LaGrange, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
LaGrange, Georgia
|
|||
---|---|---|---|
City and county seat
|
|||
Courthouse square in LaGrange
|
|||
|
|||
![]() 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.
Contents
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 |
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
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
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:
- Craigavon, County Armagh, Northern Ireland
- Poti, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Georgia
- Aso, Kumamoto, Japan
See also
In Spanish: LaGrange (Georgia) para niños