Detroit, Michigan....................................354 miles
Lawrence County is only 90 miles northeast of Princeton, Indiana which is the site of the new Indiana Toyota plant. Our location makes us very accessible to this new facility and is a prime spot for supplier plants.
Government [top]
Bedford is the county seat of Lawrence County and is governed by a Mayor and a seven member council, with four year terms and is classified as a Third Class city. There is a Zoning Board, Park Board, Planning Commission, Economic Development Commission and the city has established designation as a Tree City, USA.
The City of Mitchell is governed by the Mayor and a five member council with a Zoning Board, Economic Development Commission, and a Planning Commission. Oolitic governs its community by electing a town board to a four year term.
Lawrence County follows the Commissioner-Council form of government with three Commissioners and seven Council members, also elected to a four year term. There is no planning or zoning in the county.
Population [top]
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, there has been a 7.2% county-wide population increase between 1990 and 2000. The largest community is Bedford with 13,768 residents, followed by Mitchell with 4,567 and Oolitic with 1,152 residents with a total county population of 46,020.
2000 Estimated Average Household Income
$43,109
2000 Estimated Median Household Income
$36,280
2000 Median Age
38.2
Local Taxes [top]
Indiana is presently converting to a Fair Market Value Tax system. The Property Tax figures should be released in June of 2003. This information will be made available upon Lawrence County Assessor’s completion.
State sales tax 6% on all retail sales - food products exempt.
Lawrence County has a one percent local option tax, (CAGIT) used for property tax credit. Tax abatement is available in Bedford, Mitchell and countywide. Through the appointments of the Lawrence County Redevelopment Commission, TIF (Tax Increment Financing) has been established in the northern part of Lawrence County. In 1993, Bedford established an enterprise zone. Mitchell was granted an enterprise zone in January of 2001. Businesses that locate in the zones are totally exempt from the Indiana Gross Income Tax, can receive 100% credit toward their Indiana personal property tax for inventory (excluding business equipment) and can earn tax credits for employing individuals.
The Indiana sales and use tax is applied at the rate of six percent to sales at retail. There is also an Innkeepers Tax of 3%, used exclusively to promote tourism in the area.
Solid Waste [top]
The Lawrence County Solid Waste District was established in 1992 as an independent government unit, belonging to neither the county nor the state, and is funded through its own tax line. A seven member board of elected officials oversees the Lawrence County Solid Waste District. It was established to achieve a 35% reduction in waste in 1996 and a 50% reduction by 2001. The following services are offered: waste disposal , composting, recycling, battery recycling, and a material exchange register called Waste Not, Want Not.
Climate [top]
Average Temperature:
January - 39 degrees high, 22 degrees low
July - 87 degrees high, 66 degrees low
Average Precipitation 44.2"
Transportation [top]
Trucking [top]
There are several motor freight carriers that service the area:
Central Transport
Con-Way Central Express (CCX)
Relco
Roadway Express
Meyer Trucking
Schilli Transportation
Steel Transportation
Zipp Express
Hall Trucking
Raw Materials: [top]
Hancock Trucking
Hanna Trucking
Kern Trucking
Shelby Trucking
Rail [top]
Lawrence County is serviced by CSX Rail. The track is owned and opertated by CSX Rail and the trains are owned and operated by Canadian Pacific Railway. The city of Mitchell is a crossroad for rails north, south, east, and west with switching capabilities.
Air [top]
Virgil I. Grissom Airport is located 3 miles east of Bedford. The airport has a 4,500 by 100 foot paved, lighted runway. They can accommodate a 44 convair passenger plane. Virgil Grissom Airport is utilized by companies such as Visteon Systems, LLC and Dana Corporation for shipping freight in and out of the county. Future plans include adding another 500 feet to the runway and a charter service, to include a Merlin Twin Engine 8 passenger jet. Bloomington Airport is within 25 minutes of Bedford and has a runway of 5,200 feet and can accommodate 727’s and corporate jets. Indianapolis International is within 90 minutes traveling distance and offers nonstop flights to cities such as Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, Memphis and New York, with a weekly schedule of 1,100 flights. Louisville’s Standiford Field is 70 minutes south and hosts 8 major airlines with nonstop connections daily to major cities.
Bus [top]
Bedford, Mitchell and the county have an inexpensive bus system running a door to door service throughout the city and the county.
