Originally, Sunburg was established in hopes that a planned railroad
line would travel through the community. However, the plans for the
railroad never materialized. Nevertheless, Sunburg became an important
part of the local farming economy. An elementary school existed from
1955 to 1989, as part of the Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg
School District. The school closed due to shrinking enrollment. The
school building was later sold to the community of Sunburg for $1, which
uses it as a community center and fire hall. The community center, fire
hall was expanded, an assisted living center, called Marian's manor
with proceeds from a $1.3 million estate bequest from Marian Peterson.
In 1996 Sunburg went under construction and put in their first citywide sanitary sewage system.
As of 2014, The city has still a U.S. Post Office, a gas station,
a general store that carries milk, bread, auto parts and gifts. Sunburg
also has a barber shop, a hardware store, bank, cafe and two churches.