LaGrange, Georgia

==History==
{{More citations needed section|date=February 2015}}
[[File:Troup County Georgia Government Center.JPG|thumb|[[Troup County, Georgia|Troup County Government Center]] in LaGrange]]
[[File:Troup County, Georgia Courthouse, Annex, and Jail.JPG|thumb|Built in 1939, the old [[Troup County Courthouse]] listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Troup County, Georgia|National Register of Historic Places]] (HRHP)]]
[[File:Bellevue (LaGrange, Georgia).JPG|thumb|[[Benjamin Harvey Hill|Senator Benjamin Harvey Hill]]'s LaGrange home, [[Bellevue (LaGrange, Georgia)|Bellevue]], was built in 1854–55; it is listed on the HRHP and is a designated [[List of National Historic Landmarks in Georgia (U.S. state)|National Historic Landmark]].]]

LaGrange is named after the country estate near [[Paris]] of the wife of the [[Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette|Marquis de La Fayette]]. When La Fayette, a Revolutionary War hero, visited Georgia in 1825 on a national tour, he remarked on the similarity of local topography to his wife's property.<ref name="nga">{{cite web|last1=Johnson|first1=Forrest Clark|title=La Grange|url=http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/counties-cities-neighborhoods/lagrange|website=New Georgia Encyclopedia|publisher=Georgia Humanities Council and University of Georgia Press|access-date=6 July 2016}}</ref>

The European-American settlement of LaGrange began in the early 19th century, soon after the territory was ceded to the United States by the [[Creek Indians]] and the territorial legislature established [[Troup County, Georgia|Troup County]]. The city was incorporated in December 1828.<ref name="nga"/> The area was developed for cotton plantations, and planters migrating from the eastern areas of the South brought along or bought enslaved African Americans in the domestic slave trade to use as laborers.

By 1860 Troup County had become the fourth-wealthiest county in Georgia, based on cotton as a commodity crop. It was the fifth-largest slaveholding county in the state.<ref name="nga"/> As the county seat, LaGrange was a center of trade for this prosperous area, and wealthy planters built more than 100 significant homes in the city.

During the [[American Civil War]], LaGrange was defended by a volunteer women's auxiliary group known as the [[Nancy Harts]] or Nancy Hart Rifles, named after [[Nancy Hart]]. After defeating the Confederates in nearby [[West Point, Georgia]], Colonel [[Oscar Hugh La Grange|Oscar H. La Grange]] led his [[Union Army|Union]] troops to the county seat of LaGrange. He placed [[Confederate Army|Confederate]] prisoners near the front of the column. The Nancy Harts negotiated a surrender with the colonel.

Although local assets were burned and looted by Union troops, Colonel La Grange spared the private homes of LaGrange, including [[Bellevue (LaGrange, Georgia)|Bellevue]], the home of former US Senator and then Confederate senator [[Benjamin Harvey Hill]], a slave owner. La Grange may have been returning positive treatment which he had earlier received while in captivity. He had been given medical care by Confederates and was attended by a niece of Senator Hill. After recovery, Col. La Grange was exchanged for a Confederate prisoner, and he returned to battle duty.

To show their gratitude for his sparing their homes, one of the Nancy Harts hosted a dinner for Col. La Grange. 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 [[Prisoner of war|prisoners of war]]. They were soon released, when it was learned that [[Battle of Appomattox Court House|General Robert E. Lee had surrendered]] at Appomattox.

===19th century===
In the late 19th century, LaGrange developed as a railroad center and as an industrial center. Textile mills were developed here and elsewhere in the upland region. Initially they employed only white workers. They increased in regional, state and national economic importance into the mid-20th century. 

=== 20th century to present ===
Gradually in the late 20th century, much textile manufacturing moved offshore, out of the United States.

The city has transitioned to a mixed economy with some new industries. [[Interstate 85|Interstates 85]] and [[Interstate 185 (Georgia)|185]] pass through LaGrange, which is a transportation hub in the area. The city has industrial and commercial access, and a [[Wal-Mart]] Distribution Center was developed here.

Interface, the world's leading manufacturer of carpet tile,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://interfaceglobal.gcs-web.com/node/16361/html|title=ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934: For the Fiscal Year Ended December 30, 2018|website=Interface Global|access-date=19 March 2019}}</ref> was founded in LaGrange in 1973. It has its largest manufacturing center here. LaGrange is also the North American headquarters for [[Caterpillar Inc.|Caterpillar]]'s forestry division.

The city of LaGrange is a full-service utility provider for the region, including electricity, natural gas, water, sewer, refuse collection, and telecommunication. In 2000 the city was named "Intelligent Community of the Year" by the Intelligent Community Forum, joining other cities such as New York, Singapore, Seoul, Glasgow and Toronto.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.intelligentcommunity.org/index.php?src=gendocs&ref=ICF_Awards&category=Events |title=Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) |access-date=2014-06-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428063947/https://www.intelligentcommunity.org/index.php?src=gendocs&ref=ICF_Awards&category=Events |archive-date=2014-04-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Since 2000 the city has provided free Internet service to every household. It also has been ranked as a Georgia City of Excellence, and received a Government Technology Leadership Award.<ref name="nga"/>

LaGrange was in the news in late January 2017 for the public apology of its police chief and mayor for the city's failure in 1940 to protect [[Lynching of Austin Callaway|Austin Callaway]], a 16-year-old African-American resident, from being [[Lynching in the United States|lynched]].<ref name="cnn">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/26/us/lagrange-georgia-callaway-1940-lynching/ |title='Justice failed Austin Callaway': Town attempts to atone for 1940 lynching |author=Emanuella Grinberg |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=January 27, 2017}}</ref> The police did not report nor investigate his murder very thoroughly.<ref name="cnn"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/nightly-news-full-broadcast-january-27th-864596547728|title=Nightly News Full Broadcast (January 27th)|website=[[NBC News]] }}</ref>

On November 8, 2021, it was announced that [[Upstate New York]]-based firearms manufacturer, [[Remington Arms]], would be moving their global headquarters from [[Ilion, New York]] to La Grange, and would be hiring 865 people over the span of five years. Construction is expected to cost $100 million.<ref name="wktv">{{cite news|url= https://www.wktv.com/content/news/Remington-moving-global-headquarters-to-Georgia-575699181.html |title='Remington moving global headquarters to Georgia' |author=WKTV |publisher=[[WKTV]] |date= November 8, 2021}}</ref>

The southern half of the city was heavily damaged by an EF2 tornado on [[Tornado outbreak of January 12, 2023|January 12, 2023]]. The tornado injured four people along its path as well.<ref name="FFC0112">{{cite web |title=January 12, 2023 Tornado Outbreak |url=https://www.weather.gov/ffc/20230112_Tornado_Map |website=www.weather.gov |publisher=National Weather Service Peachtree City GA |access-date=21 January 2023 |language=EN-US}}</ref>