Lawrence, MI

Lawrence sits near the center of Van Buren County within the two-square-mile village and its surrounding township. John Allen founded the settlement in 1835 under the name Mason, honoring Michigan’s first territorial governor, Stevens T. Mason. Brush Creek gives the village a local waterway and a bit of natural texture, while the county’s roads connect Lawrence to farms, schools, and larger southwest Michigan towns.

The village’s calendar brings people together around familiar seasonal traditions. Labor Day weekend brings the Ox Roast and Homecoming Festival to Village Park, with food, vendors, rides, games, music, and the Lions beer tent. During summer, a Saturday farmers’ market gives residents a regular market stop for local produce and conversation. The village park and market give Lawrence recurring gathering points through the year, while local roads keep the surrounding township tied to the same center. Lawrence also serves as the hub for the Van Buren County Intermediate School District, giving the village an educational role that reaches across the county.