View source for Corby

{{Short description|Town in Northamptonshire, England}}
{{About|the town in Northamptonshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name        = Corby
| static_image         = Corby Steelworker - geograph.org.uk - 7168189.jpg
| static_image_caption = Corby Steelworker statue
| coordinates          = {{coord|52.48768|-0.70130|display=inline,title}}
| area_total_km2       = 19.5125
| population           = 68,164
| population_ref       = ([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://citypopulation.de/en/uk/eastmidlands/north_northamptonshire/E63002876__corby/|title=Corby (North Northamptonshire, East Midlands, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map, Location, Weather and Web Information|website=citypopulation.de}}</ref>
| os_grid_reference    = SP882885
| civil_parish         = Corby
| unitary_england      = [[North Northamptonshire]]
| lieutenancy_england  = [[Northamptonshire]]
| region               = East Midlands
| country              = England
| post_town            = CORBY
| postcode_area        = NN
| postcode_district    = NN17, NN18
| dial_code            = 01536
| parts_type               = Areas of the town
| p1                     = [[Cottingham, Northamptonshire|Cottingham]]
| p2                    = [[Great Oakley, Northamptonshire|Great Oakley]]
| p3                     = [[Rockingham, Northamptonshire|Rockingham]]
| p4                     = Snatchill
| p5                     = [[Stanion]]
| p6                     = [[Weldon, Northamptonshire|Weldon]]
| constituency_westminster = [[Corby and East Northamptonshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Corby and East Northamptonshire]]
| website              = [https://www.corbytowncouncil.gov.uk/ Corby Town Council]
}}

'''Corby''' is a town and [[civil parish]] in [[North Northamptonshire]], England, {{convert|23|mi}} northeast of [[Northampton]]. In 2021 it had a population of 68,164. From 1974 to 2021, it was the administrative headquarters of the [[Borough of Corby]]; at the [[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 Census]], the former borough had a population of 75,571.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TS001 - Number of usual residents in households and communal establishments - Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/datasets/c2021ts001 |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=www.nomisweb.co.uk |archive-date=14 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114230420/https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/datasets/c2021ts001 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Corby was once known as "Little Scotland" due to the large number of [[Scot]]tish workers who came to work in its steelworks.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-07-11 |title=Is Corby the most Scottish place in England? |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28225325 |access-date=2022-04-27 |archive-date=2 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602163147/https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28225325 |url-status=live }}</ref> Corby has undergone regeneration with the opening of [[Corby railway station]] and Corby International Pool in 2009 and the [[Corby Cube]] in 2010. The Cube houses a 450-seat theatre, public library and other community amenities.
[[File:Corby unparished area UK locator map.svg|thumb|Corby unparished area within the former Corby district, the district was abolished in 2021 and the unparished area became parished]]

==History==

===Early history===
[[Mesolithic]] and [[Neolithic]] artefacts have been found in the area surrounding Corby and human remains dating to the [[Bronze Age]] were found in 1970 at [[Cowthick Quarry|Cowthick]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.le.ac.uk/archaeology/research/projects/eastmidsfw/pdfs/14nhneba.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060220071749/http://www.le.ac.uk/archaeology/research/projects/eastmidsfw/pdfs/14nhneba.pdf|url-status=dead|title=An Archaelogical Resource Assessment of the Neolithic and Bronze Age in Northamptonshire|archivedate=20 February 2006|website=www.le.ac.uk}}</ref> The first evidence of permanent settlement comes from the 8th century when [[Danes (Germanic tribe)|Danish]] invaders arrived and the settlement became known as "Kori's by"&nbsp;– Kori's settlement. The settlement was recorded in the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086 as "Corbei". Corby's emblem, the [[raven]], derives from an alternative meaning of this word. These Danish roots were recognised in the naming of the most southern of the town's housing estates, Danesholme, around which one of the Danish settlements was located.

