After the timber had been cleared, farmers moved in with bananas, cane and dairy farming dominating the area, while a fishing industry developed.

[12] A map advertising the auction illustrates the location of the estate in proximity to Terranora Creek, Coolangatta and the Pacific Ocean and describes the allotments as perfectly flat, large areas with splendid frontages.

[14] In April 2020, checkpoint barriers were established in Tweed streets near the state border to restrict travel into Queensland during the COVID-19 pandemic.

[18] It had been hoped that the New South Wales government would extend their railway line from Murwillumbah to Tweed Heads, but this did not occur due to cost of resuming the land and the expenses associated with the tunnel and bridge that would be required.

Bus services are mostly provided by Kinetic Group on behalf of Transport for NSW,[23] who serve the urban area as well as neighbouring Murwillumbah.

Tweed Heads is also the southern terminus for Translink buses, which provide a connection to the Gold Coast railway line at Varsity Lakes and to the G:link tram at Broadbeach South.

Intercity coaches run by Greyhound Australia, NSW TrainLink, and Premier Motor Service also link Tweed Heads with Brisbane, Casino, and Sydney.

Given its proximity to the Gold Coast, Tweed Heads has a shared economy with Coolangatta based heavily on tourism.

Tweed Heads' most popular tourist destinations include Mount Warning, one of the largest shield volcanoes in the Southern Hemisphere, and the nearby Nightcap, Border Ranges, Springbrook and Lamington National Parks, which abound with sub-tropical fauna and flora.

The team pulled off its biggest coup in 1990 when it signed future Rugby League Immortal Wally Lewis.

After years of poor on field results and low attendances, the Seagulls sold their NSWRL licence to businessman Jeff Muller who moved the team to Carrara on the Gold Coast.

It was intended to represent the twin towns of Coolangatta and Tweed Heads and competed in the Gold Coast Australian Football League competition.