Education [top]
North Lawrence Community Schools is the largest school corporation in the county with a current enrollment of 5,073 and 360 teachers. Bedford North Lawrence High School has 1,564 students with a graduation rate of 92%. The SAT test scores for 2000 were: Verbal 501 and Math 506 for a total of 1,007.
Mitchell Community Schools has an enrollment of 2,116 students with 571 enrolled at Mitchell High School. Their SAT test scores were Verbal 465 and Math 476 for a total of 941 and a graduation rate of 91%.
The state-of-the-art North Lawrence Vocational Technical Center is the area vocation school with over 900 enrolled. This school offers not only training for high school students, adult evening classes for welding, small engine repair, electronics, blueprint reading/drafting, machine trades, bookkeeping, computer programming and shorthand, but also is the facility for the pilot project, South Central Indiana Educational Alliance. Five Universities (Indiana University, Indiana State University, Purdue University, Ivy Tech State College and Vincennes University) formed an alliance in order to offer degreed technical and engineering programs. Academic programs are offered leading to Bachelor of Science and Associate Degrees in accounting, business administration, computer technology, English, general studies, humanities, math and secretarial science. Most recently a Masters Program has been added, as well as many classes via Internet and televised instruction.
The Community Learning Center of Lawrence County (CLC) is a part of the South Central Educational Alliance (SCEA) which provides the opportunity for residents to take college classes locally, instead of traveling to a campus. Traditional classes, as well as courses by distance learning are available, including two-way video and internet. The courses are conveniently scheduled and provided by Ball State University, Indiana State University, Indiana University, Ivy Tech State College, Purdue University, University of Southern Indiana and Vincennes University. The courses are the same as those offered on campus. The Community Learning Center of Lawrence County is conveniently located at 2217 W. 16th St., in Bedford. For more information phone 277-9251, or log on to www.clcinfo.org .
St. Vincent School, a parochial school in Bedford, received full certification under the Indiana Performance Based Accreditation Process in 1994. They have a limited class size, with an average student/teacher ratio of 17:1 and have served families in Lawrence County since 1908.
Oakland City University-Bedford is a branch of Oakland City University. A commitment from the city and its residents to higher education, the university has grown from 26 students in the fall of 1977 to the current level of 160 students. Academic programs are offered leading to Bachelor of Science and Associate Degrees in accounting, business administration, computer technology, English, general studies, humanities, mathematics and secretarial science.
Indiana University is located in Bloomington, only 23 miles north of Bedford, a 25 minute drive by four lane highway. The University offers baccalaureate, masters, doctoral and progressive degrees. Many of its schools, including the School of Music, are considered among the best in the nation. Ivy Tech State College, also located in Bloomington, offers academic programs leading to Associate Degrees in accounting, business administration, computer technology, nursing and secretarial science.
Utilities [top]
The majority of Lawrence County electricity is supplied by Cinergy/PSI Energy, with a small portion supplied in Southern Lawrence County by Hoosier Energy. All of Lawrence County gas is supplied by Vectren Energy Delivery.
The newly renovated and expanded utilities for Bedford and Mitchell include municipal service supplies from White River and Lake Monroe (primary sewage treatment plant: 3.6 MGD, less than 50% usage.) Telephone services are provided by Ameritech with fiber optics running through the center of Bedford on Highway 50. The Internet provider is KivaNet of Bloomington administered by the Local newspaper, The Times-Mail.
Public Safety [top]
Law Enforcement [top]
The City of Bedford is served by one police chief and 31 police officers, and the City of Mitchell has one chief and 8 officers. The town of Oolitic has one Marshall and one deputy Marshall.
County wide surveillance is provided by the Lawrence County Police Department with one sheriff and 24 officers. There is a State Police Command Post 29 miles north in Bloomington, Indiana. Lawrence County is served by the enhanced 911 system with Ameritech.
Fire Protection [top]
The City of Bedford has one fire chief, 37 firefighters and three fire stations. The insurance classification is V. Mitchell has one chief and 15 volunteer firefighters and is classified VII. There are numerous volunteer departments with eight stations serving all of Lawrence County.
