Guillermo Gaebeler initiated the town's development, designing its first city master plan. Gaebeler established the town as Villa General Paz on October 20, 1888, and named its first streets and plazas after the numerous battles won by General José María Paz in the Argentine Civil Wars of the mid-19th century. Lanús was named in honor ofAnacarsis Lanús, who owned the land where the city is today located until his death in 1888, in 1955. A major industrial centre, it is served by freight and passenger railway lines. The city has chemical, armaments, textiles, paper, leather and rubber goods, wire, apparel, oils and lubricants industries, as well as tanneries, vegetable and fruit canneries. Several technical schools are located in the city, as well as the Eva Perón Medical Centre, one of the largest in the Greater Buenos Aires area.
The city has a football club, Club Atlético Lanús currently playing in the Argentine Primera Division. Club Atlético Lanús also has a basketball team.
