LaGrange ??? (Atlanta, Thomaston, West Point: crime, house, movies)

[EDGENAPLES2002]

We are moving to Georgia, and I will look for an elementary school teaching job. My wife has her own business and just needs to be within an hour or so from a big city. We have family in Thomaston, Georgia....and a new family lakehouse in LaGrange. We will at least temporarily be living in LaGrange.
My concerns - My wife is from Costa Rica, and I want her to be in a city that is not going to treat her like an illegal Mexican. I am also concerned with crime....is crime really that bad in LaGrange ? Is that mostly in certain areas ?

We just want to find a nice safe little friendly southern city, where my wife will be treated kindly. We think about staying in LaGrange, but maybe we should be moving to a more liberal place like Athens, for my wife's sake ??? Maybe I should look for work in Thomaston, but it is awful small, and my wife likes a little more as far as shopping, , movies, and other things to do.
The upsides to LaGrange for me, are we would be close to family....close enough to Atlanta to drive in on weekends if we felt the urge, and good fishing on west point lake.
Could someone comment on crime and racism in LaGrange...or any other info that you think might be helpful, please ? Thanks !

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by EDGENAPLES2002

We are moving to Georgia, and I will look for an elementary school teaching job. My wife has her own business and just needs to be within an hour or so from a big city. We have family in Thomaston, Georgia....and a new family lakehouse in LaGrange. We will at least temporarily be living in LaGrange.
My concerns - My wife is from Costa Rica, and I want her to be in a city that is not going to treat her like an illegal Mexican. I am also concerned with crime....is crime really that bad in LaGrange ? Is that mostly in certain areas ?

Where did you obtain your information about crime in LaGrange? That would help us to understand where your comments are coming from...

[EDGENAPLES2002]

I just googled "Lagrange, Georgia crime".....looked on City Data......looked on Homesurfer, etc. It just reflects that crime in LaGrange is higher than in 64% of Georgia cities.....on City Data it shows about twice the national crime average.
I only looked at 4 sites, but it seems they all reflect somewhat of a crime problem. We will be there in about 2 weeks, but we are just wondering if this is a good place to live....should we be concerned about these numbers. thanks

[EDGENAPLES2002]

Maybe the crime is concentrated in certain areas of town ? What are the bad areas of LaGrange ? Downtown ? North, south, east, or west ?
Thanks !

[Saintmarks]

I grew up in Hogansville, a small mill town just north of LaGrange. LaGrange being the large county seat town is where we went for most of our shopping and health needs. My 84 year old mother still lives in Hogansville and drives to LaGrange regularly for her doctor, hairdresser, shopping, etc. She goes on her own and has never encountered anything that has ever distressed her.

I am sure there are crimes in LaGrange, but being very familiar with the area know of nothing to differentiate it from any other cities or towns in Georgia. Personally, I like LaGrange a lot. But it is home and what I am used to. It has made the transition from an economy totally dependent on the textile industry to a wider base of industries. The city leaders have attracted industries from overseas, the new Kia plant is being built just down the road with many Koreans moving in, it has a small but progressive liberal arts college with international students. I don't think it is a place rife with discrimnation toward someone from another country.

Just like anywhere else, you might run into an insensitive type, but overall I don't think you or your wife will find it an undesirable place.

Historically, in the days when southern towns and cities were segregated, the south to southeast side of the city was the "black" side of town. Mill villages populated with poorer whites were in the northeast and southwest sides, the west to northwest was the "rich" side of town. Those lines are more blurred these days. A lot of nice areas have developed out by West Point Lake.

I predict you will find southern hospitality in abundance, as well as the occasional ill informed person. You will find this person anywhere in America. Enjoy your time in LaGrange, I wish I could trade places with you and let you come here to Texas and I will take that lake house in LaGrange!

[Ramila]

hi, are there any indian restaurants/indian grocery stores in LaGrange GA? Please reply, thank you.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Ramila

hi, are there any indian restaurants/indian grocery stores in LaGrange GA? Please reply, thank you.

A quick Google search doesn't show any, but I don't have any personal knowledge of the area.

[Ramila]

thank you rcsteiner.