- It is within the Region of Durham and was an independent village before amalgamation with Whitby Town on January 1, 1973.
- Cookstown is on Black Creek, just south of the Oak Ridges Moraine.
- The nearest cities to Cookstown are:
- Barrie (35 km to the north)
- Richmond Hill (29 km to the south-east)
- Aurora (30 km to the south-west)