The city of La Grange, county seat of Fayette County, was founded in 1837, nestled within a sharp bend of the Colorado River. During the Spanish era in Texas, this site was the location of an early crossing of the river along La Bahía Road. The city was named after a French castle called Château de la Grange-Bléneau. The castle belonged to General de Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, for whom the county was named, an important figure in the American Revolution.

Draftsman Augustus Koch created this map of the city in 1880, and showcased several important landmarks of the town. Featured prominently in the upper portion of the map, Casino Hall served many functions over time, including a theater, a high school, and a fire department. The newly arrived Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway is shown in the upper right corner, along with its modest train station. Nearby, a creek was diverted to run along Jackson Street, where one of the city’s first mills was operating at the corner of Jackson and Crockett.