Corby was granted the right to hold two annual fairs and a market by [[Henry III of England|Henry III]] in 1226. In 1568 Corby was granted a charter by [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I]] that exempted local landowners from tolls (the fee paid by travellers to use the long-distance public roads), dues (an early form of income tax)<ref>[http://www.corby.gov.uk/an/wc.exe/ao2/View/?Doc=12317&Site=1182 Corby Borough Council – The History of Corby] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012120739/http://www.corby.gov.uk/an/wc.exe/ao2/View/?Doc=12317&Site=1182 |date=12 October 2007 }}</ref> and gave all men the right to refuse to serve in the local militia.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/northamptonshire/asop/corby/pole_fair/pole_charter.shtml |title=Corby Pole Fair Charter |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=30 April 2002 |access-date=2 October 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114073015/http://www.bbc.co.uk/northamptonshire/asop/corby/pole_fair/pole_charter.shtml |archive-date=14 November 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> A popular legend is that the Queen was hunting in [[Rockingham Forest]] when she (dependent on the legend) either fell from her horse or became trapped in a bog whilst riding. Upon being rescued by villagers from Corby she granted the charter in gratitude for her rescue. Another popular explanation is that it was granted as a favour to her alleged lover [[Christopher Hatton|Sir Christopher Hatton]].{{cn|date=July 2025}}

====Corby Pole Fair====
The Corby Pole Fair is an event that has taken place every 20 years since 1862 in celebration of the charter. The 1942 fair was not held due to the [[Second World War]]; it took place five years later. According to a newspaper report dated 14 June 1862 which focuses on the extravagances of the fair, the fugitive slave [[John Anderson (escaped slave)|John Anderson]] was described as being educated in the Corby British School,<ref>[http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000317/18620614/040/0008 Corby Pole Fair. | Northampton Mercury | Saturday 14 June 1862]. [[British Newspaper Archive]]. Retrieved on 17 July 2013.</ref> giving the town an unusual link to [[slavery in the United States]].

The most recent pole fair was held on Friday, 3 June 2022, to coincide with [[Elizabeth II|The Queen]]'s [[Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II|Platinum Jubilee]] celebrations.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Bagley|first=Alison|date=7 January 2021|title=June date set for Corby Pole Fair as double celebration for Queen's Platinum Jubilee|url=https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/people/june-date-set-corby-pole-fair-double-celebration-queens-platinum-jubilee-3085762|access-date=20 January 2021|work=Northamptonshire Telegraph|language=en|archive-date=7 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107120423/https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/people/june-date-set-corby-pole-fair-double-celebration-queens-platinum-jubilee-3085762|url-status=live}}</ref>

===From rural village to industrial town===
The local area has been worked for [[iron ore]] since Roman times. An ironstone industry developed in the 19th century with the coming of the railways and the discovery of extensive ironstone beds. By 1910 an ironstone works had been established. In 1931 Corby was a small village with a population of around 1,500. It grew rapidly into a reasonably sized industrial town, when the owners of the ironstone works, the steel firm [[Stewarts & Lloyds]], decided to build a large integrated ironstone and steel works on the site. The start of construction in 1934 drew an inflow of population, including [[Scotland|Scottish]] and [[Ireland|Irish]] labourers. The first steel was produced in October 1935 and for decades afterwards the steel works dominated the town. By 1939 the population had grown to around 12,000, at which time Corby was thought to be the largest "village" in the country, but it was at that point that Corby was re-designated an [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|urban district]] (see the Local Government section below).

===1940s and 1950s===

During the [[Second World War]] the Corby steelworks were expected to be a target for [[Nazi Germany|German]] [[Luftwaffe|bombers]] but in the event there were only a few bombs dropped by solitary planes and there were no casualties. This may be because the whole area was blanketed in huge dense black, low-lying clouds created artificially by the intentional burning of oil and [[latex]] to hide the glowing [[Bessemer process|Bessemer]] converter furnaces at the steelworks from German bomber crews.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.h2g2.com/entry/A2792072 |title=Memories of the Second World War |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=17 August 2009 |access-date=2 October 2013}}</ref> The only known remaining scars from German attacks can be found in the form of bullet holes visible on the front fascia of the old [[post office]] in Corby village (now known as Decades bar and restaurant). The Corby steelworks made a notable contribution to the war effort by manufacturing the steel tubes used in [[Operation Pluto]] (Pipe Line Under the Ocean) to supply fuel to Allied forces on the [[Europe]]an continent.

