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LaGrange, Georgia facts for kids

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LaGrange, Georgia
Courthouse square in LaGrange
Courthouse square in LaGrange
Flag of LaGrange, Georgia
Flag
Official logo of LaGrange, Georgia
Logo
Location in Troup County and Georgia
Location in Troup County and Georgia
Country United States
State Georgia
County Troup
Area
 • Total 42.98 sq mi (111.31 km2)
 • Land 42.14 sq mi (109.15 km2)
 • Water 0.84 sq mi (2.16 km2)
Elevation
781 ft (238 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 30,858
 • Density 732.22/sq mi (282.71/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
30240, 30241, 30261
Area code(s) 706
FIPS code 13-44340
GNIS feature ID 0316522

LaGrange is a city in Georgia, United States. It is the main city of Troup County. In 2020, about 30,858 people lived there. LaGrange is part of a larger area that includes Atlanta. It is about 60 miles (97 km) southwest of Atlanta. The city is located in the hilly area of the Georgia Piedmont.

LaGrange is home to LaGrange College. This is the oldest private college in Georgia. It started as a school for girls. Later, it became connected with the Methodist Church. The city is also close to West Point Lake. This lake attracts people who enjoy fishing and water sports.

The Troup County Courthouse, Annex, and Jail is an important building in LaGrange. It was built in 1939. This building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a special historical site.

History of LaGrange

LaGrange got its name from a country estate near Paris. This estate belonged to the wife of the Marquis de La Fayette. He was a hero of the American Revolutionary War. When La Fayette visited Georgia in 1825, he noticed the area looked like his wife's home.

European-American settlers began to live in LaGrange in the early 1800s. This was after the land was given to the United States by the Creek Indians. The city was officially started in December 1828. The land was used for growing cotton. Farmers brought or bought enslaved African Americans to work on these cotton farms.

By 1860, Troup County was one of the richest counties in Georgia. This was because of cotton farming. It also had many enslaved people. LaGrange was the main city and a busy trading center. Rich farmers built over 100 large homes in the city.

The Civil War and LaGrange

During the American Civil War, a group of women defended LaGrange. They were called the Nancy Harts or Nancy Hart Rifles. They were named after Nancy Hart, a brave woman. After winning a battle nearby, Colonel Oscar La Grange led his Union soldiers to LaGrange.

The Nancy Harts talked with Colonel La Grange. They agreed to surrender the city. Union troops burned and took some things. But Colonel La Grange saved the private homes in LaGrange. This included Bellevue, the home of a former senator.

Colonel La Grange had been treated well by Confederate soldiers earlier. He had been given medical care by a niece of Senator Hill. After he got better, he returned to his army duties. To thank him for saving their homes, one of the Nancy Harts hosted a dinner for him. Many women cooked all night for the meal. The next morning, the Union troops left. They took some men as prisoners. But these men were soon released. This happened when General Lee surrendered.

From the 1900s to Today

In the late 1800s, LaGrange became a center for railroads and factories. Textile mills, which make cloth, were built here. These mills first hired only white workers. They became very important to the economy until the mid-1900s. Later, many textile jobs moved to other countries.

Today, LaGrange has a mix of different businesses. Interstates 85 and 185 pass through LaGrange. This makes it an important transportation spot. A Wal-Mart distribution center is also located here.

Interface, the world's largest maker of carpet tiles, started in LaGrange in 1973. It has its biggest factory here. LaGrange is also the North American home for Caterpillar's forestry part. Just south of LaGrange, KIA Motors has its only US car factory. Many companies that supply parts to Kia are in LaGrange.

The city of LaGrange provides services like electricity, natural gas, water, and trash collection. In 2000, the city was called "Intelligent Community of the Year." This was because it offered free Internet service to every home. It has also been named a Georgia City of Excellence.

Geography

LaGrange is located at 33.0367° N, 85.0319° W. It is in west central Georgia. Interstate 85 and Interstate 185 run east of the city. Interstate 85 goes northeast 68 mi (109 km) to Atlanta. It goes southwest 96 mi (154 km) to Montgomery, Alabama. You can get to LaGrange from Interstate 85 at exits 13, 14, and 18. Interstate 185 goes south from the city 43 mi (69 km) to Columbus.

