Cookstown is a town located in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It serves as one of the primary towns within the Mid Ulster local government district, alongside Magherafelt and Dungannon. As of the 2021 census, the town had a population of 12,546, making it the fourth-largest town in the county.
The town was founded in the early 17th century by Dr. Alan Cooke, an English colonist and ecclesiastical lawyer, during the Plantation of Ulster. It was subsequently rebuilt in the late 18th century by the Stewart family. Historically, Cookstown was a significant center for the linen industry west of the River Bann; activities including flax spinning, weaving, bleaching, and beetling were conducted in the town until 1956.
One notable geographical feature of Cookstown is its main street, which is said to be the longest in Ireland. The street runs in a straight line for approximately 1.25 miles.