The Grayson County portion of Van Alstyne is part of the Sherman–Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Van Alstyne was built in 1873, for settlers to be near the railroad stop of the Houston and Texas Central Railway.

[6] The town was named for Marie Van Alstyne, a shareholder in the railroad company.

Van Alstyne is a council/manager form of government with a mayor and 6 city council members each elected at large by place to three year terms.

According to the United States Census, Van Alstyne has a total area of 4.1 square miles (10.5 km2), all land.