About Waverly

Waverly today is listed in the Virginia Landmarks Register, and its Downtown Historic District is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The town has a total area of 3.1 square miles, and approximately 2,600 residents call Waverly home. Today Waverly is the largest town in Sussex County.

Our History

The Town of Waverly was first established in 1854, and became an incorporated town in Sussex County, Virginia in 1879. Legend has it that Waverly was named for Sir Walter Scott's Waverley novels. General William Mahone, who engineered the building of the Norfolk & Petersburg Railroad, brought his wife Otelia with him one day as he traveled to each station along the railroad. Otelia, an avid reader of Sir Walter Scott's novels, and was reading one of his novels as she and her husband traveled. Tasked with naming each of the railroad stations, General Mahone sought the assistance of Otelia upon arriving at each station. Legend has it that several stations were affectionately named after places and characters from Otelia's beloved Scott novels. Waverly was in reference to Scott's Waverley novels. The Town of Waverly's population steadily grew over the years. Waverly's Main Street downtown is a mix of modern and classical Revival buildings.