LaGrange, Georgia
Encyclopedia
LaGrange is a city
in Troup County
, Georgia
, United States
. It is named after the country estate near Paris
of the Marquis de La Fayette
, who visited the area in 1825. The population was 24,998 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of and is included in the LaGrange, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Atlanta
-Sandy Springs
-Gainesville, Georgia
-Alabama
(part) Combined Statistical Area
.
LaGrange has been the county seat
of Troup County since December 16, 1828 and 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.
. 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. After the Confederate defeat in nearby West Point, Georgia
, the Federal troops, led by Colonel Oscar LaGrange, marched north to LaGrange, with Confederate prisoners near the front of the column. The Nancy Harts formed and negotiated a surrender.
Although local assets were burned and looted by Union troops, Colonel LaGrange spared the homes of LaGrange, including Bellevue
, the home of Senator Benjamin Harvey Hill
. This may have been a returned favor. Colonel LaGrange had previously been under Confederate medical care for wounds received and had been cared for by the niece of Senator Hill. After his care, LaGrange was later exchanged for a Union prisoner and returned to duty. This became an opportunity to return the kindness he had been shown.
To show their gratitude for sparing their homes, one of the Nancy Harts hosted a dinner for Colonel LaGrange, and the Colonel paroled some local prisoners so that 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 LaGrange as prisoners of war. They were soon freed when it was learned of Robert E. Lee
's previous surrender.
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 and peaked in the mid-twentieth century. The city was fortunate that as the textile industry declined it was replaced with a diverse mixture of new industry which provided strong employment for a number of years until it too began to decline and move out of the country. The construction beginning in 2006 of a Kia Motors
assembly plant in Troup County along with its satellite industries is expected to reverse the falling manufacturing trends.
LaGrange maintained its position as a transportation hub with the completion of Interstates 85 and 185 which pass through the city. This location has benefitted the city development by providing industrial and commercial access for businesses such as Wal-Mart
, which opened a Distribution Center several years ago.
, there were 28,201 people, 10,022 households, and 6,504 families residing in the city. The population density
was 897.8 per square mile (346.6/km²). There were 11,000 housing units at an average density of 379.9 per square mile (146.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 53.8% White,39.6% African American, 0.18% Native American, 4.9% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 1.23% from other races
, and 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.44% of the population.
There were 10,022 households, of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.6% were married couples
living together, 23.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.12.
Age distribution was 28.4% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 85.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.5 males.
The median household income
was $29,719, and the median family income was $36,438. Males had a median income of $29,082 versus $21,790 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,640. About 18.2% of families and 21.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.9% of those under age 18 and 18.4% of those age 65 or over.
, Inc. (SCI): Craigavon
, Northern Ireland
Poti
, Georgia
Aso, Kumamoto
, Japan
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in Troup County
Troup County, Georgia
Troup County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2010, the population was 67,044. The county seat is LaGrange.-History:...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is named after the country estate near Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
of the Marquis de La Fayette
Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette
Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette , often known as simply Lafayette, was a French aristocrat and military officer born in Chavaniac, in the province of Auvergne in south central France...
, who visited the area in 1825. The population was 24,998 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of and is included in the LaGrange, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
-Sandy Springs
Sandy Springs, Georgia
Sandy Springs is a city in north Georgia, United States. It is a northern suburb of Atlanta. With a 2010 population of 93,853, Sandy Springs is the sixth-largest city in the state and the second-largest city in Metro Atlanta. Sandy Springs is located in north Fulton County, Georgia, just south of...
-Gainesville, Georgia
Gainesville, Georgia
-Severe Weather:Gainesville sits on the very fringe of Tornado Alley, a region of the United States where severe weather is common. Supercell thunderstorms can sweep through any time between March and November, but are concentrated most in the spring...
-Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
(part) Combined Statistical Area
Combined Statistical Area
The United States Office of Management and Budget defines micropolitan and metropolitan statistical areas. Metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas consist of one or more counties...
.
LaGrange has been the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Troup County since December 16, 1828 and is home to LaGrange College
LaGrange College
LaGrange College is the oldest private college in the U.S. state of Georgia. Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, it is located in LaGrange, Georgia, with an enrollment of about 1,000 students. The student-to-faculty ratio is 11:1...
, the oldest private college in the state. Its proximity to West Point Lake
West Point Lake
West Point Lake is a man-made reservoir formed by the damming of the Chattahoochee River by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This reservoir extends for about along the Chattahoochee River near the Alabama-Georgia state boundary....
, a few miles to the west, makes it a tourist destination for bass fishermen.
History
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, GeorgiaTroup County, Georgia
Troup County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2010, the population was 67,044. The county seat is LaGrange.-History:...
. The City was incorporated in December 1828. During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, LaGrange was defended by a volunteer women's auxiliary group known as the Nancy Harts. After the Confederate defeat in nearby West Point, Georgia
West Point, Georgia
West Point is a town in Troup County, with a small tail of the south end of town in Harris County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, this town had a total population of just 3,382 people...
, the Federal troops, led by Colonel Oscar LaGrange, marched north to LaGrange, with Confederate prisoners near the front of the column. The Nancy Harts formed and negotiated a surrender.
