This town was originally settled by Colonel Charles Belknap who bought a land grant in 1839, and named the settlement Belknap Bluff. It is said that Hernando De Soto crossed the White river at this point in 1541. In 1851 the name of the town was changed to St. Charles by Colonel Belknap; Charles being the King of Spain during the time of De Soto. St. Charles was incorporated in 1880.