In 1950, with a population of 18,000, Corby was designated a [[New towns in the United Kingdom|New Town]] with [[William Holford]] as its architect. By 1951, he prepared the development plan with a car oriented layout and many areas of open space and woodland. In 1952, Holford produced the town centre plan and in 1954 the layout for the first 500 houses.<ref>{{cite ODNB|url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/31245 |title=Mervyn Miller, ''Holford, William Graham, Baron Holford (1907–1975)'', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press 2004; accessed 21 January 2012 |year=2004 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/31245 |access-date=2 October 2013|last1=Miller |first1=Mervyn }}</ref> The town now underwent its second wave of expansion, mainly from [[Scotland]]. Corby is famous for its Scottish heritage based on decades of incoming steel workers and was for a time known locally as "Little Scotland".

===Decline of the steel industry===
[[File:Sundew dragline.jpg|350px|thumb|left|[[Sundew (dragline)|Sundew]] [[dragline excavator]] was a local landmark]]
In 1967 the British steel industry was [[Nationalization|nationalised]] and the [[Stewarts & Lloyds]] steel tube works at Corby became part of [[British Steel Corporation]]. The Government approved a ten-year development strategy with expenditure of £3,000 million from 1973 onwards, the objective of which was to convert BSC from a large number of small scale works, using largely obsolete equipment, to a far more compact organisation with highly competitive plant.
Steelmaking was to be concentrated in five main areas: South Wales, Sheffield, Scunthorpe, Teesside and Scotland, most of which are coastal sites with access to economic supplies of iron rich imported ores.

It was not until 1975 that a closure programme was agreed after a 14-month review by [[Frank Beswick, Baron Beswick|Lord Beswick]], the then Minister of State for Industry.<ref>{{cite web | title= Steel Industry (Closure Review) HC Deb 04 February 1975 vol 885 cc1150-68115 | url= https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1975/feb/04/steel-industry-closure-review | date= 1975 | website= api.parliament.uk | access-date= 12 January 2021 | archive-date= 26 February 2021 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210226051649/https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1975/feb/04/steel-industry-closure-review | url-status= live }}</ref> Corby was not one of the Beswick Plants that were to close in the review. By this time BSC was plunging into loss and important parts of the investment programme was held back. The [[European Union]]'s Davignon Plan, had also asked for Steel Capacity in Europe to be significantly reduced.

In May 1979, the new Conservative government minister, [[Keith Joseph|Sir Keith Joseph]] announced the closure of Corby Steelworks. By the end of 1981 more than 5,000 jobs had been lost from British Steel in Corby, and further cuts took the total loss to 11,000, leading to an unemployment rate of over 30%.<ref>{{cite web |author=The Committee Office, House of Commons |url=http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200102/cmselect/cmtlgr/603/603ap33.htm |title=Memorandum by Corby Borough Council (NT 50) |publisher=Parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk |date=23 August 2002 |access-date=2 October 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004212607/http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200102/cmselect/cmtlgr/603/603ap33.htm |archive-date=4 October 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>[http://www.lgiu.gov.uk/admin/images/uploaded/Stateofregions.pdf The State of the Regions]{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Local Government Information Unit</ref> Steel tube making continued, however, initially being supplied with steel by rail from Teesside and later from South Wales.

The title track of ''[[Steeltown]]'' by [[Big Country]] is about the loss of jobs in Corby.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title = Big Country|url = https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/big-country-19850228|magazine = Rolling Stone|date = 28 February 1985|access-date = 7 February 2016|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160225070004/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/big-country-19850228|archive-date = 25 February 2016|df = dmy-all}}</ref>

Downside of the ensuing redevelopment of the location of the former steel works was the [[Corby toxic waste case]].