Although local assets were burned and looted by Union troops, Colonel LaGrange spared the homes of LaGrange, including Bellevue
Bellevue (LaGrange, Georgia)
Bellevue is the historic home of senator Benjamin Harvey Hill in LaGrange, Georgia, built from 1853–1855. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 1973...
, the home of Senator Benjamin Harvey Hill
Benjamin Harvey Hill
Benjamin Harvey Hill was a U.S. Representative, U.S. senator and a Confederate senator from the state of Georgia.-Biography:Hill was born September 14, 1823 in Hillsboro, Georgia in Jasper County...
. This may have been a returned favor. Colonel LaGrange had previously been under Confederate medical care for wounds received and had been cared for by the niece of Senator Hill. After his care, LaGrange was later exchanged for a Union prisoner and returned to duty. This became an opportunity to return the kindness he had been shown.
To show their gratitude for sparing their homes, one of the Nancy Harts hosted a dinner for Colonel LaGrange, and the Colonel paroled some local prisoners so that 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 LaGrange as prisoners of war. They were soon freed when it was learned of Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
's previous surrender.
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 and peaked in the mid-twentieth century. The city was fortunate that as the textile industry declined it was replaced with a diverse mixture of new industry which provided strong employment for a number of years until it too began to decline and move out of the country. The construction beginning in 2006 of a Kia Motors
Kia Motors
Kia Motors , headquartered in Seoul, is South Korea's second-largest automobile manufacturer, following the Hyundai Motor Company, with sales of over 1.4 million vehicles in 2010...
assembly plant in Troup County along with its satellite industries is expected to reverse the falling manufacturing trends.
LaGrange maintained its position as a transportation hub with the completion of Interstates 85 and 185 which pass through the city. This location has benefitted the city development by providing industrial and commercial access for businesses such as Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
, which opened a Distribution Center several years ago.
Troup County School District
The Troup County School System holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that 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/recently renovated schools. Key accomplishments for TCSS: LaGrange High School being named by USA Today as the best high school in Georgia and one of the best in the nation (based on advance placement classes). West Side Magnet School was named #1 in a national five-year study of Fine Arts Schools by the Westat Foundation. Long Cane Elementary School was named a 2010 Georgia School of Excellence. Troup High's Character Education Program has received statewide recognition as a model program for others to follow. The district has 823 full-time teachers and over 11,779 students.Private education
- LaGrange Academy
- Dawson Sreet Academy
- Lafayette Christian
- Sound Doctrine Christain Acadmey
- Oak Grove Christain Academy
Demographics
At the 2009 censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, there were 28,201 people, 10,022 households, and 6,504 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 897.8 per square mile (346.6/km²). There were 11,000 housing units at an average density of 379.9 per square mile (146.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 53.8% White,39.6% African American, 0.18% Native American, 4.9% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 1.23% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.44% of the population.
There were 10,022 households, of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 23.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.12.
Age distribution was 28.4% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 85.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.5 males.
The median household income
Median household income
The median household income is commonly used to generate data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
was $29,719, and the median family income was $36,438. Males had a median income of $29,082 versus $21,790 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,640. About 18.2% of families and 21.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.9% of those under age 18 and 18.4% of those age 65 or over.
Sister cities
LaGrange has three sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities InternationalSister Cities International
Sister Cities International is a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between United States and international communities. More than 2,000 cities, states and counties are partnered in 136 countries around the world...
, Inc. (SCI): Craigavon
Craigavon
Craigavon is a settlement in north County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It was a planned settlement that was begun in 1965 and named after Northern Ireland's first Prime Minister — James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon. It was intended to be a linear city incorporating Lurgan and Portadown, but this plan...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
Poti
Poti
Poti is a port city in Georgia, located on the eastern Black Sea coast in the region of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti in the west of the country. Built near the site of the ancient Greek colony of Phasis, the city has become a major port city and industrial center since the early 20th century. It is also...
, Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
Aso, Kumamoto
Aso, Kumamoto
is a city located in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.The city was formed on February 11, 2005 from the merger of the former town of Aso with the town of Ichinomiya, and the village of Namino, all from Aso District....
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
Notable natives
- Mike CameronMike CameronMichael Terrance Cameron is an American professional baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He has previously played for the Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, and Florida Marlins.Cameron has won 3...
, Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player - Tom JarrielTom JarrielThomas Edwin "Tom" Jarriel is an American television news reporter who has worked for the ABC network since the 1960s.Jarriel's parents were the late William Lester Jarriel, Sr., and Ella Ruth Jarriel . The Jarriels were living in LaGrange in Troup County in far western Georgia, where on May 17,...
, ABCAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
news correspondent, was born in LaGrange in 1934. - Bubba SparxxxBubba SparxxxWarren Anderson Mathis , known by his stage name Bubba Sparxxx, is an American Southern rapper. His biggest hit is "Ms. New Booty" featuring The Ying Yang Twins which peaked at #7 in the United States...
, Rapper - Elijah KelleyElijah KelleyElijah Kelley is an American actor, singer, and dancer. Kelley has appeared in the films Take the Lead and 28 Days , and co-starred in the musical film re-adaptation of Hairspray , in which he portrayed the character Seaweed J...
, Actor - Fred NewmanFred Newman (actor)Frederick R. Newman is an American actor, voice actor, composer, and sound effects artist, as well as a former talk show host....
, Actor