Other main roads like U.S. Route 27, U.S. Route 29, Georgia State Route 219, and Georgia State Route 109 all meet in the city. The U.S. Census Bureau says the city covers about 112.8 mi (181.5 km). Most of this area is land, and a small part is water.

Population and People

Historical population
Census Pop.
1850 1,523
1870 2,053
1880 2,295 11.8%
1890 3,090 34.6%
1900 4,274 38.3%
1910 5,587 30.7%
1920 17,038 205.0%
1930 20,131 18.2%
1940 21,983 9.2%
1950 25,025 13.8%
1960 23,632 −5.6%
1970 23,301 −1.4%
1980 24,204 3.9%
1990 25,597 5.8%
2000 25,998 1.6%
2010 29,588 13.8%
2020 30,858 4.3%
U.S. Decennial Census
LaGrange racial composition as of 2020
Race Number of People Percentage
White 11,040 35.78%
Black or African American 15,655 50.73%
Native American 49 0.16%
Asian 1,188 3.85%
Pacific Islander 15 0.05%
Other/mixed 1,043 3.38%
Hispanic or Latino 1,868 6.05%

In 2020, there were 30,858 people living in LaGrange. There were 11,246 households (groups of people living together). Also, there were 6,862 families living in the city.

Education

LaGrange College; LaGrange Georgia
LaGrange College is the oldest private college in Georgia
LaGrange, GA Memorial Library
LaGrange Memorial Library

Troup County School District

The Troup County School System teaches students from pre-school to grade 12. It has 11 elementary schools, three middle schools, and three high schools. The middle schools are Callaway, Gardner Newman, and Long Cane. The high schools are Callaway, LaGrange, and Troup County Comprehensive. The school system serves the towns of Hogansville, LaGrange, and West Point. Many schools in the county are new or have been recently updated.

Private Schools

  • Hillside Montessori
  • Lafayette Christian
  • LaGrange Academy
  • Oak Grove Christian Academy
  • Sound Doctrine Christian Academy

Colleges and Universities

  • LaGrange College - Main Campus
  • Point University
  • West Georgia Technical College

Transportation

2021-03-15 LaGrange, GA - LaGrange Callaway Airport
Thomas W. Sheffield Terminal at LaGrange Callaway Airport

Major highways in LaGrange include Interstate 85 and Interstate 185. Also, U.S. Route 27, U.S. Route 29, Georgia State Route 219, and Georgia State Route 109 pass through the city.

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

Famous People from LaGrange

  • J. Paul Austin – He was the Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company. He was born in LaGrange.
  • Ryan Bliss – A baseball player in the minor leagues. He grew up in LaGrange.
  • Hammett L. Bowen Jr. – He received the Medal of Honor.
  • Chris Burnette – An NFL (National Football League) player.
  • Fuller Earle Callaway – A famous textile business owner.
  • Daz Cameron – A Major League Baseball player.
  • Mike Cameron – A former Major League Baseball player.
  • Joyce Grable – A former professional wrestler. She was born and grew up in LaGrange.
  • Jimmy Haynes – A Major League Baseball player.
  • Tom Jarriel – An ABC news reporter. He was born in LaGrange in 1934.
  • Elijah Kelley – An actor.
  • David Kelton – A Major League Baseball player.
  • Mike Lazzo – A TV network executive for Adult Swim.
  • Wynona Lipman – The first African-American woman elected to the New Jersey Senate.
  • Randolph Mahaffey – A professional basketball player. He was born in LaGrange.
  • Bubba Sparxxx – A rapper.
  • James M. Sprayberry – He received the Medal of Honor.
  • Dernell Stenson – A Major League Baseball Player.
  • Horace Ward – The first African-American federal judge in Georgia.
  • Carla Williams – The Athletic Director at the University of Virginia.
  • Wesley Woodyard – An NFL player.
  • Louis Tompkins Wright – A doctor who graduated from Harvard Medical School. He was the first African-American doctor to work at a New York City hospital.

Sister Cities

LaGrange has special connections with these cities:

See also

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