The borough was settled in about 1697 and incorporated on December 8, 1874, when approximately 248 acres (1.00 km2) was taken from Abington Township.

The borough is a mostly residential community that is separated into East and West by the Business District that runs along and surrounds Old York Road (Route 611) corridor.

On the southeast side of York Road, there is a small mixed concentration of row homes, duplexes, and single-family residences.

Located throughout this area are several multi-family apartment buildings that are residential condominium or rental properties.

The two fire companies have a total membership of approximately 150, with 50 members composing the active firefighting crew.

Elements of the British army passed through Jenkintown en route to the Battle of White Marsh in early December 1777.

The Jenkins' Town Lyceum Building, Jenkintown-Wyncote station, and Strawbridge and Clothier Store are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The stretch of Old York Road from Lord & Taylor just south of Jenkintown up to the Sears in Abington Township was sometimes called the Golden 2½ Miles.

[6] Five major department stores lined Old York Road: Jenkintown borough is located at 40°5′46″N 75°7′46″W / 40.09611°N 75.12944°W / 40.09611; -75.12944 (40.096060, -75.129415).

PA Route 73 passes east–west along the southern edge of Jenkintown along Washington Lane and Township Line Road, heading west to Wyncote and east to Northeast Philadelphia.

[20] The Jenkintown-Wyncote station building with its Queen Anne-style architecture was designed by famous Philadelphia architect Horace Trumbauer.

[19] Jenkintown has a city manager form of government with a mayor and a twelve-member borough council.

Jenkintown, like its surroundings of Abington and Cheltenham and their included towns, votes overwhelmingly Democratic.