Much of the town is located along a granite ridge which runs in a north–south direction, rising approximately 170 feet in elevation from the bay.

A large section of exposed granite can be observed at the highway cut for Route 24, near the Main Road interchange.

At times, Tiverton has been considered a part of the South Coast region of Massachusetts despite the town residing entirely within Rhode Island.

It has been argued that Little Compton and Tiverton share more in common with the regional identities of the South Coast communities of Westport, Dartmouth and Fall River than the rest of Newport County.

In 1746, in the final settlement of a long colonial boundary dispute between Rhode Island and Massachusetts, Tiverton—together with its fellow towns along the eastern shore of Narragansett Bay, Barrington, Bristol and Little Compton, and the town of Cumberland, to the north of Providence—were annexed to Rhode Island by Royal Decree.

On the 31st of that month, a party of about 150 British regulars[5] of the 22nd Regiment under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell attacked the town.

The result of this skirmish was two British killed, several more wounded, and some fire damage to the lower mill in Tiverton.

During this time, Tiverton was a refuge for Americans fleeing this occupation, and a mustering place for colonial forces gathering to drive out the British.

Since the mid-20th century, Tiverton has grown as a summer resort and residential area, and as a suburb of Fall River, Massachusetts.

During the 1960s, Route 24 was constructed through the northern part of the town, connecting Tiverton with Newport, Rhode Island via the Sakonnet River Bridge.

Contaminants including arsenic, lead, cyanide, and more were found at levels above residential exposure guidelines.

[14] The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) has been involved in developing work plans to treat the contamination.

[18] Grinnell's Beach provides an excellent windsurfing area, and a view of the Sakonnet River and Portsmouth shoreline.

[27] In June 2015 a new 24,000 square foot building was opened, incorporating a meeting hall, teen room, cafe, children's library, and public courtyard spaces.

[28] The new building, designed by Union Studio architects, features a clock tower and gabled ends.

[29] A branch, the Union Public Library located at 3832 Main Road and part of the Tiverton Four Corners Historic District, has operated on that site almost continuously since 1820, although the current Early Victorian building dates from 1868.