===Redevelopment===
[[File:Corby power station - geograph.org.uk - 362459.jpg|thumb|Corby's CCGT power station]]

Corby was designated as a new town in 1950. Most of the housing in the town has been built since this date. The first new street completed was Bessemer Grove, about the same time that the re-built blast furnace was lit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.seatons.co.uk/about-us/history-of-corby/|title=A History of Corby|access-date=31 July 2018|archive-date=3 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803164942/https://www.seatons.co.uk/about-us/history-of-corby/|url-status=live}}</ref> New industry was subsequently attracted to the town when the Thatcher government designated it as an Enterprise Zone. By 1991 unemployment had returned to the national average.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_rate_page.jsp?u_id=10189020&c_id=10001043&data_theme=T_WK&id=0|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120919041805/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_rate_page.jsp?u_id=10189020&c_id=10001043&data_theme=T_WK&id=0|url-status=dead|title=Corby through time – Historical Statistics on Work & Poverty for the …|date=19 September 2012|archive-date=19 September 2012|website=visionofbritain.org.uk|access-date=1 May 2018}}</ref> The recovery of Corby was explained in 1990 by [[John Redwood]], then a junior minister in the [[Department of Trade and Industry (United Kingdom)|Department of Trade and Industry]], as being a result of the establishment of the Enterprise Zone, the promotion of Corby by the Thatcher government, the work of private investors and the skills of the work force. Others believe the town's recovery was significantly assisted by its central location and substantial grants from the EU.<ref name="NNDC1">{{cite web |url=http://www.nndev.co.uk/business-strengths |title=Business Strengths |author=Northampton North Development Company |publisher=NNDC |access-date=14 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023032349/http://www.nndev.co.uk/business-strengths |archive-date=23 October 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref name="NNDC2">{{cite web |url=http://www.nndev.co.uk/business-strengths/company-profiles |title=Company Profiles |author=Northampton North Development Company |publisher=NNDC |access-date=14 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621052118/http://www.nndev.co.uk/business-strengths/company-profiles |archive-date=21 June 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref> The enterprise zone was promoted by the Corby Industrial Development Centre through a prospectus that parodied ''[[The Economist]]'', titled ''The Ecorbyist'';<ref>Mark Page and Matthew Bristow, ''A History of the County of Northampton: Corby and Great Oakley'' (Victoria County History, 2013), p. 200 n. 3.</ref><ref>Peter B. Meyer, ''Comparative studies in local economic development: problems in policy implementation'' (Greenwood Press, 1993), p. 155.</ref> publication continued at least as late as 1994.<ref>Terry F. Buss and Robert Bartok, 'Corby, England, leads economic development in Europe', ''Economic Development Review'', 12.3 (Summer 1994), 83–87 (p. 84).</ref>

To the north of Corby, on the [[industrial estate]]s, is a 350MW [[Corby Power Station|power station]] built in 1994; and the [[Rockingham Motor Speedway]] built in 2001.

==Politics==
[[File:Corby2007Constituency.svg|thumb|left|Corby constituency]]

From 1894 until 1939 Corby was a parish in [[Kettering Rural District]], in 1939 Corby became an urban district, on 1 April 1974 the urban district and parish were abolished and Corby became an [[unparished area]] in Corby non-metropolitan district.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10267729|title=Relationships and changes Corby AP/CP through time|publisher=[[A Vision of Britain through Time]]|accessdate=16 November 2023|archive-date=16 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116221024/https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10267729|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10027184|title=Relationships and changes Corby UD through time|publisher=[[A Vision of Britain through Time]]|accessdate=16 November 2023|archive-date=16 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116221023/https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10027184|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/corby.html|title=Corby Registration District|publisher=UKBMD|accessdate=16 November 2023|archive-date=14 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514151830/https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/corby.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The town of Corby is entirely within the [[Corby and East Northamptonshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Corby and East Northamptonshire]] Westminster constituency. This contains parts of traditionally [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[East Northamptonshire]] that balance the traditionally Labour town of Corby, leading to a [[marginal constituency]] that has gone to the party forming the UK Government at every general election since the creation of the constituency in 1983.

