For centuries before European settlers reached this area and inhabited it, Indigenous clans of the Blackfoot, Peigan and Kootenai passed through, lived in or frequented the region.

The town received its name in 1868 when a group of prospectors lost a pincer in the small creek at this location.

[citation needed] Pincher Creek was officially listed as a place name in the Geological Survey Report, 1880.

Another consequence of the breezy conditions is that the weather is mostly sunny and very dry as the wind tends to dissipate cloud cover.

It was named after Kootenai Brown, who was responsible for the preservation of the land Waterton Park now inhabits.

Each July, the Village has a large Canada Day celebration, as well as hosting other community based events through the year.

The town is served by the Pincher Creek Airport which is a general aviation airfield that does not currently have any scheduled passenger airline flights.

Pincher Creek is served by Mountain Radio, a country music station based in nearby Blairmore.