Established in 1826, Troup County is located in west Georgia midway between Atlanta and Montgomery. The county name honors George Michael Troup, governor of Georgia when the United States purchased the lands from the Creek Indian Nation. Fertile lands, several Native American trails, and the Chattahoochee River, which cuts across the county, gave rise to early settlements. Rapid growth and development soon made Troup one of the leading counties in the state. Since the late 19th century, the county has moved from one with an agriculturalbased economy to an important industrial center where education has always been of prime concern. More than half of the residents now live in LaGrange, West Point, and Hogansville, towns with roots in the early days of the county.