From 1983 to 1997 the seat was narrowly held for the Conservatives by [[William Powell (Corby MP)|William Powell]]. [[Phil Hope]] then won the seat for Labour and held it until 2010 when he lost to the writer [[Louise Mensch|Louise Bagshawe]], the Conservative Party candidate, who became Louise Mensch after her marriage the following year.

In 2012, Mensch resigned as an MP and the resulting [[2012 Corby by-election|by-election]] was won by [[Labour Co-operative|Labour]]'s [[Andy Sawford]] with a majority of 7,791 votes over the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]]. [[UKIP]] finished in third place whilst the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] finished in fourth place, losing their deposit. The by-election was of national and international media interest due to the constituency being a [[marginal seat]]. During the wait for the results announcement, "Corby" briefly trended worldwide on [[Twitter]].

[[Tom Pursglove]] regained the seat for the Conservatives in the 2015 general election, outpolling Sawford by a majority of 2,412. Pursglove retained the seat in 2017 with a majority of 2,690 <ref name=":0">{{Cite news |title=Corby parliamentary constituency - Election 2019 - BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000648 |access-date=2025-01-15 |language=en-GB}}</ref> and then by 10,268 in 2019,<ref name=":0" /> ahead of Labour candidate Beth Miller on both occasions. Following slight boundary changes, and with the seat now officially referred to as Corby and East Northamptonshire, the 2024 general election saw Pursglove lose the seat to Labour's [[Lee Barron (politician)|Lee Barron]] whose majority was 6,331.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Corby and East Northamptonshire - General election results 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001179 |access-date=2025-01-15 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In the 2016 referendum on the UK's membership of the [[European Union]], Corby voted 64% in favour of leaving whilst only 36% voted to remain in the EU. The turnout was 74.1% with the leave vote winning with a majority of 9,141 votes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/update/2016-06-24/64-of-corby-votes-to-leave/|title=64% of Corby votes to Leave|website=itv.com|access-date=1 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110114448/http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/update/2016-06-24/64-of-corby-votes-to-leave/|archive-date=10 November 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The constituency's MP at the time, Tom Pursglove, had also been in favour of the UK leaving the European Union being one of the founders of [[Grassroots Out]], the pro-Brexit organisation largely supported by Conservative and [[UKIP]] politicians.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityam.com/231678/eu-referendum-six-more-conservative-mps-say-theyre-backing-brexit-as-nigel-farage-peter-bone-tom-pursglove-and-kate-hoey-launch-new-cross-party-leave-campaign|title=More Tories back Brexit as Farage launches new campaign|first=Lauren|last=Fedor|date=4 January 2016|website=cityam.com|access-date=1 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110114732/http://www.cityam.com/231678/eu-referendum-six-more-conservative-mps-say-theyre-backing-brexit-as-nigel-farage-peter-bone-tom-pursglove-and-kate-hoey-launch-new-cross-party-leave-campaign|archive-date=10 November 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref> 
{{Clear}}

Between 1979 and its abolition in 2021, Corby Borough Council was controlled by the Labour Party.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Corby Borough Council Election Results 1973-2011 |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Corby-1973-2011.pdf |website=www.electionscentre.co.uk}}</ref>

