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 of Van Buren County functions: Van Buren County Technology Center , Van Buren County Conference Center ,  and the Van Buren County Road Commission.

08/21/10  Dick Kroeg Day ! Potluck celebration in the Park!

A great time was had by all  to honor 60 years of service to the Lawrence Community. Dick opened his doors in August 1950 & has been cutting hair ever since!   Approximately 200 people attended the event

08/01/10  Great Lakes Chriropractic officially opens ! New downtown Lawrence business-owners, Dr. Brian and Heather Stoyanoff celebrated the grand opening of their practice, Great Lakes Family Chiropractic with a barbeque and an open house on Sunday, August 1^st.  The office will operate in downtown Lawrence on Monday and Friday afternoons from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Hours may be extended later this year.  Dr. Brian Stoyanoff, a 2003 graduate of Life University in Atlanta Georgia, has operated his main practice from Mattawan for seven years.  “It’s wonderful to see the downtown growing; especially with a service like this that can serve residents and save them a trip out of town ,” said Village Administrator, Ken Schaut.  “We welcome the addition and look forward to working together with Dr. Stoyanoff.”  Great Lakes Family Chiropractic will offer massage in addition to general Chiropractic services.

07/21/10  Fire Destroys home on Exchange St  The home at 203 S. Exchange, owned by Jerry & Ada Darling, is at the SE corner of Exchange and James St.  There were no injuries in the fire.  We ask everyone to keep them in their thoughts and prayers dealing with this tragedy.

07/15/10  Van Buren Sheriffs to initiate a county wide door to door Dog License compliance check  The Press Release can be read here. 

06/29/10 Lawrence Downtown accepted as an Associate Community for Michigan Main Street Project

The Press Release can be read here.  The Michigan Main Street provides technical expertise, training and services with the purpose of developing strategies that encourage economic development through historical preservation. 

 ROBERT BRAUSCH JR PARK, located at the south end of the Lawrence-Crandall Business Centre formally opens!  The grand opening took place Sat June 26

Location:   The Lawrence-Crandall Industrial Park pond parking lot pond located off Maple Court.

At the ceremony we formally thanked Eagle Scout Nick Beam for his work to install a gravel parking lot.  Having this work done provided additional functioning for the park to be enjoyed by all.  We also recognized the life and work of Bob Brausch.    Speeches were given by Lawrence Township Supervisor Doug Harrington, Tina Brausch (mother of Bob Brausch),  Deana Polomcak, and Nick Beam  A new sign at the park was introduced .

ECCU officially opens branch in Lawrence.

 Great news! As of June 1, Educational Community Credit Union's Lawrence branch is open for business!  Located in the John Dominguez Services Center at 701 S. Paw Paw St.    ECCU's full service branch will be open Monday - Friday 9:00am to 5:00 pm and Saturdays 9:00 am to noon

For more information about the branch, please contact Patti Slack at 269.674.3228 or visit ECCU's website www.eccu1.org

  May 21   Lawrence High School Students Make Community Pride Day a Big Success! 

If the downtown area in Lawrence looks especially clean and bright this week, you can thank students at Lawrence High School for their hard work.  For two hours this past Wednesday afternoon, Lawrence High School students traded their books, pencils and final exams for shovels, paintbrushes and hedge trimmers.  About twenty-five students participated in the annual Community Pride Day.   Students helped beautify the downtown area in the Village by participating in several projects, including re-painting curbs and parking lines, trimming downtown shrubs and bushes, planting flowers, spreading mulch and collecting litter.   According the Ken Schaut, Village Administrator, “The students did a great job.  It was a great opportunity for the kids to take some ownership in the Village.  As a Village, we have been striving to get younger generations involved, and we hope to build from this event.”

Lawrence Township to sell Town Hall to Lawrence Town Hall Preservation Foundation -On July 08, 2010, the Township Board voted to accepted a purchase agreement to sell the building to the Lawrence Town Hall Preservation Foundation. The Township of Lawrence had previously put the Township Hall up for sale in October 2009 with an asking price of $69900. The Hall, built in 1902 and registered in the State of Michigan list of Historic Sites, was 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 was recently created via local money pledges with the intent 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 .  T

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 Ox Roast ran originally 1921 to 1964, then re-started in 1985 until now.

The  Farmers Market in the park every Saturday morning from June thru October !!  Opening day June 12

..... and our yearly Lawrence Ox Roast on Labor Day weekend.