On 26 October 1876, the Royal Württemberg State Railways (German: Königlich Württembergischen Staats-Eisenbahnen) opened the Murr Valley Railway between Waiblingen and Backnang.
The station is located on a slope above the old town and a temporary entrance building was built.
In 1877, work began on the permanent station building, made of sandstone and brick.
On 18 October 1877, a restaurant was opened in the partially completed building.
The temporary building was demolished in November 1877.
The new station building was inaugurated along with the opening of the Backnang–Murrhardt section on 18 April 1878.
It was a long two and a half storeys high central block with two three-story wings, which were covered with a hipped roof.
The ground floor was made of sandstone.
The doors and windows were built with round arches.
The upper floors were made of brick, with the lintels and cornices built of sandstone as a contrast.

Since 1873, it had been clear that a branch line from the Murr Railway to the Northern Railway was necessary to relieve the railway junction at Stuttgart.
This project was realised when the State Railway opened the Backnang–Bietigheim railway on 8 December 1879.
This line branches off from the southern end of the station and descends from there into the Murr valley.

The town council built the Hexenstäffele, a new footpath from Kalten Wasser (now called Eduard Breuninger-Straße) to the station, which was opened on 19 July 1879.
The original route was altered in 1928.
On 12 September 1888, Dillensiusstraße was renamed Untere Bahnhofstraße (“lower station street”, called Bahnhofstraße since 1929) and Güterbahnhofstraße ("freight yard street") was renamed Obere Bahnhofstraße (“upper station street”).

During the Second World War, Backnang was the target of several air raids.
A fighter-bomber attack on 22 February 1944 damaged 59 buildings, including the station building.
On 26 October 1876, the Royal Württemberg State Railways (German: Königlich Württembergischen Staats-Eisenbahnen) opened the Murr Valley Railway between Waiblingen and Backnang. The station is located on a slope above the old town and a temporary entrance building was built. In 1877, work began on the permanent station building, made of sandstone and brick. On 18 October 1877, a restaurant was opened in the partially completed building. The temporary building was demolished in November 1877. The new station building was inaugurated along with the opening of the Backnang–Murrhardt section on 18 April 1878. It was a long two and a half storeys high central block with two three-story wings, which were covered with a hipped roof. The ground floor was made of sandstone. The doors and windows were built with round arches. The upper floors were made of brick, with the lintels and cornices built of sandstone as a contrast.
Since 1873, it had been clear that a branch line from the Murr Railway to the Northern Railway was necessary to relieve the railway junction at Stuttgart. This project was realised when the State Railway opened the Backnang–Bietigheim railway on 8 December 1879. This line branches off from the southern end of the station and descends from there into the Murr valley.
The town council built the Hexenstäffele, a new footpath from Kalten Wasser (now called Eduard Breuninger-Straße) to the station, which was opened on 19 July 1879. The original route was altered in 1928. On 12 September 1888, Dillensiusstraße was renamed Untere Bahnhofstraße (“lower station street”, called Bahnhofstraße since 1929) and Güterbahnhofstraße ("freight yard street") was renamed Obere Bahnhofstraße (“upper station street”).
During the Second World War, Backnang was the target of several air raids. A fighter-bomber attack on 22 February 1944 damaged 59 buildings, including the station building.
Backnang station