Waverly was founded in the 1840s. The community was named after Waverly, Illinois, the native home of an early settler. A post office called Waverly has been in operation since 1854.
The Napoleon Buck House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997
The City of Waverly is located in Lafayette County, Missouri. Waverly overlooks the Missouri River and is surrounded by many fruit orchards. Waverly boasts of its heritage and is proud to be known as "The Apple Capital of Missouri". Waverly was also once called the home of General Joseph O. Shelby of the Confederate Army during the Civil War.