LaGrange ( ) is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 15,975 at the 2020 census. The town was named after the estate of the Marquis de Lafayette.

History

thumb|left|Old LaGrange District School, in Freedom Plains

The town was originally established in 1821 as "Freedom" from parts of the towns of Beekman and Fishkill. Confusion with Freedom, a town in Cattaraugus County that had been settled ten years earlier and established one year earlier, caused the name to be changed to "LaGrange" in 1828.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 1.17%, is water.

Other parks in LaGrange include Stringham Park, an extensive complex of soccer fields located on Stringham Road in the west of the town, and James Baird State Park, which provides a golf course, playground, and cycling and hiking trails.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 14,928 people, 5,085 households, and 4,103 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 5,240 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 91.98% White, 2.41% African American, 0.12% Native American, 2.94% Asian, 1.14% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.26% of the population.

There were 5,085 households, out of which 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.2% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.3% were non-families. 15.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.28.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $74,881, and the median income for a family was $80,724. Males had a median income of $61,806 versus $36,955 for females. The per capita income for the town was $27,872. About 1.7% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 2.4% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

  • Pierre A. Barker, former mayor of Buffalo, New York
  • John Gatins, Oscar-nominated screenwriter
  • Isaac R. Harrington, former mayor of Buffalo, New York
  • Anthony Van Wyck, former member of the Wisconsin State Senate
  • [(Jack 'Popeye' Doyle)], former NYPD cop in charge of 1965 Dorothy Kilgallen death case.

Communities and locations in LaGrange

  • Arthursburg – A hamlet at the southern town line. It is named after Chester A. Arthur, twenty-first president of the United States.
  • Billings – A hamlet north of LaGrangeville.
  • Freedom Plains – A hamlet northwest of LaGrangeville.
  • James Baird State Park – A state park in the northern part of the town.
  • LaGrangeville (or La Grangeville)– A hamlet in the southeastern part of the town.
  • LaGrangeville is an area in LaGrange with the zip code of 12540. As of 2014, this area had a population of 8,221, which makes it the largest part of LaGrange.
  • Manchester Bridge – A hamlet in the western part of the town.
  • Moores Mill – A location in the northeastern part of the town.
  • Noxon – A location west of LaGrangeville.
  • Red Oaks Mill – A suburb of Poughkeepsie city that is also located in Poughkeepsie town.
  • Rombout Ridge – A location near the western town line.
  • Titus – A hamlet near the western town line.
  • Titusville – A hamlet in the southwestern part of the town, north of Red Oaks Mill.

Schools

Arlington High School and LaGrange Middle School of the Arlington Central School District are in LaGrange, as are several of the School District's primary, elementary and intermediate schools.

References