The township of Sackville was incorporated in 1762. The area was first settled by the Acadians in 1670s.

Present day Sackville is in the Mi'kmaq district of Siknikt, which included Cumberland, Westmoreland and Albert Counties.

Historically, Sackville inhabitants made their living through fishing, agriculture, shipbuilding and manufacturing.

Today, the town thrives with Mount Allison university as being a world class undergraduate educational institution, tourism and some other tech based industries.

In 1903, Sackville was incorporated as a town. Senator Josiah Wood was unanimously elected as its first mayor.

The town is named after Lord George Sackville, commander of the British forces.