The history of Wadowice dates back to the 13th century. The first mention of Wadowice derives from 1327; whereas, Wadowice gained municipal rights in 1430 after the great fire, which consumed almost whole city. Probably, Wadowice had municipal rights before that time, still, a new award of municipal rights should have aided city with reconstruction. Nevertheless, the city's development was restrained by fires, wars, and epidemic. During that time, the city became popular thanks to theologian and philosopher Marcin Wadowita, who was a professor and a dean of Cracovian Academy. In the 17th century he founded a hospital for the poor and he supported Wadowice parish school.
The development of the city begun when Austrian authorities, after the first partition, built a road joining Vienna with Lvov, and that placed Wadowice on the important traffic route. The seat of precinct (great administrative unit) was placed here, which later changed into the seat of the district.
Military barracks, a court, a hospital, and numerous offices were placed in Wadowce. Various organizations and associations of cultural, social, and patriotic character operated in the city. After regaining the independence in 1918 Wadowice remained district city and it was resilient cultural and educational center. In 1918, the 12th infantry regiment was established, which bravely fight against Bolsheviks between 1919 and 1920, as well as during September campaign. The regiment in the inter-war period played the important role in a life of the city. After September failure in 1939 Wadowice was incorporated to Germany. The occupier repressions mainly affected the local elites - officials and teachers. German politics of extermination led to holocaust of almost all Jewish community (that was 2 thousand women, men, and children) of the city in death camps. After the termination of the Second World War there were difficult times of reconstruction and totalitarian rules of the left wing.
After the great turning point in 1989 Wadowice entered the stage of dynamic changes and development. For 10 years it has been the seat of resiliently working communal self-government; and since 1999 it has been the capital of the district. Currently, Wadowice is strong urban center of an unquestionable position.