LaGrange, Georgia

=== 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>