Lawrence County was created on March 20, 1849, from parts of Beaver and Mercer Counties and named for Perry's Flagship, Lawrence, which had been named for Captain James Lawrence, a naval hero. New Castle, the county seat, was laid out in 1802, incoporated as a borough on March 25, 1825, and chartered as a city on February 25, 1869. It is not certain whether it was named for Newcastle, England, or New Castle, Delaware.

Lawrence County in Western Pennsylvania offers a tranquil respite to those escaping the urban confines of city living. Located 45 miles north of Pittsburgh and 80 miles south east of Cleveland, Ohio, the county is proud of its diverse cultural heritage, quaint villages, scenic beauty, and abundance of community activities.

Two sects of old order Amish, living and working as their ancestors did 400 years ago, reside in the area making the sight of horse drawn buggies on major roads and highways not unusual. Adding to the diversity are the descendants of the large number of immigrants which flocked to Lawrence County in the earlier part of the Twentieth Century.

Restaurants offering the cuisines of the Italian, Polish, Middle Eastern, Slovenian and Irish cultures are located here in addition to a number of historical museums plus a genealogical research facility dedicated to locating the ancestry of many Pennsylvanians.

The heritage of the area also produced the theme of Fireworks Capital of America. At one time there were more fireworks manufactured in Lawrence County than in any other part of the United States. Two fireworks display companies are still located in the community.

Quaint villages offering craft, specialty, and antique shopping abound. Small-town outlets and art galleries not usually found in larger malls, also dominate the friendly atmosphere. In addition to shopping, the scenic beauty of the rural countryside provides a relaxation not found in metropolitan communities. Intermingled with lush farmlands are hiking trails, rivers for fishing and canoeing, two historic covered bridges, a world class white water stream, plus a state park containing house-sized boulders created by the meltwater of the last glacial age.

Lastly, a large variety of festivals and community events celebrating the heritage of the area provide entertainment throughout the year. Horse and automobile shows, holiday celebrations, arts, crafts and fireworks festivals, quilt auctions, a county fair, community theater productions, and golf tournaments are just some of the activities offered here.