Libraries [top]
Bedford Public Library is a Carnegie Library and serves the city of Bedford and all townships north of the White River. They have an automated catalog and circulation system, old newspapers on microfilm, changing video titles each month, items of local history and genealogy interest, and provide nine computer stations for Internet access. Adult services offer a wide variety of materials including books, magazines, newspapers, cassettes, compact discs and videotapes. Books not in the collection may be requested from other libraries through Interlibrary Loan. A bookmobile serves all county elementary schools in the North Lawrence School system, senior citizens in nursing homes and apartments, neighborhoods and small communities throughout their tax district.
Mitchell Community Public Library also is a Carnegie Library and serves the nearly 10,000 residents in the city of Mitchell and townships south of the White River. They have an automated catalog and circulation system, old newspapers on microfilm and census records. Both libraries offer adult, juvenile and young adult collections.
Museums [top]
The Lawrence County Museum of History and Edward L. Hutton Research Library is located in a beautifully restored turn-of-the-century structure and is home to historic displays and artifacts, gift shop, early Lawrence County records, genealogial/family collections, old local newspapers and other materials pertaining to Lawrence County`s rich history. Free to the public.
The Land of Limestone Indiana Heritage Exhibition is located in the Oakland City University - Bedford building and provides displays of over 200 archival and architectural photographs, historical news accounts, documents and artifacts chronicling the history of limestone. Free to the public.
Spring Mill State Memorial is a tribute to the Mitchell-born astronaut who was a pioneer in America’s exploration of outer space. This museum memorializing Virgil (Gus) Grissom’s participation in and contributions to America’s early space flight program is also located in Spring Mill State Park. Gus Grissom was the second United States astronaut to go into space. He was captain of America’s second suborbital flight and was preparing to lead the three-man crew of Apollo I to the Moon. Lawrence County has more astronausts per capita than any other state. Virgil Grissom was the first of the three astronauts from Lawrence County to go into space.
Churches [top]
There are approximately 100 churches in Lawrence County, with most denominations represented.
Communications [top]
Postal Facilities [top]
Bedford is served by a First Class Regional Center. The U.S. Post Office serves 20 associate offices with a personnel complement of 36. Mail is received twice daily (4:30 & 6:30 a.m.) and dispatched twice daily (1:00 & 6:00 p.m.) Express and overnight mail delivery as well as the handling of large bulk mail is offered. Including the Bedford Post Office, there are ten post offices serving Lawrence County.
United Parcel Service, Western Union and Federal Express are also available.
Telephone [top]
Ameritech serves the Bedford area and Verizon serves the Mitchell Area. Digital switching, hi-speed data capability, multiple long-distance carriers and cellular service area readily available. Internet is available in Lawrence County for a minimum charge.
Radio [top]
The area offers a wide variety of music, news and sports. The following are among the stations in our listening range:
AM Stations
WBIW - Bedford
WGTC - Bloomington
WSLM - Salem
FM Stations
WQRK - Bedford
WTTS - Bloomington
WBWB - Bloomington
WFIU - Bloomington
WUME - Paoli
WSLM - Salem
WWEG - Mitchell
Television [top]
Independent television stations from Bloomington, Indianapolis and Louisville service the area. On a subscription basis, Insight Communications provides numerous basic and premium channels to the Bedford area as does Charter for the Mitchell area.
Newspapers [top]
The Times-Mail of Bedford publishes daily with a circulation of 14,265. Available in the area also are the Indianapolis Star and the Louisville Courier-Journal which are published daily..
Commercial [top]
Hotels/Motels [top]
Bedford’s largest hotel, the Stonehenge Lodge, offers 97 rooms, conference facilities, outdoor swimming pool, restaurant and lounge. The Holiday Inn Express offers 64 rooms and 17 suites with jacuzzis, and indoor pool, spa, fitness center and 3 meeting rooms. The Super 8 Motel offers 49 rooms and an indoor pool and whirlpool spa. There are a total of 311 available hotel/motel rooms in Lawrence County.
Restaurants [top]
There are over fifty restaurants in Lawrence County, many nationally known, offering a wide variety of food and price ranges.
Retail [top]
Bedford is the retail center of Lawrence and the surrounding counties with a mixture of national and local stores. Wal-Mart Plaza and The Town Fair Shopping Center as well as downtown establishments of Bedford and Mitchell offer a diversity of goods.
