During 1993 Villiersdorp commemorated its 150th anniversary and is also blessed with a rich and well known history. The town was established in 1843 by Pieter De Villiers (then field cornet and owner of the farm Radyn). A church was build at the time so that inhabitants could be nourished by the Word of God. A further request was made to the Governor in the Cape, Sir George Napier, to give a name to this place that could keep the French origin (as many of the residents were descendants of the Huguenots) in remembrance. Therefore came the name "De Villiers Dorp".

As a result of poor road and railway services the growth of Villiersdorp progressed slowly, but in 1928 the first hydro-electrical power was generated for the town. Some of the largest agricultural developments have taken place during the past 10 years and mainly consist of the cultivation of fruit and vineyards. The largest propelling force was received by the building of the Elandskloof Dam.

The Vyeboom valley on the western side of Villiersdorp is responsible for a large percentage of the apple and pear crops of the district. Several fruit farms have their own cold storage rooms because the exporting of fruit has become an enormous industry.