Clermont was founded by Abbott Félix-Antoine Savard (1898-1982), a poet and author of novel Menaud Maître-Draveur (1937). It was back in 1800 however that the earliest settlers chose to establish a settlement at Nairne Falls - or Chute Nairne.

Now an industrial town, back in 1900 Clermont distinguished itself by its ability to harness energy. Thanks to an initiative by certain local entrepreneurs, a dam was built alongside the waterfalls to supply electricity to La Malbaie and its surrounding areas. In 1909, Rodolphe Forget started a business with the objective of building the first pulp and paper mill in 1911; the following year, it was already in operation.

In 2001, Clermont cleverly devised a way to spotlight the river that runs across its territory, by creating a cycling path along Rivière Malbaie. The path spans across four kilometres and is also the site for special events, such as la Fête de la pêche de Charlevoix – or the Charlevoix fishing derby – that takes place every year in early summer.

Several salmon pools can also be accessed along the cycling path, thanks to la Corporation Le Saumon de la Rivière Malbaie. Since 1995, the corporation has devoted its efforts to reintroducing salmon into the river, and in 2011 it inaugurated a new Welcome Centre into its infrastructures.

Also of interest, in 2011 Clermont hosted the 12th edition of the Casino de Charlevoix Curling Challenge.