One of the oldest cities west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Staunton (STAN-ton) was settled by John Lewis in 1732. It was named for Lady Staunton, the wife of Governor William Gooch. The town was laid out in 1749 and by 1800 it population had reached 1,000. Staunton's growth was greatly aided by the opening of the rail service in 1854 and its proximity to extensive mining operations.

Because it remained unscathed during the Civil War, Staunton has one of Virginia's finest collections of 19th century architecture. Staunton is also noted as the early home of Woodrow Wilson, the most recent of the eight Virginia-born presidents.