Financial Institutions [top]
Hoosier Hills Credit Union....................................................$135,000,000
Bedford Federal Savings Bank..............................................119,588,359
Crane Federal Credit Union................................................... 12,469,000
Chase Bank...........................................................................95, 000, 000
Regions Bank .......................................................................90,000,000
Integra Bank........................................................................ 67,000,000
Bloomfield State Bank ...........................................................48,000,000
Stone City Bank.................................................................... 45,800,000
JCB......................................................................................35,000,000
Monroe Bank........................................................................15,000,000
Health Care [top]
Lawrence County has established a reputation as a regional medical center, with two hospitals. Dunn Memorial Hospital and Bedford Regional Medical Center, an affiliate of Clarian Health. Combined the two hospitals offer a wide range of services designed to meet personal healthcare needs. Bedford Regional Medical Center has recently completed an 8.5 million dollar expansion to include 24 suites.
Some of the services currently offered are:
24 hour emergency physician care
Kidney Stone Center
Dialysis Center
Laparoscopic surgery
Extended care
Acute hospital care
Outpatient surgery
Home health care
Hospice
Physical, Occupational, Speech and Hearing Therapy
Lifeline home response service
Oncology treatment
Education classes
Diabetes and cancer support
Sports medicine
Family birthing center
Childbirth classes
MRI and CT scanner
Walk-in clinic
Mitchell Family Health Center, located in Mitchell, offers additional health care services to residents in the southern part of Lawrence and northern half of Orange County.
There are approximately 145 physicians, including podiatrists, dentists and chiropractors in Lawrence County.
Hospital based Ambulance Services....................2
Nursing Homes.................................................4
Home Health Agencies......................................7
Assisted Living Center.......................................1
Recreation [top]
Swimming, tennis, picnic areas and playground facilites are typical of the recreational opportunities found in the Lawrence County area. Situated in the Hoosier National Forest, natural attractions such as Bluesprings Caverns, Spring Mill State Park and Avoca Fish Hatchery are popular spots. Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell has more than 1 million visitors a year and offers swimming, horseback riding, trails, cave tours and the ever popular pioneer village. Land of Limestone, seven antique shops, Turner Doll Factory and Mitchell Opera House draw visitors from miles around. Otis Park Golf Course, a 120 acre 18 hole golf course is considered one of the finest courses in Indiana as it was listed in Golf Digest. There are two other 18 hole course, one 27 hole course, and one 9 hole course available.
Lake Monroe, Indiana’s largest man made lake is 20 minutes north of Bedford offers boating, fishing, tennis, golf and is considered one of the finest recreational facilities in southern Indiana. Patoka Lake, twenty minutes south of Mitchell, offers boating, fishing, camping and picnicing facilities.
Several annual festivals and fairs take place throughout the year such as the Limestone Heritage Festival, Mitchell’s 4th of July parade, Lawrence County Fair, Claude Akins Memorial Labor Day Golf Tournament, Persimmon Festival and the annual Christmas Parade.
There are two movie theatres, built in the spring of 1997, offering 13 screens featuring top billed movies.
Workforce [top]
July 2003 Labor Force........................................ 22,970
County Employed............................................... 21,300
County Unemployed .............................................1,670
Lawrence County Rate............................................ 8.6
Indiana Rate...........................................................5.6
Source: January 2004 Edition Labor Market Publication of Indiana Department of Workforce Development.
Commuting Patterns [top]
Based on a labor market information publication of the Indiana Dept. of Workforce Develoment
From Lawrence County to:
Jackson County.................................. 360
Orange County ...................................589
Martin County .....................................992
Monroe County ................................3,643
Marion County.................................... 292
Totals equal 5,876 workers or 19.2% of Lawrence County’s labor force.
To Lawrence County from:
Jackson County....................................128
Orange County.................................... 658
Martin County.......................................169
Monroe County.....................................624
Green County.......................................156
Totals equal 1,735 workers or 6.6% of Lawrence County’s labor force.
Based on 2001 Indiana Dept. of Workforce Development information, industry employment for Lawrence County was 15,003.
Natural Resources/Mining..................................220
Construction.....................................................500
Manufacturing ...............................................4,474
Trade, Transportation & Utilities......................2,751
Information .....................................................331
Financial Activities ............................................517
Professional & Business Services........................470
Education & Health Services.............................3,095
Leisure & Hospitality........................................1,477
Other Services .................................................363
Public Administration.........................................804
The City and County government as well as both Chambers of Commerce in Bedford and Mitchell are always striving to meet the needs of local industry and continually working together to encourage new business and industry to Lawrence County. For further information regarding Lawrence County, please contact us.
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