Goggans was named for the family of John F. Goggans, who donated land for the railroad station, the general store where the post office was located, and access land to the Union Primitive Baptist Church. At different times the town was also known as Goggins Station and Goggansville. Born in South Carolina in 1802, John F. Goggans married Rebecca Pitts in 1824, and they founded Goggans in November 1834 and lived there until their deaths. John, Rebecca, and many descendants are buried in the Union Primitive Baptist Church cemetery. Goggans General Store provided merchandise and postal services to the community until 1958.