It covers 101.6 km² and had a population of 373 as of the 2021 Canadian census.

The municipality was incorporated on September 12, 1927, and originally called Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc-de-Clerval.

Likely the current name, adopted in 1951, is a portmanteau from the French words claire vallée, meaning "clear valley".

[1] In addition to Clerval itself, the municipality also includes the community of L'Île-Nepawa (48°41′12″N 79°27′22″W / 48.68667°N 79.45611°W / 48.68667; -79.45611), located on Nepawa Island in Lake Abitibi.

Nepawa comes from the Algonquin language meaning "where one camps in passing" or "large island".