On 8 December 2014, Northamptonshire Police began an investigation into financial dealings by Corby Borough Council. In July 2013, Conservative councillors Rob McKellar and David Sims handed the "suspicious" findings of an audit report to the police to see if a crime had been committed. The audit report examined four major projects, including the [[Corby Cube]], the cost of which went from £35m to £47m.<ref name="BBC_08_10_2014">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-30376836|title=Police 'probing council finances'|work=BBC News|date=8 December 2014|access-date=1 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105035516/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-30376836|archive-date=5 January 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> It was reported in 2016 that the investigation had concluded and no prosecutions would be brought.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-04-25 |title=EXCLUSIVE: Corby Council in the clear after a '˜thorough' police investigation |url=https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/exclusive-corby-council-in-the-clear-after-a-thorough-police-investigation-781159 |access-date=2025-01-15 |work=Northamptonshire Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref>

In March 2018, following [[Northamptonshire County Council#Insolvency|Northamptonshire County Council becoming insolvent]], due to financial and cultural mismanagement by the cabinet and officers, the then Secretary of State for Local Government, [[Sajid Javid]], sent commissioner Max Caller into the council, who recommended the county council and all district and borough councils in the county be abolished, and replaced by two [[Unitary authorities of England|unitary authorities]], one covering the West, and one the North of the county.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/northamptonshire-county-council-statement |title= Northamptonshire County Council: statement |date= 27 March 2018 |access-date= 13 June 2018 |archive-date= 13 June 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180613210625/https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/northamptonshire-county-council-statement |url-status= live }}</ref> These proposals were approved in April 2019. It meant that the districts of [[Daventry District|Daventry]], [[Northampton]] and [[South Northamptonshire]] were merged to form a new unitary authority called [[West Northamptonshire]], whilst the second unitary authority [[North Northamptonshire]] consists of the former Corby, [[East Northamptonshire]], [[Borough of Kettering|Kettering]] and [[Borough of Wellingborough|Wellingborough]] districts. These new authorities came into being on 1 April 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Northamptonshire: Unitary authorities plan approved |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-48270222 |work=BBC News |access-date=18 August 2020 |date=14 May 2019 |archive-date=3 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603042017/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-48270222 |url-status=live }}</ref> Elections for the new authorities were due to be held on 7 May 2020, but were delayed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]],<ref>{{cite web |title=AT LAST! Northamptonshire's new unitary councils are made law by parliament |url=https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/people/last-northamptonshires-new-unitary-councils-are-made-law-parliament-1741568 |publisher=Northampton Chronicle |access-date=18 August 2020 |date=14 February 2020 |archive-date=29 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529204804/https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/people/last-northamptonshires-new-unitary-councils-are-made-law-parliament-1741568 |url-status=live }}</ref> and were instead held on [[2021 United Kingdom local elections|6 May 2021]]. On 1 April 2021 a civil parish called Corby Town was formed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.corbytowncouncil.gov.uk/uploads/corby-community-governance-order-2021.pdf|title=The Corby Borough Council (Reorganisation of Community Governance) Order 2021|publisher=Corby Town Council|accessdate=16 November 2023|archive-date=14 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114093752/https://www.corbytowncouncil.gov.uk/uploads/corby-community-governance-order-2021.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://mapit.mysociety.org/area/166587.html|title=Corby Town|publisher=Mapit|accessdate=16 November 2023|archive-date=16 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116154843/https://mapit.mysociety.org/area/166587.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 1 January 2024 the parish was renamed to "Corby".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/north%20northamptonshire.html|title=North Northamptonshire Registration District|publisher=UKBMD|accessdate=2 August 2024}}</ref>

In the local elections of 6 May 2021, for [[North Northamptonshire Council]] Corby returned 12 Labour Councillors and 3 Conservative Councillors across 5 wards, with the Conservatives only being elected in the Corby Rural Ward. The newly created Corby Town Council returned 17 Labour Councillors across 4 Wards. In 2022, Corby Town Councillor Tafadzwa Chikoto became the first black mayor of Corby,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/people/meet-corbys-first-ever-black-mayor-3686247 | title=Meet Corby's first ever black mayor | work=Northamptonshire Telegraph | date=9 May 2022 | access-date=22 May 2023 | archive-date=22 May 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522234917/https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/people/meet-corbys-first-ever-black-mayor-3686247 | url-status=live }}</ref> and in 2023 Leanne Buckingham became the town's first openly lesbian mayor.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-05-31 |title='This will be a very productive year for the chosen charities': New Corby mayor and deputy announced |url=https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/people/new-corby-mayor-and-deputy-announced-4164292 |access-date=2025-01-15 |work=Northamptonshire Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref>

