Sugermeyer's Sweet Shop & Ice Cream Parlor
2 East Lafayette Square
LaGrange, GA 30240
(706) 884-8092

Historic LaGrange, Georgia

LaGrange is a city in Troup County, Georgia. It is named after the country estate near Paris of the Marquis de La Fayette, who visited the area in 1825. The population is just over 25,000. It is the principal city in the LaGrange, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Gainesville, Georgia-Alabama (part) Combined Statistical Area. LaGrange has been the county seat of Troup County since December 16, 1828 and is home to LaGrange College, the oldest private college in Georgia. LaGrange's location being so close to West Point Lake, makes it a tourist attraction for bass fishermen.

History

The settlement of LaGrange began in the early 1800's, soon after the territory was ceded by the Creek Indians and the establishment of Troup County, Georgia. The LaGrange was incorporated in December 1828. During the American Civil War, LaGrange was defended by a volunteer women's auxiliary group known as the Nancy Harts. After the Confederate defeat in nearby West Point, Georgia, the Federal troops, led by Colonel Oscar LaGrange, marched north to LaGrange, with Confederate prisoners near the front of the column. The Nancy Harts negotiated a surrender. Although local assets were burned and looted by Union troops, Colonel LaGrange spared the homes of LaGrange, including Bellevue, the home of Senator Benjamin Harvey Hill. This may have been a returned favor. Colonel LaGrange had previously been under Confederate medical care for wounds received and had been cared for by the niece of Senator Hill. After his care, LaGrange was later exchanged for a Union prisoner and returned to duty. This became an opportunity to return the kindness he had been shown. To show their gratitude for sparing their homes, one of the Nancy Harts hosted a dinner for Colonel LaGrange, and the Colonel paroled some local prisoners so that they could attend. Many women of the town cooked all night to provide the meal. The next morning the Federal troops marched out taking various men of LaGrange as prisoners of war. They were soon freed when it was learned of Robert E. Lee's previous surrender.

After the Civil War

LaGrange developed as a railroad center and as an industrial center for the textile industry which was lead by the Callaway Family and and peaked in the mid-twentieth century. The city was fortunate that as the textile industry declined it was replaced with a diverse mixture of new industry which provided strong employment for a number of years until it too began to decline and move out of Troup County.

Modern Times

The construction beginning in 2006 of a Kia Motors assembly plant in Troup County along with its satellite industries is expected to reverse the falling manufacturing trends.

LaGrange maintained its position as a transportation hub with the completion of Interstates 85 and 185 which pass through the city. This location has benefitted the city by providing industrial and commercial access for businesses such as Wal-Mart, which opened a Distribution Center several years ago.

This recent growth is the reason, Sugermeyer's Sweet Shop and Ice Cream Parlor, chose to open July 4, 2009.The Sugermeyer family hopes they can be an important part of future growth for both LaGrange and it's Historic downtown area, Lafayette Square.