Waycross was first settled around 1820. Known as a railroad stop and called "Old Nine" or "Number Nine", it acquired the name "Pendleton" sometime later. It was renamed "Tebeauville" in 1857 and incorporated as "Tebeauville" in 1866. Waycross was designated county seat in 1873 and named "Way Cross" in 1874 because it was at the intersection of three railroads plus several dirt roads.