First a prehistoric Indian site, this land was sold as a Spanish land grant in 1803. Around 1827, it was purchased by land speculator Sylvannus Phillips for use as a ferry crossing on the White River for the Memphis-Little Rock Military Road. Its post office, Mouth-of-the-Cache, was renamed Clarendon in 1837, possibly for the Earl of Clarendon. It became the county seat in 1857 and was incorporated in 1859. Although virtually destroyed during the Civil War in retaliation for sinking the Federal ironclad, Queen City, it was reincorporated in 1898.
