Nearby places include Altura, Elba, Plainview, St. Charles, Weaver, and Whitewater State Park.

The name came from observing beavers building dams on the creek that travels through the site to join with the Whitewater River.

The community was platted in 1856 by Albert Hopson, Dr. Sheldon Brooks, and William J. Duley, as 20 blocks on 40 acres (160,000 m2).

However, the farming practices up the hillsides encouraged erosion, and the high hills produced frequent flooding.

She recalled her uncle struggling to climb the hills to farm the top of a plateau, which can be seen in aerial photos.