Samuel and Susan H. Norris, originally from New Jersey, having settled at Dwight Mission on the Illinois Bayou, subsequently moved to a point on the Arkansas River opposite Dardanelle Rock, giving the place the name of Norristown.

On the bank of the seasonally navigable Arkansas River and on an established mail post road, the town served as a regional trade and shipping center; its main tavern was one of the important stops between Little Rock and Fort Smith.

[13] During the 1830s and 40s removal period of eastern Native Americans to the Indian Territory, thousands passed through Norristown, many crossing the river on the ferry located there.

[22] The Norristown Cemetery, utilized from 1852 to 1934 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is the town's last remnant.

[23] The site of the original settlement of Norristown is now the location of Old Post Road Park, a US Corps of Engineers recreational area.