Waynesboro was named in honor of Revolutionary War hero General Anthony Wayne. Established in 1801 and recognized as a town in 1834, it was incorporated as a city in 1948. Located at the intersection of two major railroads, the Chesapeake and Ohio and the Norfolk and Southern, Waynesboro prospered as an industrial community in the late 19th century.

In 1860, Hopeman Brothers opened their plant in Waynesboro, building ship interiors. They were followed in 1889 by Stanley Furniture and in 1890 by Virginia Metalcrafters. In 1910, the Klanns began building organs in Waynesboro. Other early industries to open in Waynesboro included E. I. DuPont de Nemours and Company, Wayn-Tex, and General Electric. Today, Waynesboro remains an important industrial center in the Shenandoah Valley.