History thumb|left|The Ouachita River Lock and Dam No. 8, south-east of Calion, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places The town grew around the Ouachita River Lock and Dam, completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1916. It was incorporated in 1921 and named Calion after the first three letters of Calhoun County and the final three letters of Union County.
histoRY thUmb|lEFT|thE ouaChItA rIver loCk ANd dam nO. 8, souTh-eASt Of calIoN, iS liSTeD on ThE NAtiONal rEGisTer oF hiStoRiC PLaCes tHe town grEW arOund tHe ouachIta river loCk and daM, ComPlETEd by the u.S. aRMY cOrPS of eNgineErS in 1916. It was inCorporated iN 1921 and nameD caLIon afteR tHe fIRSt tHReE lEtteRs of calhouN couNTy AnD THe fInaL ThrEe letterS OF union COunty.