Cobourg, Ontario, is a picturesque town nestled in Southern Ontario, 95 km east of Toronto and 62 km east of Oshawa. As the largest town and seat of Northumberland County, Cobourg is a vibrant community that borders Lake Ontario to the south and is surrounded by Hamilton Township to the north, east, and west. Its nearest neighbour is Port Hope, just 7 km to the west.
The land that Cobourg now occupies was once home to the Mississauga (Anishinaabe-speaking) peoples. The town's roots trace back to 1798 when United Empire Loyalists founded settlements within Northumberland County, Home District, Province of Upper Canada. Notable founding fathers and early settlers included Eliud Nickerson, Joseph Ash, Zacheus Burnham, and Asa Allworth Burnham.
Originally a group of smaller villages such as Amherst and Hardscrabble, the town was renamed Hamilton and later became the district town for the Newcastle District in 1808. In 1818, the town was renamed Cobourg to honour the marriage of Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales to Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.
By the 1830s, Cobourg had become a regional centre, largely due to its fine harbour on Lake Ontario. The town was officially incorporated on 1 July 1837. Cobourg was also home to the Upper Canada Academy, which was established in 1835 and later renamed Victoria College in 1841.
In the 1830s, the timber and other resources of Cobourg's large hinterland were identified as key to its prosperity. The town's residents invested in a plank road, allowing horse-drawn vehicles to haul heavy goods. By 1850, the plank road was breaking up, and the railway scheme was revived. The railway project was expanded to include a 4 km long bridge across Rice Lake, to take the railway right up to Peterborough.
In 1856, Cobourg, Ontario, was feeling secure in its future prosperity and decided to build a new Town Hall. Victoria Hall, designed by architect Kivas Tully, now serves as the town hall, as well as home of the Art Gallery of Northumberland, the Cobourg Concert Hall, and an Old Bailey-style courtroom that is now used as the Council chamber.
One of the oldest buildings in the town, known as The Barracks, was acquired by the Cobourg Museum Foundation in 2000. After restoration, it is now open as the Sifton-Cook Heritage Centre.
In 1906, the Cobourg Jail began to house inmates. After its closure in 1998, the jail was converted into a tourist attraction called the King George Inn, with the jail still intact for visitors to see or stay in.
Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, the town invested heavily in purchasing property along the waterfront and beautifying the area. Many community activities now revolve in and around these spaces.
Cobourg has a humid continental climate with warm summers and cold winters. The town is served by Highway 401 and Northumberland County Road 2, and offers multiple daily departures on the Toronto – Ottawa/Montreal route via Via Rail.
As of the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Cobourg had a population of 20,519 living in 9,134 of its 9,520 total private dwellings.
Cobourg retains its small-town atmosphere, with its downtown and surrounding residential area's status as a Heritage Conservation District. The town is home to several parks, the Cobourg Waterfront Festival, and the Cobourg Highland Games. The town's beach, Victoria Park Beach, is a popular location for volleyball tournaments, events, beach days, family picnics, and more.
Cobourg is twinned with Coburg, Germany, further strengthening its international ties.