In the local elections of 1 May 2025, 9 [[Reform UK]] and 2 Labour councillors were returned to North Northamptonshire Council from wards in the Corby parish, as Reform UK won overall control of the council from the Conservatives.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.northnorthants.gov.uk/north-northamptonshire-council-and-town-and-parish-council-elections/results-elections-2025 | title=Results - Elections 2025 &#124; North Northamptonshire Council }}</ref> In the election to Corby Town Council, Labour retained overall control of the parish-level authority.<ref>https://www.corbytowncouncil.gov.uk/2025/05/election-results/ {{Bare URL inline|date=July 2025}}</ref>

==City status bid==

In 2012, Corby bid to gain city status as part of [[Queen Elizabeth II]]'s [[Diamond Jubilee]] celebrations.<ref>Stratford, John. (14 March 2012) [http://www.heart.co.uk/northants/news/local/corby-misses-out-city-status/ Corby Misses Out On City Status – Heart Northamptonshire News] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413132613/http://www.heart.co.uk/northants/news/local/corby-misses-out-city-status/ |date=13 April 2014 }}. Heart.co.uk. Retrieved on 17 July 2013.</ref> However, it lost out to [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]], [[Chelmsford]] and [[St Asaph]].

==Elections==
[[File:NorthamptonshireCorby.png|thumb|Borough of Corby]]

{{Expand section|date=October 2009}}
* [[2003 Corby Borough Council election]]
* [[2007 Corby Borough Council election]]
* [[2012 Corby by-election]]
* [[2015 Corby Borough Council election]]

==Society and culture==
It is recorded in 1851 that the accent spoken in the northern parts of Northamptonshire would be more recognisable as a "West Country dialect".<ref name="auto">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yRFJAAAAcAAJ|title=The Dialect And Folx-Lore Of Northamptonshire|last=Sternberg|first=Thomas|date=1 January 1851|publisher=Northampton|language=en}}</ref> [[Scottish people|Scottish]] migration to Corby has created a unique population in the borough. The link with Scotland is a strong feature of the area: according to the [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]], there were 10,063 Scottish-born in the Corby Urban Area&nbsp;– 18.9% of the population. A further 1.3 per cent were born in [[Northern Ireland]]. It has been estimated that a further third of the population are Scottish or of Scottish descent.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://heritage.scotsman.com/people.cfm?id=2089062005 |title=The English town that's truly Scottish |publisher=Heritage.scotsman.com |date=17 October 2005 |access-date=2 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070817003230/http://heritage.scotsman.com/people.cfm?id=2089062005 |archive-date=17 August 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:Corby Boating Lake - geograph.org.uk - 72866.jpg|thumb|left|Corby's boating lake]]
[[File:Corby Cube.jpg|thumb|left|[[Corby Cube]] 2012]]
The Scottish heritage is cherished by many inhabitants. There are Scottish social and sporting clubs and there are many fervent supporters of the [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] and [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] football clubs (indeed, Corby was home to the largest [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] Supporters' Club outside [[Glasgow]] and [[Northern Ireland]] until its closure in February 2013<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-21386912 |title=Corby's Glasgow Rangers Supporters' Club closes |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=9 February 2013 |access-date=2 October 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130213020538/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-21386912 |archive-date=13 February 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>) as well as the Scottish National Team. Many shops sell Scottish foods and a supermarket even introduced [[Scottish Gaelic|Gaelic]] signs<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2858327.stm |title=Gaelic welcome in store |work=BBC News |date=17 March 2003 |access-date=2 October 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040703160212/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2858327.stm |archive-date=3 July 2004 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> to their Corby store (but they have since removed them). An annual Highland Gathering featuring traditional Scottish sports, music and dancing is held in the town. Corby had one Church of Scotland congregation, but the final service at St Andrew's took place on Sunday, 26 February 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/people/date-of-the-final-service-at-corbys-st-andrews-church-of-scotland-confirmed-4028012 | title=The date of the final service at Corby's St Andrew's Church of Scotland has been confirmed | work=Northamptonshire Telegraph | date=15 February 2023 }}</ref>
Local legend states that Corby sees the highest sales of the Scottish soft drink [[Irn-Bru]] of anywhere outside Scotland. [[Asda]] Corby is stated to sell 17 times more [[Irn-Bru]] than any other store in England.<ref>http://www.louisemensch.net/10062010_maiden_speech{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite Hansard | title=Parliamentary debates | url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm100610/debtext/100610-0014.htm#10061031001092 | house=House of Commons | date=10 June 2010 | column_start=525 | column_end=527 | speaker=Louise Bagshawe | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707124035/https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm100610/debtext/100610-0014.htm#10061031001092 | archive-date=7 July 2017 | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>[http://your.asda.com/press-centre/asda-corby-celebrates-burns-night Asda Corby Celebrates Burns Night] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004221228/http://your.asda.com/press-centre/asda-corby-celebrates-burns-night |date=4 October 2013 }}. Your.asda.com (21 January 2010). Retrieved on 17 July 2013.</ref> Its popularity is cemented by the fact that it is available for purchase in all bars, nightclubs and pubs in the area. In 2014, Corby held a mock referendum in the run up to the [[2014 Scottish independence referendum|Scottish independence referendum]]. 576 votes were cast, with 162 voting for Scottish independence and 414 voting against.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-28279790|title='Little Scotland' votes for UK unity|work=BBC News |date=13 July 2014|access-date=1 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118181448/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-28279790|archive-date=18 November 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

