The town of Reichenbach im Vogtland dates back to a settlement of the Franks and owes its early growth to its privileged situation in a valley close to Mylau Castle.

Some of Reichenbach's most remarkable structures date from this era, including its town hall (1837–1839), the railway station (1846), and world's largest brick bridge, the Göltzsch Viaduct (1846–1851).

The town was the cremation site of many prisoners of various nationalities, who died in the subcamp of the Flossenbürg concentration camp located in nearby Lengenfeld.

About 120 innocent youth aged 15 and 16 were taken in custody and transferred to the Soviet Union's secret service (predecessor of the KGB), hoping all other citizens would be spared.

The administrative district of Reichenbach has grown since the early 20th century to include the quarters and villages of Brunn (1994), Cunsdorf (1924), Friesen (1994), Mylau (2016), Obermylau (2016), Oberreichenbach (1908), Rotschau (1996), and Schneidenbach (1999), and has had a collaborative relationship with Heinsdorfergrund since 2000.

[10] Reichenbach im Vogtland also has a telecommunication tower of Deutsche Telekom erected out of concrete, which includes a VHF broadcasting station for among others Vogtlandradio.