Lawrence is a city in eastern Kansas in Douglas County that is the home to the University of Kansas. Its estimated population as of 2005 is 81,816,[1] and it is located along the Kansas and Wakarusa Rivers. The town is named for the abolitionist politician Amos Adams Lawrence.[2] In 1863, it was raided by pro-slavery raider William Quantrill, who led forces that killed approximately 200 males, practically the entire male population of the town.
Notable residents of the town have included Langston Hughes, Jim Ryun, and James Naismith.
Some of Lawrence is represented in the US House of Representatives by Democrat Dennis Moore, and other parts of the city are represented by Democrat Nancy Boyda. Lawrence is known for being one of the most liberal places in Kansas, and Douglas County was one of only two Kansas counties (along with Wyandotte County) to vote for John Kerry in the 2004 Presidential Election. The town is also known for its college-town atmosphere and its popular live music scene, much of which is centered around the downtown Massachusetts Street (known as Mass Street locally).