[3] Stone spear and dart points found in the area verify that people from the Dalton tradition were present in Montgomery County around 8500 BC.

Early signs of houses and American Indian cemeteries are present in and around Caddo Gap, Arkansas, indicating the definite presence of the Caddo Indians having settled in the area in the 13th century and 14th century.

In 1541, the explorer Hernando de Soto fought the Tula Indians at Caddo Gap, and he was injured during that battle.

[4] The first white settlers arrived in 1812, when Martin and Mary Collier settled what is now Caddo Gap.

Granville Whittington arrived in 1835, and built a road that led from Hot Springs, Arkansas to his farm about a mile north of the settlement of Montgomery.

West of the Ouachita River, settlers from a wagon train wintered in what is now Oden, and decided to stay when the weather cleared.

Mount Ida settlers John Lavender and John Simpson formed one company to serve in the Confederate Army, and the 4th Arkansas Infantry originated in Mount Ida also, but after the war few from the company organized by Lavender and Simpson returned to Montgomery County.

In 1918 the logging camp of Mauldin, Arkansas sprang up, and a railroad line was built to it from Norman.

However, almost overnight in 1936, Mauldin closed up, dismantled everything, and moved on having depleted the virgin timber in the area.

Many people moved away to find work elsewhere, while others found employment with the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Each township includes unincorporated areas; some may have incorporated cities or towns within part of their boundaries.

However, the United States census does list Arkansas population based on townships (sometimes referred to as "county subdivisions" or "minor civil divisions").

Each town or city is within one or more townships in an Arkansas county based on census maps and publications.