[1]: 394 In the marshes southwest of the village lies the so-called Tinnumburg, a circular rampart on a site that shows sign of human use going back 2,000 years.

Local tradition holds that Thing meetings used to be held near burial mounds to the north of the village (now removed to make way for the airport).

In 1649, the Landvogtei was constructed - the seat of the Vogt, the local representative of the liege lord.

In 1837, the prison for Sylt was built here and Tinnum became the seat of the Amtsgericht (local court), until it was moved to Westerland in 1904.

Tinnum's vicinity to Westerland and its central location near the railway line resulted in industrial estates and warehouses being constructed in the village, changing its rural appearance, especially following World War II.

The business park areas along the K117 road play an important role in servicing both the tourism industry and the general Sylt economy.

[1]: 395 The site today called Tinnumburg [de] has yielded findings dating back around 2,000 years.

In separate referendums in 2008, Westerland (by a large majority) and Sylt-Ost (narrowly) agreed to the merger in May 2008.

Sylter Verkehrsgesellschaft [de] operates buses that provide public transport on the island.