Clarksville, named for Clark's Island in Pamlico Sound west of the community, was an early settlement where families such as the Midgetts lived by fishing and ranching. By the 1880s, the most sought-after work was in the newly formed United States Lifesaving Service. During the Civil War, a passing Union boat fired a salvo toward Clarksville and labeled the place "Salvo" on its map, permanently changing the community's name. For decades, Salvo remained isolated, with trips to the mainland requiring single-track sand roads, ferries, and boats. The completion of the bridge over Oregon Inlet in 1863 brought needed connections, along with development and tourism. The Salvo Community Cemetery, established in 1872, is the resting place of more than 40 people, many of them members of the Midgett family.