In the early 1800s, Captain Robinson documented the first overwintering inhabitants of Black Tickle. At the time he was sent to Sandwich Bay to resolve a dispute in the area. When he returned he documented a number of settlements in the area, including Black Tickle. The settlers at that time were men who were overwintering in order to take care of the items left behind by the fishermen who returned to Newfoundland during the fall.

Fisherpersons have been traveling to the community on a seasonal basis for the past two centuries, until the cod fishery closure in 1992. During the winter months the population in the community was around 150. During the summer months it would explode to over 3,000. Many of the seasonal residents would reside in either their boats or in small, quickly built buildings. With the number of buildings built on the shores the area was dubbed "Asphenite City"(ass-pen-ite City), called after the primary material used in the buildings construction. During a peak fishing season, 29 million pounds of landed cod was recorded in the community. Due to the volume, the majority of the cod was brought elsewhere because the local plant did not have the resources to process it.

Today the community is still dependent upon the fishery as its primary source of employment. Instead of cod, the resource that is currently being processed is Snow Crab. The crab is landed, processed and shipped out of the community by coastal boat. It is stored in refrigerated containers until it is delivered to the primary market place.

The residents of Black Tickle take pride in being the largest concentration of individuals of the Roman Catholic Faith on the southeast coast. When the schools in the province were converted from a religious based system to a non-denominational system, the residents of Black Tickle were able to keep their school primarily a Roman Catholic school. This alone expresses their devotion to their faith and their community.

The community of Black Tickle is built in a cove that is called Salmon Bight. The tickle that the community is named after is located just outside the community towards the sea. On the other side of the community the residents of Domino reside. Both communities share such resources as medical, schooling, airport and employment. Many individuals refer to both communities as if they were one (Black Tickle/Domino).