[2] Onverwacht started as a wood plantation with the same name and has existed as early as 1667.

[3] In 1910 the Lawa Railway passed through the area and a station was opened.

[3] In 1936,[4] a road, currently named Indira Gandhiweg, was built parallel to the railway line to connect Paramaribo with Onverwacht.

During World War II, the road was extended to Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport.

[5] In 1968, Onverwacht became the capital of the newly formed Para District.