Lake Norman and La Grange, Texas: Difference between pages

Revision as of 05:51, 14 January 2005

Revision as of 20:31, 3 July 2007

Line 1:

'''La Grange''' is a city in [[Fayette County, Texas|Fayette County]], [[Texas]], [[United States]], near the [[Colorado River (Texas)|Colorado River]]. The population was 4,478 at the [[2000]] census. The [[2005]] population estimate was 4,620. It is the [[county seat]] of [[Fayette County, Texas|Fayette County]]{{GR|6}}.

'''Lake Norman''', created in [[1963]] with the reation of the [[Cowans Ford Dam]] by [[Duke Power]], is the largest manmade body of fresh water in [[North Carolina]]. It is fed by the [[Catawba River]]. It was named after former former Duke Power president [[Norman Cocke]]. Lake Norman is sometimes referred to as the "inland sea"; it offers 520 miles of shoreline and a surface area of more than 50 square miles. Full pond elevation at Lake Norman is 760 feet.

The town was a major site of German and Czech, because the rolling hills and forests are remnicient 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 in the United States |prohibition]] beyond a token effort.

Lake Norman provides electricity to the Piedmont regions of [[the Carolinas]]. It powers the generators at the [[hydroelectric]] station at Cowans Ford and is used by [[Marshall Steam Station]] and [[McGuire Nuclear Station]] to cool the steam that drives its turbines.

La Grange is the site from which the party in the [[Black Bean Episode]] left, after gathering around "the historic oak" which is 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 maintian stability.

The lake supplies water to [[Lincoln County, North Carolina|Lincoln County]], [[Mooresville, North Carolina|Mooresville]], [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]] (and other towns in [[Mecklenburg County, North Carolina|Mecklenburg County]], particularly [[Davidson, North Carolina|Davidson]] and [[Huntersville, North Carolina|Huntersville]].)

La Grange, [[Waterloo]] [[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]].

Duke Power partnered with the state of North Carolina to establish [[Lake Norman State Park]]. It has also built two bank fishing areas and eight public boating access areas along the shoreline. One site is leased to Mecklenburg County and one to [[Iredell County, North Carolina|Iredell County]]. Popular game fish in Lake Norman include [[crappie]], [[bluegill]] and [[yellow perch]], as well as [[striped bass|striped]], [[largemouth bass|largemouth]], and [[white bass]].

Outside of La Grange was the "[[Chicken Ranch (Texas)|Chicken Ranch]]", a [[brothel]]. It was closed in [[1973]] due largely to 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 (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.

Lake Norman has done much to contribute to the area's economy; many communities have sprung on the lake's shores, with vacation and primary residences bring many people into the area. Many farming communities have turned to chic residential neighborhoods, including, on the south end of the lake, the upper-reaches of the Charlotte suburban zone.

La Grange is also the birth place and current home of the famous [[Taco Bell chihuahua]].

[[Monument Hill and Kreische Brewery State Historic Sites]] are located south of La Grange off [[U.S. Route 77]].

==Geography==

[[Image:TXMap-doton-LaGrange.PNG|right|Location of La Grange, Texas]]

La Grange is located at {{coor dms|29|54|30|N|96|52|30|W|city}} (29.908262, -96.875025){{GR|1}}.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 9.3 [[km²]] (3.6 [[square mile|mi²]]). 9.2 km² (3.6 mi²) 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]]{{GR|2}} of [[2000]], there were 4,478 people, 1,792 households, and 1,146 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 484.3/km² (1,255.2/mi²). There were 2,067 housing units at an average density of 223.5/km² (579.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 74.27% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 10.36% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.54% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.69% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 12.19% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.92% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 20.81% of the population.

There were 1,792 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were [[Marriage|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.

==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==

*[http://www.ci.la-grange.tx.us/ City of La Grange Website]

*[http://www.lagrangetx.org/ La Grange Area Chamber of Commerce]

*[http://mainstreet.fais.net/new_main_street/citycam/citycam.htm La Grange City WebCam]

*[http://www.la-grange.k12.tx.us/ La Grange Independent School District]

*[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083642/ The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas] - on IMDb.com

{{Mapit-US-cityscale|29.908262|-96.875025}}

{{Texas}}

[[Category:Cities in Texas]]

[[Category:Fayette County, Texas]]

[[Category:County seats in Texas]]

[[de:La Grange (Texas)]]

[[vo:La Grange (Texas)]]