La Grange, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
La Grange is a town in Lenoir County
, North Carolina
, United States
. The population is estimated to be 2,757 in 2008. La Grange is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks
region.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6 km²), of which, 2.3 square miles (6 km²) of it is land and 0.44% is water.
estate of the Marquis de Lafayette
. The Herring House
, La Grange Presbyterian Church
, and LaGrange Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
of 2000, there were 2,844 people, 1,211 households, and 768 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,256.4 people per square mile (485.9/km²). There were 1,330 housing units at an average density of 587.6 per square mile (227.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 42.86% White, 55.03% African American, 0.35% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.91% from other races
, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.30% of the population.
There were 1,211 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples
living together, 19.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 82.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,304, and the median income for a family was $38,068. Males had a median income of $26,581 versus $20,212 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,436. About 14.4% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.6% of those under age 18 and 15.0% of those age 65 or over.
.
and operates a branch in La Grange.
Lenoir County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of 2005, there were 57,961 people, 23,862 households, and 16,178 families residing in the county. The population density was 149.2 people per square mile . There were 27,940 housing units at an average density of 68 per square mile...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population is estimated to be 2,757 in 2008. La Grange is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks
Inner Banks
The Inner Banks is a term used by some to describe the inland coastal region of eastern North Carolina, an area on the East Coast of the United States that is 22,227 square-miles by its broadest definition...
region.
Geography
La Grange is located at 35°18′31"N 77°47′32"W (35.308583, -77.792118).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6 km²), of which, 2.3 square miles (6 km²) of it is land and 0.44% is water.
History
La Grange was named for the FrenchFrench people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
estate of the Marquis de Lafayette
Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette
Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette , often known as simply Lafayette, was a French aristocrat and military officer born in Chavaniac, in the province of Auvergne in south central France...
. The Herring House
Herring House
The Herring House is a historic home in La Grange, North Carolina. Built in 1801, the Herring House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in October 1973....
, La Grange Presbyterian Church
La Grange Presbyterian Church
The La Grange Presbyterian Church, also known as the La Grange Rotary Club, is a historic church building located on Caswell Street in La Grange, North Carolina, USA. Constructed in 1892, the Gothic Revival building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in August 1986....
, and LaGrange Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,844 people, 1,211 households, and 768 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,256.4 people per square mile (485.9/km²). There were 1,330 housing units at an average density of 587.6 per square mile (227.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 42.86% White, 55.03% African American, 0.35% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.91% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.30% of the population.
There were 1,211 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 19.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 82.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,304, and the median income for a family was $38,068. Males had a median income of $26,581 versus $20,212 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $14,436. About 14.4% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.6% of those under age 18 and 15.0% of those age 65 or over.
Schools
La Grange is served by three Public schools which are operated by the Lenoir County Public School system. They include North Lenoir High School, E.B. Frink Middle School and La Grange Elementary School. Higher education is provided through nearby Lenoir Community CollegeLenoir Community College
Lenoir Community College is a community college in Lenoir County, North Carolina offering degree programs and continuing education.LCC's main campus is located in the city of Kinston in Lenoir County...
.
Library
The Neuse Regional Library system is headquartered in KinstonKinston, North Carolina
Kinston is a city in Lenoir County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 23,688 at the 2000 census. The population was estimated at 22,360 in 2008. It has been the county seat of Lenoir County since its formation in 1791 . Kinston is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks...
and operates a branch in La Grange.
Passenger
- Air: La Grange is served by the nearby Kinston Regional JetportKinston Regional JetportKinston Regional Jetport , also known as Stallings Field, is a public airport located three miles northwest of the central business district of Kinston, a city in Lenoir County, North Carolina, USA. The airport has a single runway that is one of the longest in the southeastern United States. It...
with service to Orlando, FloridaOrlando, FloridaOrlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. Raleigh-Durham International AirportRaleigh-Durham International AirportRaleigh-Durham International Airport is a public international airport located 4.5 miles northeast of the town of Morrisville in suburban Wake County, North Carolina, United States. The airport covers and operates three runways, providing direct service to 40 domestic and international...
is the closest major airport with service to more than 45 domestic and international destinations. - I-95Interstate 95 in North CarolinaInterstate 95 is a major Interstate Highway, running along the East Coast of the United States from Florida to Maine. In North Carolina, I-95 runs diagonally across the eastern third of the state, from Rowland in the southwest to Roanoke Rapids in the northeast of the Inner Banks.-Route...
is the closest Interstate Highway to La Grange and is located 40 miles west of the town. - The closest AmtrakAmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
station is located in Selma, NCSelma, North CarolinaSelma is a town in Johnston County, North Carolina, United States. In 2007, the estimated population was 7,008. Selma is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region.-Geography:Selma is located at ....
.
Roads
- The main highway in La Grange is US 70U.S. Route 70U.S. Route 70 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 2,385 miles from eastern North Carolina to east-central Arizona. As can be derived from its number, it is a major east–west highway of the Southern and Southwestern United States...
, which offers access to the North Carolina coast and I-95Interstate 95 in North CarolinaInterstate 95 is a major Interstate Highway, running along the East Coast of the United States from Florida to Maine. In North Carolina, I-95 runs diagonally across the eastern third of the state, from Rowland in the southwest to Roanoke Rapids in the northeast of the Inner Banks.-Route...
. - NC 903North Carolina Highway 903NC 903 is a 200-mile North Carolina state highway and a semi-rural traffic artery connecting Greenville with many small-to-medium sized towns in the "Down East" and Coastal Plain regions, making many concurrencies with other highways in somewhat of a "zig zag" fashion down eastern North Carolina...
is the other highway that runs through the town.
Local Events
The Garden Spot Festival is a yearly event that occurs between the 7th and 9 September. The event includes live bands, food, and artistic performances.Notable people from La Grange
- The CorsairsThe CorsairsThe Corsairs were an American doo wop ensemble from La Grange, North Carolina.The group consisted of three brothers and their cousin. Initially they performed as The Gleems, and toured the East Coast, where they were overheard by Abner Spector. Changing their name in 1961 to The Corsairs, they...
- Doo-wopDoo-wopThe name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
quartet consisting of brothers Jay "Bird," James and Moses Uzzell with cousin George Wooten, formed in La Grange. The group is known for its R&B hit "Smoky Places," which peaked at no. 12 on the BillboardBillboard (magazine)Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
pop charts in 1962. - Frank LucasFrank Lucas (drug lord)Frank Lucas is a former U.S. heroin dealer and organized crime boss who operated in Harlem during the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was particularly known for cutting out middlemen in the drug trade and buying heroin directly from his source in the Golden Triangle...
- famous drug lord and subject of a 2007 motion picture American Gangster