Prairie County has always been important to Arkansas for the transportation of people and goods throughout the state.

A railroad connection between North Little Rock and DeValls Bluff gave the city further strategic importance.

Union forces traveling up the White from Arkansas Post under the command of Brigadier General Willis Gorman captured DeValls Bluff on January 18, 1863.

Following the capture of Little Rock, Union cavalry led by Brigadier General John Wynn Davidson joined with gunboats under the command of Lieutenant George Bache in Clarendon on August 9, 1863, and traveled up the White River to capture DeValls Bluff.

Major General Frederick Steele proceeded to DeValls Bluff from Helena, and the city was used to house supplies and injured Union soldiers for the remainder of the war.

However, the area was subject to clear cutting for row agriculture by early settlers.

The racial makeup of the town was 67.82% White, 31.80% Black or African American, 0.13% Asian, and 0.26% from two or more races.