The township is named after Samuel Armstrong,[4] an independent member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for Parry Sound from 1886 to 1890.

Earlton began to be settled in 1900 as a lumber community by pioneers mostly from York County, soon followed by French-speaking farmers who cultivated the flat prairie-like land of the surrounding Great Clay Belt.

The postmaster, Edward Albert Brasher, named the community after his son Earl.

[5] Mother tongue:[3] Earlton (Timiskaming Regional) Airport is a regional airport located in Earlton, which opened in 1937 as an emergency landing area for Trans-Canada Air Lines.

[9] Ontario Highway 11 is the major road connecting the community with other areas in Timiskaming and beyond.