A group from Rhode Island settled in the area of Middletown Township and Shrewsbury Township in the mid-1660s, after having purchased what was known as the Monmouth Patent. Thomas Whyte, an English carpenter from the shore-side community of Deal, Kent, acquired 500 acres (200 ha) in Shrewsbury Township along the shore that became known as "Deal", from the name of the English town.[26][27] Present-day Norwood Avenue dates back to the early 18th century construction of the Long Branch-Deal Turnpike.[28]
On August 14, 1829, at 11:30 PM local time, the fall of a meteorite was observed.[29] The weight of the recovered stone was 28 grams (0.99 oz). The meteorite was officially named "Deal" and it was classified as an ordinary chondrite L.[30]
Deal was incorporated as a borough on March 7, 1898, by an act of the New Jersey Legislature, from portions of Ocean Township.[28][31]