Lawrence County is located in south central Indiana and was established in 1819. It is named after naval officer James Lawrence. The county seat is located in Bedford, known as the "Limestone Capital of the World" for its quarries. Other towns include Mitchell, home to the annual Persimmon Festival held each September celebrating the region's native persimmon fruit. The county contains various state parks and sites of geological and historical interest, and its economy relies heavily on limestone quarrying.

1. Inquiry Project #3 Kelsey Zehr Education 357

3. Lawrence County is in the south central part of Indiana

4. The county seat is located at Bedford

6. Other points of interest include:

7. The Williams Dam State Fishing Area near the town of Williams

8. The Spring Mill State Park near Mitchell

9. The Avoca State Fish Hatchery

10. Blue Springs Caverns

11. Virgil "Gus" Grissom Memorial

12. The Devils Backbone on the eastern border

13. Tunnelton Tunnel

15. 3 Square Miles of Water

16. Population: 45,922

17. Cities/Towns:

18. Bedford

19. Mitchell

20. Townships:

21. Bono

22. Guthrie

23. Indian Creek

24. Marion

25. Marshall

26. Perry

27. Pleasant Run

28. Shawswick

29. Spice valley

30. Demographics:

31. 97.92% White,

32. 0.39% Black or African American

33. 0.28% Native American

34. 0.28% Asian

35. 0.01% Pacific Islander

37. Total Area: 11.9 Square Miles

38. Population: 13,758

39. Bedford is known as the limestone capital of the world, and is surrounded by limestone quarries, many of which are dangerously used by the residents for swimming.

40. A common name for the light gray Indiana limestone quarried in south central Indiana is “Bedford limestone”

41. Buildings/Monuments made out of Bedford Limestone:

42. Biltmore Estate

43. Empire State Building

44. The Pentagon

45. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

46. Yankee Stadium

48. Became Mitchell in 1853.

49. Population: 4,567

50. Points of Interest in Mitchell:

51. Spring Mill State Park

52. The Opera House

53. Gus Grissom Memorial

54. Traditions/Festivals:

55. Persimmon Festival

56. Demographics:

57. 98.31% White

58. 0.28% African American

59. 0.11% Native American

60. 0.09% Asian

61. 0.02% Pacific Islander

63. Limestone Exhibit

64. Cruise In

65. Tour of Siebolt Quarry

66. Lost River Tour

67. Quarry Classic Swim Meet

68. Limestone Heritage Festival (Week of Independence Day)

69. Picnic with the Pops

70. Limestone Heritage Architectural Tour

71. Limestone Festival Pancake Breakfast

72. Stone Carvers Exhibit

73. Parade

74. Fireworks (July 4th) For a Full Calendar of Events Click Here: http://www.visitbloomington.com/docs/microsites/LimestoneMonthCalendarwithDesc.pdf

75. Limestone Heritage Festival The festival includes a parade featuring a militaryflyover, fireworks, stone carving exhibition, ice creamsocial, free open-air concertand more!

76. Persimmon Festival Mitchell, Indiana The Persimmon Festival in Mitchell, Indiana occurs the last full week of September every year and runs for eight days. The festival has been a tradition on Main Street since 1946. The population of Mitchell swells every year at this time. More events have been added in the recent years until there is truly something for everyone. The festival is kicked off by the Candlelight Tour of the Pioneer Village at Spring Mill State Park just east of town. The major highlight is the parade on the last Saturday that lasts for two hours and attracts crowds, by some estimates, over 40,000 people. An approximate 30 contestants enter each year to be named the Persimmon Festival Queen. In addition, contests are held for Mini Miss, Little Miss and Junior Miss. Midway rides for the very young and the not-so-young line Main Street. Food booths and special offerings from local non-profits, churches and businesses abound. A popularity contest for artwork and for photography along with a juried Arts and Crafts Show are held at various sites in and around the downtown area. Festival Map: http://www.persimmonfestival.org/Maps/FestivalMap.aspx

77. Persimmon Festival Mitchell, Indiana The Persimmon Pudding entries are always hotly contested. Not only does it take a winning recipe, but the most hidden secret is "what tree did your persimmons come from?". This year was the 63rd annual Persimmon Festival and was held on September 19-26, 2009. Contests held at the Persimmon Festival are: Horseshoe Contest Lip Sync Contest Persimmon Queen Contest Junior Miss Contest Little Miss Queen Contest Mini Miss Queen Contest Road Rally Contest Novelty Dessert Contest Persimmon Pudding Contest Photography Contest Art Show Arts and Crafts Contest Car Show 5K Run/Walk Antique Tractor Show/Contest 2009 Contest Results: http://www.persimmonfestival.org/ContestResults2009.aspx

79. 2.1.3 – Identify individuals who had a positive impact on the local community.

80. 2.1.4 – Identify and describe community celebrations, symbols and traditions and explain why they are important.

81. 2.1.5 – Develop a timeline of important events in the history of the school and/or community.

82. 2.1.6 – Create and maintain a calendar of important school days, holidays and community events.

84. K.2.4 – Roles of Citizens: Give examples of how to be a responsible family member and member of a group.

85. 1.2.4 – Describe ways that individual actions can contribute to the common good of the community.

86. 2.2.3 – Identify community leaders, such as the mayor and the city council.