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La Grange, Texas
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La Grange is a city in Fayette County, Texas, United States, near the Colorado River. The population was 4,478 at the 2000 census. The 2006 population estimate was 4,645. It is the county seat of Fayette County.
range was the site of an early crossing of the Colorado River during the Mexican period along La Bahía Road. The earliest white settlers in the area were Aylett C. Buckner and Peter Powell, who lived slightly to the west.
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Encyclopedia
La Grange is a city in Fayette County, Texas, United States, near the Colorado River. The population was 4,478 at the 2000 census. The 2006 population estimate was 4,645. It is the county seat of Fayette County.
History
La Grange was the site of an early crossing of the Colorado River during the Mexican period along La Bahía Road. The earliest white settlers in the area were Aylett C. Buckner and Peter Powell, who lived slightly to the west. The first settlement on this location was by Stephen F. Austin's band of colonists in 1822. John Henry Moore built a blockhouse in 1828 as protection from the Comanche, which is now known today as Moore's Fort (the fort is currently found in nearby Round Top, having been moved there for restoration).
The town was a major site of German and Czech settlement, because the rolling hills and forests are reminiscent of their homelands. Even today the German and Czech influences on the town remain strong, seen in many local customs, the local architecture, and the town's reputation for not having participated in prohibition beyond a token effort.
La Grange is the site from which the party in the Black Bean Episode left, after gathering around "the historic oak" which is a local land mark. The tree is still standing and alive, although it suffered some damage after impact from a drunk driver and relies on a concrete support (which it has partially encompassed) to maintain stability.
La Grange, Waterloo and Washington-on-the-Brazos were the three primary candidates for the first capital of the Republic of Texas, but Waterloo was eventually chosen, later renamed Austin.
Outside of La Grange was the "Chicken Ranch", a brothel. It was closed in 1973 largely through the efforts of a Houston television reporter, Marvin Zindler. The town also drew worldwide attention when ZZ Top released its classic rock song "La Grange", which referenced "that home out on the range" (the Chicken Ranch). La Grange is the setting of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, a movie from 1982 about the Chicken Ranch.
La Grange is the birth place and current home of the Chihuahua used in marketing by Taco Bell.
In 1974, a Little League team from La Grange won the Texas state championship and finished second to Jackson, Tennessee in the Southern Region tournament in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Monument Hill and Kreische Brewery State Historic Sites are located south of La Grange off U.S. Route 77.
The Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center is located at 250 Fair Grounds Road in La Grange. The center is constructing a new archives building, with a seed donation given by the estate of Adolph R. Hanslik of Lubbock. Hanslik was known as the "dean of West Texas cotton producers" and was a native of Hallettsville in Lavaca County.
Geography
La Grange is located at (29.908262, -96.875025).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²), of which, 3.6 square miles (9.2 km²) of it is land and 0.28% is water.
The average elevation of La Grange is 272 feet above sea level. Average annual temperature is 69 degrees Fahrenheit.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,478 people, 1,792 households, and 1,146 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,255.2 people per square mile (484.3/km²). There were 2,067 housing units at an average density of 579.4/sq mi (223.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 74.27% White, 10.36% African American, 0.54% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 12.19% from other races, and 1.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.81% of the population.
There were 1,792 households, of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18, 48.8% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,392, and the median income for a family was $39,718. Males had a median income of $28,631 versus $21,023 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,288. About 9.2% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.6% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
Sister Cities
Education
La Grange students attend school in the La Grange Independent School District.
Students attend Hermes Elementary School, La Grange Intermediate School, La Grange Middle School, and La Grange High School.
External links
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