Prior to European colonization, the land upon which Timberville sits was inhabited by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years.

The earliest white settlers of Timberville were mostly Pennsylvania Dutch who migrated to the Shenandoah Valley.

[8] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2), all of which is land.

To the north, SR 42 heads mostly through rural areas of southwestern Shenandoah County.

SR 211 heads east from Timberville, connecting to Interstate 81 and U.S. Route 211 in New Market.