McLoud was founded in 1895 with the first post office opening on June 21st. It was named for John W McLoud, a railroad attorney. McLoud became known as the Blackberry Capitol of the World during the 1940s after President Harry Truman was sent a crate of blackberries by the Blackberry Growers' Association. In 1942 Margie Wilson-Morgan became the first Blackberry Queen at the towns' popular Blackberry Festival.

The population of McLoud as recent as 2015 was recorded at 4,384. This is an increase from previous years. McLoud is a rural community with small town charm and the convenience of large town proximity. Among the small town charm are friendly faces seen among town at local shops and restaurants and traditions such as the towns notorious Blackberry Festival still held the first week in July.