The district, originally encompassing 225 buildings and 1 structure, includes the historic commercial, residential, and industrial center of La Grange.

The buildings include notable examples of Gothic Revival, Queen Anne and Bungalow/American Craftsman styles of architecture and date between the 1850s and the 1940s.

There are large trees and landscaping in the residential areas, complementing the small-town nature of the historic district.

The boundary heads south, running behind the property lines of buildings along the east side of North Cameron Street.

Like several towns in the area, commercial development and population growth took place after completion of the Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad in 1858.

The railroad tracks began in Goldsboro, located west of the town, and ended at Morehead City on the coast.

[2] Agricultural and commercial products were loaded onto trains, allowing farmers and merchants to greatly increase their businesses.

In the 1890s, area farmers began growing tobacco, a crop that would become very important to the local and state economies.

By the late 1910s, there were several tobacco warehouses and related buildings located along Railroad Street, none of which survive today.

[2] In addition to tobacco industrial buildings on Railroad Street, there was the Hardy-Newsome Bean Harvester Factory, which has been demolished.

[2] Along with agricultural growth once the railroad was built, commercial businesses began opening in the town, including a shoe store, contracting firms, saddle and wheelmakers, and a carriage company, Rouse Carriage Works, that would later become Rouse Funeral Home.

In addition to commerce, La Grange became known for its educational institutes, with three private academies located in the town in the 1880s.

[2] The population of La Grange doubled between 1893 and 1925; with this came an array of architectural styles in houses lining Railroad and Washington Streets.

[2][3] The majority of contributing properties in the historic district are located along the railroad tracks and along Caswell Street.

[2] On West Boundary Street there is a two-story frame commercial building, formerly the Friendly Mart, that was constructed around 1930.

[2] The east side of the 100 block of South Caswell Street includes buildings constructed between the late-19th century and 1915.

On the 200 block of South Caswell Street are two non-contributing commercial buildings on the west side that were constructed in the 1980s.

[2] The majority of the buildings in the La Grange Historic District are residential, which includes many outbuildings and garages.

Another older residence on the same street is the Shade Wooten House, which was built in 1860 in the Gothic Revival style.

Homes on the remaining blocks in the historic district are mostly bungalows or I-houses, except for 13 non-contributing houses, garages, and sheds.

[2] The most prominent religious building in the historic district is La Grange Presbyterian Church, which was listed individually on the NRHP in 1986.

[2] The Gothic Revival building, which no longer serves as a church, was built in 1892 and is located on a prominent corner in the town.