The Town of Cobourg was founded in 1798 by United Empire Loyalists and was originally a group of smaller villages like Amherst and Hardscrabble, later named Hamilton. In 1818 it was renamed Cobourg in recognition of the marriage of Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales to Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. By the 1830s Cobourg had become a regional centre due to its harbour on Lake Ontario.
On July 1st, 1837 Cobourg was officially incorporated as a town. Recognized by Victoria Hall, a building that 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 used for public meetings and events.
From 1907 to 1952 a ferry service connected Cobourg and Rochester, New York, allowing Americans to reach Cobourg more readily. The Cobourg and Peterborough Railway ran northward over Rice Lake to Peterborough, but the lines collapsed into Rice Lake in the late 1800s. After World War II and the advent of improved transportation technology, this economic link decreased in importance.
The Town of Cobourg is now part of Northumberland County, an upper tier level of municipal government that weaves together seven municipalities, including:
- Township of Alnwick/Haldimand
- Municipality of Brighton
- Town of Cobourg
- Township of Cramahe
- Township of Hamilton
- Municipality of Port Hope
- Municipality of Trent Hills
Cobourg is the largest municipality in Northumberland County.
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