European fur traders passed through the area beginning in the 1600s, likely following the Blanche River which flows through Chamberlain.

Land was open for settlement at the head of Lake Timiskaming in 1891, and by 1902-03 settlers had moved into Chamberlain.

Between 1925 and 1927, the province began construction of the Ferguson Highway, a road system to connect North Bay to Cochrane.

Realignment of 25 kilometres (16 mi) of road between Englehart and Round Lake occurred in 1939, creating Ontario Highway 11.

[2][3] August Kruger and Louise Mueller, immigrants from Germany, moved with their children to the area from Renfrew County in 1905.

Other German-speaking families from the Renfrew area moved to the community, which was called "The German Settlement" until it was named Krugerdorf.

A Jewish community of about 50 families from Russia and Romania settled in the area, assisted by the Baron de Hirsch Institute of Montreal.