Writing in 1877, William Charles Benett described Colonelganj as a rapidly growing centre of trade, owing to its central location between Gonda, Bahraich, and Balrampur. The trade dealt almost exclusively in the export of grain (mainly rice) and oil-seeds (mustard and alsi); Colonelganj served as a depot where those goods were brought from the surrounding countryside before being exported. Imports were far less in amount than exports; imports included salt from Kanpur, copper vessels from Bhagwantnagar and Mirzapur, and cotton. There were two bazaars per week in Colonelganj, on Mondays and Tuesdays.