La Grange, Texas
| City of La Grange | |
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| — City — | |
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| Nickname(s): L.G | |
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| Coordinates: 29°54′30″N 96°52′30″W / 29.90833°N 96.87500°WCoordinates: 29°54′30″N 96°52′30″W / 29.90833°N 96.87500°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Fayette |
| Platted | 1837 |
| Incorporated | 1850 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-Council |
| • Mayor | Janet Moerbe |
| • City Manager | Shawn Raborn |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.6 sq mi (9.3 km2) |
| • Land | 3.6 sq mi (9.2 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 266 ft (81 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 4,923 |
| • Density | 1,255.2/sq mi (484.6/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 78945 |
| Area code(s) | 979 |
| FIPS code | 48-40276[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1360798[2] |
| Website | www.cityoflg.com |
La Grange is a city in Fayette County, Texas, near the Colorado River. It is located about halfway between Houston and Austin on Highway 71. The population was 4,478 at the 2000 census. The 2006 estimated population was 4,645. But a 2010 census estimated that the city had a population of 4,923. La Grange is the county seat of Fayette County.[3]
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History[edit]
La Grange was the site of an early crossing of the Colorado River along La Bahía Road during the Mexican period. The earliest white settlers in the area were Aylett C. Buckner and Peter Powell, who lived slightly to the west. The first settlement on the city's present location was by Stephen F. Austin's band of colonists in 1822. Colonel John Henry Moore built a blockhouse in 1828 as protection from the Comanche. It is known today as Moore's Fort. (The fort is currently found in nearby Round Top, having been moved there for restoration.)[4]
The town was a major site of German and Czech settlement, because the rolling hills and forests are reminiscent of their homelands.[citation needed] 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 the prohibition of alcoholic beverages during the 1920s and 1930s - beyond a token effort by the local authorities. La Grange also became the home of many Jewish immigrants in the 19th century.[5]
La Grange is the site from which the party in the Black Bean Episode left, after gathering around a historic oak that is a local landmark. 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 its stability.
Outside of La Grange was the Chicken Ranch, a brothel. It was closed in 1973 largely through the efforts of the Houston television reporter, Marvin Zindler. The town also drew worldwide attention when ZZ Top released its classic rock song "La Grange," which referenced "that shack outside La Grange" (the Chicken Ranch). La Grange was also the inspiration for the hit stage musical play in 1979, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, as well as the 1982 movie based on that play. The town is also mentioned in the song Northest Texas Woman by Willis Alan Ramsey. Charlie Robison mentions La Grange in his song "My Hometown" ("We worked 80 hours makin' time-and-a-half, but La Grange was too damn hot").
The Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center is located at 250 Fair Grounds Road in La Grange.[6] 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.[7]
In 1974, a little league team from La Grange won the Texas state championship.
Geography[edit]
La Grange is located at 29°54′30″N 96°52′30″W / 29.90833°N 96.87500°W (29.908262, -96.875025).[8]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²), of which 99.72% is land and 0.28% is water.
The average elevation of La Grange is 272 feet (83 meters) above sea level. The average annual temperature is 69 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius).
Climate[edit]
La Grange has hot summers, and mild winters. La Grange is the 6th hottest city in Texas.
| Climate data for Muldoon, Texas USA | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 94 (34) |
100 (38) |
104 (40) |
100 (38) |
106 (41) |
107 (42) |
110 (43) |
110 (43) |
110 (43) |
102 (39) |
97 (36) |
92 (33) |
110 (43) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 65 (18) |
67 (19) |
73 (23) |
78 (26) |
84 (29) |
92 (33) |
100 (38) |
97 (36) |
91 (33) |
82 (28) |
74 (23) |
62 (17) |
80 (27) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 42 (6) |
49 (9) |
52 (11) |
59 (15) |
73 (23) |
80 (27) |
82 (28) |
83 (28) |
75 (24) |
68 (20) |
56 (13) |
44 (7) |
59 (15) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 0 (−18) |
10 (−12) |
15 (−9) |
33 (1) |
42 (6) |
52 (11) |
59 (15) |
60 (16) |
41 (5) |
27 (−3) |
19 (−7) |
0 (−18) |
3 (−16) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 2.75 (69.9) |
2.37 (60.2) |
2.51 (63.8) |
2.92 (74.2) |
5.95 (151.1) |
4.46 (113.3) |
1.3 (33) |
2.42 (61.5) |
3.8 (97) |
4.22 (107.2) |
3.10 (78.7) |
2.60 (66) |
38.59 (980.2) |
| Source: Weatherbase [9] | |||||||||||||
Demographics[edit]
According to the census[1] 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 people per km²). There were 2,067 housing units at an average density of 579.4 per square mile (223.5 people per 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.
Of the city's 1,792 households, 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. Individuals made up 32.8% of all households, 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[edit]
Education[edit]
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.
Popular Culture[edit]
The town is referenced in the classic rock group ZZ Top's opening lines of "La Grange" that read: "Rumor spreadin' a-'round/ In that Texas town/ 'Bout that shack outside La Grange" A local playwright composed a musical featuring La Grange in "Heart of the Tin Trunk".
References[edit]
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ^ Dalton Garrett, Daphne (January 17, 2008). "Fayette County". Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
- ^ "Tri-County Jewish Community: Columbus, Hallettsville, La Grange, Schulenburg", found in the Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities,
- ^ "Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center". Retrieved 2013-06-02.
- ^ El Campo Leader - Hanslik's contribution to the Texas Czech Center announced.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "Weatherbase: Weather for La Grange, Texas". Weatherbase. 2011. Retrieved on November 22, 2011.
External links[edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: La Grange, Texas |
- City of La Grange Website
- La Grange Area Chamber of Commerce
- La Grange City WebCam
- La Grange Independent School District
- "Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center".
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