LaCenter was incorporated circa 1905. The city was originally named Merriville. The post office opened as La Centre in 1903 and was later changed to La Center and now LaCenter as one word. The population in 2020 was 867 and in 2022 was roughly 692.

The City of LaCenter is centrally located in the heart of Ballard County. Home to several fine restaurants serving such delights as barbeque, hamburgers, sandwiches, steaks, pizza, breakfast foods, Mexican cuisine, home cooking, and fish, which is a specialty at the landmark Bluegrass Restaurant. LaCenter boasts the only veterinary office in the county; Coffee Memorial Animal Clinic, the only schools in the county; Ballard Elementary School and Ballard Memorial High School, home of the Ballard Bombers, and the only grocery store in the county; Newton’s Grocery. Many businesses thrive in LaCenter due to its central location and family atmosphere. In the summertime, enjoy the annual county fair at the fairgrounds located at the end of 6^th Street in LaCenter and in the wintertime, you can see the annual Christmas Parade of Lights on Broadway. Banks, places of worship, a motel, convenient stores, gas stations, factories, the post office, liquidation stores, boutiques, repair shops, insurance offices, beauty salons, florist, a funeral home, nursing home, design and graphics centers, and the BTC telephone office all provide lucrative employment and enjoyment for our little city.