About Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence was founded in 1854 by the New England Emigrant Aid Society in an effort to keep the territory free from slavery. It is said that Lawrence is one of the few cities in the U.S. founded strictly for political reasons. The city is located between both the Oregon and the Santa Fe trails, which run through Lawrence and Douglas County, KS. Lawrence streets are named after the states in the order they came into the Union, beginning with Delaware. Massachusetts Street was designated the "main" street because Lawrence's founders were from Massachusetts.
Lawrence is a diverse and multifaceted city that provides many of the amenities of a large metropolitan area, while still maintaining a strong sense of community. Located in Northeast Kansas, Lawrence is just 45 minutes west of Kansas City, and 30 minutes east of Topeka, the state capital. Lawrence offers a rich and fascinating history, a wide range of exciting cultural experiences, nationally recognized educational institutions, and some of the most unique and enjoyable shopping opportunities in the Midwest. Lawrence possesses all of the aspects of a friendly, active, and culturally diverse community. With the perfect combination of small-town hospitality and big-city attractions, Lawrence lays claim to its share of national recognition and historical significance.
City of Lawrence: An Innovative Work Environment
The City of Lawrence fosters a high-quality, progressive, innovative work environment by providing strategic leadership to anticipate, identify, analyze, and balance City organizational and employee needs. Employees strive to serve as strategic business partners with City management and staff. Our objective is to create and maintain a work environment to place City employee's in the best position to carry out the City Commission's goals and objectives.