[20] Tuckerton was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 18, 1901, from portions of Little Egg Harbor Township.

Edward, tired of going to Mount Holly Township with his grain, constructed a cedar log grist mill on the site of a dam built by beavers at the mouth of what is known as Tuckerton Creek.

[26] The community was named for founder Ebenezer Tucker (1758–1845),[27] who was appointed Collector, his commission bearing the date March 21, 1791, signed by George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

Former names of the town included "Andrew Mills", "Middle-of-the-Shore", "Clamtown", "Quakertown", and "Fishtown".

In March 1789, Ebenezer Tucker hosted a feast at the then-named Clamtown for the residents, at which time they officially changed the name to Tuckerton.

John D. Thompson bought the line in 1828 and ran the stages each way in a day and carried the mail.

By the turn of the 1800s, Tuckerton was home to a robust downtown area of shops, boarding houses, and hotels.

[31] The Lakeside Hotel, situated on Main Street next to Lake Pohatcong, operated well into the 20th Century before its closure and demolition; a plaque commemorating World War I veterans on the side of the building was moved to its current site in Greenwood Cemetery.

[31] In 1868, the congregation broke ground on an elaborate Colonial-style church building featuring a slate-covered steeple, forged stained glass windows, a town clock, bell, and pipe organ.

[34] Gerber's served as Tuckerton's main general store and was an authorized dealership for early Ford vehicles.

[33] The building remains and is currently known as the "Tuckerton Emporium", which houses a consortium of local vendors.

[33] On May 7, 1979, a large wind-driven fire destroyed the century-old Tuckerton United Methodist Church, two stores, and several homes on Main Street, leaving 23 people homeless.

[35] The conflagration started in the Tuckerton Variety Store on 25 W. Main Street and spread to a vacant storefront and two second-floor apartments next door; 20-mph sea breeze winds carried embers 200 yards to the church, which quickly burned out of control.

[35] Tuckerton received extensive damage after Superstorm Sandy struck the borough on October 28, 2012.

Floodwaters also ravaged businesses along South Green Street and flooded some buildings in the Tuckerton Seaport.

[38][39][40] The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.

[47][48] The Tuckerton Seaport, which is located in the center of town on Main Street, is a working maritime museum and village, which features several re-created historic buildings and has been a major attraction since its May 2000 opening.

South of County Route 539, Main Street is bounded by Lake Pohatcong, which features a duck decoy-shaped billboard advertising the annual Ocean County Decoy and Gunning Show held in September at nearby Tip Seaman Park that began in 1982 and draws as many as 20,000 visitors.

The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council.

[53][54][55] As of 2022[update], the mayor of the Borough of Tuckerton is Republican Susan R. Marshall, whose term of office ends December 31, 2022.

[3][56][57][58][59][60][61][62] In September 2015, the borough council appointed Keith Vreeland to fill the vacant seat expiring in December 2017 that had been held by James R. Edwards until his death.

[67] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 2nd congressional district is represented by Jeff Van Drew (R, Dennis Township).

[76][77][78] Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are: Clerk Scott M. Colabella (R, 2025, Barnegat Light),[79][80] Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy (R, 2025; Toms River)[81][82] and Surrogate Jeffrey Moran (R, 2028, Beachwood).

[86] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 70.2% (vs. 63.2% in Ocean County) were registered to vote, including 89.0% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 82.6% countywide).

[115] Tuckerton is home to the tallest structure in New Jersey, a tower standing at 1,000 feet (300 m), which transmits Philadelphia Telemundo affiliate WWSI.

[117] U.S. Route 9 passes through the northern part of the town and connects with the southern end of CR 539.

[118] Ocean Ride local service is provided on the OC6 Little Egg Harbor – Stafford route.