Welcome to
The Village of Lawrence, Michigan
web site
The Village of Lawrence, Michigan is a small hometown community nestled inside of the center of Van Buren County. With direct access to I-94, we are 25 miles east of Benton Harbor & St Joseph, and 22 miles west of Kalamazoo. The county seat of Paw Paw is 8 miles away. We are also evenly distanced (2-1/2 hours) between Detroit and Chicago. Other State or County roads that run through the Village include C.R. 365, Paw Paw St. (215) , St. Joseph St. (Red Arrow Highway). Lawrence is also accessible by rail (freight). There are a variety of agricultural farms and several lakes within a few miles. With direct access to I-94, it's only a short drive to the big cities for colleges, universities, entertainment and shopping malls. Lawrence is the hub for many official Van Buren County functions: Van Buren County Technology Center located on South Street, Van Buren County Conference Center located on S. Paw Paw St, and the Van Buren County Road Commission on James Street.
Local news and notices:
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Lawrence Township puts
Township Hall up for
sale -The Township of Lawrence recently put the Township Hall up for
sale with an asking price of $69900. The Hall, built in 1902 and
registered in the State of Michigan list of Historic Sites, is listed with Remax
realtors in Kalamazoo. The Township of Lawrence plans to move their offices from the Town Hall and the Township
Services Building (fire station) into their new location at the former Fifth
Third building. Fifth Third Bank recently donated the former bank
building to the Township of Lawrence on the condition it cannot be resold to another
bank for 40 years.
The Lawrence Town Hall Preservation Foundation has been recently created via local money pledges and is presently working with the Township board for an equitable transfer of ownership from the Township to the Foundation. The foundation, operating as a public charity, desires to use it as a community center for dances, plays, meetings, etc . Money to maintain an renovate the building will be thru public donations and grants. Anyone who would like to make a pledge donation can through the Foundation webpage .
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ECCU
to open branch in Lawrence.
In partnership with the VanBuren ISD, the ECCU is in the planning stages of opening a branch this spring at the John Dominguez Building, located on Paw Paw St. There are many ways to join the ECCU Credit Union, whether you're a student, school volunteer, or family member of an existing ECCU member. They also serve VanBuren County Governmental employees and their families. For more information contact Susie Martin @ 269 544-3405 or go to the Paw Paw branch at 269-657-2190 for more information.
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Village of Lawrence was paid tribute by the State of Michigan for its 25 successive years in producing the Ox Roast. Pictured are (left to right) Paul Garrod, Ox Roast Committee Chairperson , and Ken Schaut, Lawrence Village Administrator. The IOx Roast ran originally 1921 to 1964, then re-started in 1985 until now.
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Village of Lawrence invited to apply MEDC grant for 2nd St & James St repair - the MEDC has invited the village to apply for a $498,000 grant for the reconstruction of 2nd St from Red Arrow to James, and from that intersection east to Paw Paw St. The grant is for road resurfacing and also for some water main and storm sewer work in that area. Work is to begin in Spring of 2010. The grant requires the Village to match $42,000 plus an additional contribution of $8,000 from the Van Buren Road Commission. This work will not interfere with the previously scheduled Corwin Rd resurfacing will still be on schedule for June of 2010
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The Farmers Market in the park every Saturday morning from July thru October !! and our yearly Lawrence Ox Roast on Labor Day weekend.
Its another big season for our 2009 Lawrence Tigers basketball team, finishing 19-1 as regional champs. They will be playing 3/24 in the State quarterfinals against New Lothrop. Congratulations for Shayne Whittington who was chosen first team all-state and all-conference, also earned a basketball scholarship to WMU. Also chosen all-conference was Derek Conklin & Trever Stermer. Coach Salvano was chosen Class D coach of the year.
2008 Lawrence High School boys basketball also finished as regional champs and state semi-finalists, and Adrian Ledesma was chosen All-State. Go Lawrence Tigers !!
Rain pounded the Lawrence area from Friday Sept 12 thru Sept 14, 2008.
The Paw Paw River reached record highs with many water backups in town.
The main sewage pump station next to the river had be sandbagged 3 feet high
(with the assistance of a Van Buren County inmate crew)
in order to prevent any electric shorting of the pumps. 
