LaGrange College (1830-1855)

LaGrange College (1830-1855)

LaGrange College; LaGrange, Alabama; Leighton, Alabama; Colbert County, Alabama; School; Education; Historical

LaGrange College was located on LaGrange Mountain. In 1830 it became the first State chartered college in Alabama. Within two months of its opening, there were seventy students enrolled at LaGrange College. The school year lasted for ten months. Tuition was $20 and board was $80, which covered students’ food, lodging, washing, and firewood for the ten months. At the peak of enrollment, LaGrange College had 230 students.

Dr. Richard H. Rivers became president of the college in 1854, when the college was facing financial problems. Dr. River’s solution, in response to an offer of better support, moved the college to Florence, Alabama in 1855. The Florence institution was denied permission to use the name of LaGrange College, thus being chartered as Florence Wesleyan University on February 14, 1856; today the college is the University of North Alabama.

Thomas Hale, University of North Alabama
Autumn Owens, University of North Alabama

“LaGrange College 1830-1855”, Accessed on November 18, 2015, colbertcountytourism.org/index.php/lagrange-college

Bishop, Allison. “War doomed first state college, LaGrange.” University of North Alabama Archives. University History: LaGrange College (UH:LG2).

Potter, Nancy. “Remembering the Mountain.” University of North Alabama Archives. University History: LaGrange College (UH:LG2).

“LaGrange College.” The Florence Informer: Volume 1 Number 23 March 27 – April 2, 1989. University of North Alabama Archives. University History: LaGrange College (UH:LG2).

http://www.lagrangehistoricsite.com/

Alabama Cultural Resource Survey

November 30, 2015