[3] The town is named for the 19th century Pennsylvania politician and journalist Alexander Kelly McClure.

McClure owes its origin to the building of the Sunbury and Lewistown Railroad, that at one time ran through the center of town.

The town was originally named Stuckton after George Stuck who owned the farm land that today is known as McClure.

In the year 1867, when it was certain that the Middlecreek Valley Railroad would be located practically through the center of the Stuck Farm, George Stuck staked out a section of his farm, laid out a few lots and named the place “STUCKTON.” Thus a town was born, but without houses, except an old rotted log hut.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 3.7 square miles (9.6 km2), all land.