LaGrange, Georgia

LaGrange, Georgia
City

A statue of the Marquis de LaFayette stands atop a fountain in LaGrange's LaFayette Square.

Location in Troup County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 33°2′12″N 85°01′55″W / 33.03667°N 85.03194°W / 33.03667; -85.03194Coordinates: 33°2′12″N 85°01′55″W / 33.03667°N 85.03194°W / 33.03667; -85.03194
Country United States
State Georgia
County Troup
Government
 • Mayor Jim Thornton[1]
Area
 • Total 29.5 sq mi (76.5 km2)
 • Land 29.0 sq mi (75.0 km2)
 • Water 0.6 sq mi (1.5 km2)
Elevation 781 ft (238 m)
Population (2012)
 • Total 30,478[2]
 • Density 1,033/sq mi (398/km2)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 30240, 30241, 30261
Area code(s) 706
FIPS code 13-44340[3]
GNIS feature ID 0316522[4]
Website LaGrange-GA.org

LaGrange is a city and the county seat of Troup County, Georgia, United States. The population of the city was estimated to be 30,452 in 2013 by the U.S. Census Bureau.[5] It is the principal city of the LaGrange, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Gainesville, Georgia-Alabama (part) Combined Statistical Area.

LaGrange is home to LaGrange College, the oldest private college in the state. Its proximity to West Point Lake, a few miles to the west, makes it a tourist destination for bass fishermen and water sports enthusiasts.[6]

History

LaGrange is named after the country estate near Paris of the wife of the Marquis de La Fayette, who visited Georgia in 1825 and remarked on the similar topography of that regio of Georgia and his estate.[7]

The settlement of LaGrange began in the early 19th century, soon after the territory was ceded by the Creek Indians and the subsequent establishment of Troup County. The city was incorporated in December 1828. During the American Civil War, LaGrange was defended by a volunteer women's auxiliary group known as the Nancy Harts or Nancy Hart Rifles, after Nancy Hart. After the Confederate defeat in nearby West Point, Georgia, the Union troops, led by Colonel Oscar La Grange, marched north to LaGrange, with Confederate prisoners near the front of the column. The Nancy Harts assembled and negotiated a surrender.

Although local assets were burned and looted by Union troops, Colonel La Grange spared the private homes of LaGrange, including Bellevue, the home of Senator Benjamin Harvey Hill. This may have been a returned favor. Col. La Grange had previously been under Confederate medical care for wounds received and had been attended by the niece of Senator Hill. Afterward, La Grange was exchanged for a Confederate prisoner and returned to battle duty. This was an opportunity to return the kindness he was given.

To show their gratitude for sparing their homes, one of the Nancy Harts hosted a dinner for Col. La Grange, and he paroled some local prisoners so they could attend. Many women of the town cooked all night to provide the meal. The next morning the Federal troops marched out, taking various men of the town as prisoners of war. They were soon released, though, when it was learned that General Lee had surrendered.

LaGrange developed as a railroad center and as an industrial center for the textile industry which was established and grew from the late 19th century, peaking in the mid-20th century. The city was fortunate that as the textile industry declined, it was replaced with a diverse mixture of new industry, which provided steady local employment for a number of years.

The city maintained its position as a transportation hub with the completion of Interstates 85 and 185, which pass through LaGrange. This location has benefited the city's development, by providing industrial and commercial access for businesses, such as a Wal-Mart Distribution Center.

Interface, the world's largest manufacturer of carpet tile, was founded in LaGrange in 1973 and continues to have its largest manufacturing presence there. LaGrange is also the North American headquarters for Caterpillar's forestry division. Just south of LaGrange in neighboring West Point, also in Troup County, KIA Motors has their only US assembly plant, and many of KIA's suppliers are located in LaGrange.

The City of LaGrange is a full-service utility provider for the region, including electricity, natural gas, water, sewer, refuse collection, and telecommunication. The city was named "Intelligent Community of the Year" by the Intelligent Community Forum in 2000, joining other cities such as New York, Singapore, Seoul, Glasgow, and Toronto in a very exclusive club.

Geography

LaGrange is located at 33.0367° N, 85.0319° W. The city is located in west central Georgia along Interstates 85 and 185, which run east of the city, with Interstate 85 leading northeast 68 mi (109 km) to Atlanta and southwest 96 mi (154 km) to Montgomery, Alabama. Interstate 85 gives direct access to the city from exits 13, 14, and 18. Interstate 185 runs south from the city 43 mi (69 km) to Columbus. U.S. Route 27, U.S. Route 29, Georgia State Route 219, and Georgia State Route 109 all meet in the interior of the city. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has an area of 112.8 mi (181.5 km), in which 111.4 mi (179.3 km) is land and 1.4 mi (2.3 km) is water.

Government

LaGrange is governed by a mayor and city council. The mayor is elected city-wide and the six council members are elected by district. Jim Thornton is the current mayor and chief executive officer of the city. The daily operations of the city are administered by a full-time City Manager. The mayor and all council members are elected for four-year terms on a nonpartisan basis.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18501,523—
18702,053—
18802,29511.8%
18903,09034.6%
19004,27438.3%
19105,58730.7%
192017,038205.0%
193020,13118.2%
194021,9839.2%
195025,02513.8%
196023,632−5.6%
197023,301−1.4%
198024,2043.9%
199025,5975.8%
200025,9981.6%
201029,58813.8%
Est. 201530,695[8]3.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

As of the 2013 U.S. Census estimate,[5] there were 30,452 people in 11,233 households residing in the city. The population density was 1033 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 48.0% Black Only, 44.5% White Only, 4.7% Hispanic/Latino, 2.5% Asian Only, 1.8% mixed race, and 0.3% other. The median household income was $30,653.

Education

Troup County School District

The Troup County School System holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of fifteen elementary schools, three middle schools (Callaway Middle School, Gardner Newman Middle School, and Long Cane Middle School) and three high schools (Callaway High School, LaGrange High School,and Troup County Comprehensive High School. The county is divided into three school zones. The Troup County School System serves Hogansville, LaGrange, and West Point. It is home to over twenty new and recently renovated schools.

Private education

Higher education

Transportation

The LaGrange-Callaway Airport is located southwest of the city.

Sister cities

LaGrange has three sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI):[10]

The city is in the process of developing a sister city relationship in South Korea.

Notable people

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Official Website of the City of LaGrange, GA". lagrange-ga.org.
  2. ↑ "LaGrange (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau". census.gov.
  3. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. 1 2 "Quickfacts US Census estimate".
  6. ↑ "West Point Lake, GA". www.recreation.gov. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  7. ↑ Johnson, Forrest Clark. "La Grange". New Georgia Encyclopedia. Georgia Humanities Council and University of Georgia Press. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  8. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. ↑ LaGrange's Sister City Program, Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  11. ↑ Gary N. Mock, "Fuller E. Callaway, LaGrange, GA," textilehistory.org/, 2009.

External links

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