Originally settled immigrants in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Lagrange, along with the Old West End and the Old Towne area, housed those seeking to live further from the center city. Today, with the introduction of the automobile and the size of Toledo, Lagrange is minutes from the downtown area. Birckhead Place, a small identity within the Lagrange neighborhood, was originally designed as a private estate by C.F. Curtis in 1906 to assure privacy for its residents.

Lagrange reflects the practical, industrial attitude of Toledo in the architectural style of its housing. Simple designs, such as Craftsman and Colonial are found in the older structures while the post World War II homes of the easternmost portion are one to two story cottages and bungalows. Birckhead Place, on the other hand, offers a full range between simple and lavish styles, which are mostly made of brick and stone.

Several small parks can be found throughout the Lagrange neighborhood. Joe E. Brown Park, one of Lagrange’s largest, features baseball and tennis courts. Although only a few minutes away from Toledo’s main library, Lagrange has its own branch at the corner of Lagrange St. and Central Ave. Lagrange is also home to an annual ethnic festival, complete with traditional food, music, and dancing.

Lagrange is located just east of Cherry Street, bounded on the north and east by Interstates 75 and 280, and just north of the Buckeye Basin. This gives Lagrange convenient access downtown as well as the interstate system. With the introduction of the Buckeye Greenbelt Parkway, Lagrange residents will have even better access to Interstate 280. Manhattan Plaza, in the northern part of Lagrange, offers a nearby commercial area for its residents.

Housing prices range from $20,000 to $50,000 on average in Lagrange, and the owner occupancy is a respectable 60%. The neighborhood is predominantly single family homes built before 1940. The average income of a Lagrange household, according to 1990 census data, is about $20,000.