According to the 2001 Census 1.7% of the population are non-white and the average age of the population (37.2) is slightly lower than the average for [[England and Wales]] (38.6).<ref>{{cite web |title=Corby Borough Council |url=http://www.corby.gov.uk/press-release/corby-place-growth-%E2%80%93-it%E2%80%99s-official |publisher=Corby Borough Council |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130104211422/http://www.corby.gov.uk/press-release/corby-place-growth-%E2%80%93-it%E2%80%99s-official |archive-date=4 January 2013 |df=dmy }}</ref>

November 2010 saw the opening of the [[Corby Cube]], a major development in the town centre. As well as new council chamber, registrar office, and public library, the Cube is home to a 450-seat theatre and 100 capacity studio theatre. A programme of live theatre, dance, music and standup comedy is complemented by a participation programme encouraging all parts of Corby community to get involved. Recently the theatre started screening films, twice a week and including current mainstream releases and the best in world, independent and art house cinema.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corby.gov.uk|title=Home – Corby Borough Council|website=www.corby.gov.uk|access-date=1 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220222920/http://www.corby.gov.uk/|archive-date=20 February 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> A report in 2012 revealed that the Cube was built with dangerous design flaws and almost double its original estimated costs and a capacity of only half of what was planned.<ref name="BBC Cube1">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-17852709 |title=BBC News: ''Corby Cube built to 'dangerous' design, report says'' 26 April 2012, accessed 12 August 2012 |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=26 April 2012 |access-date=2 October 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015104928/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-17852709 |archive-date=15 October 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

[[File:Corby Crater.JPG|thumb|The [[Corby (crater)|Corby crater]] on Mars]]
A [[Corby (crater)|crater]] on [[Mars]] discovered in the late 1970s was named after Corby, in reference to a famous transcript of a conversation in June 1969 between the crew of the [[Apollo 11]] mission and mission control, whereby world news was relayed to the crew, amongst it was the news that "in Corby, an [[Irishman]] named John Coyle won the World's Porridge Eating Championship by consuming 23 bowls of instant oatmeal in 10 minutes".  The reply from Apollo 11: "I'd like to enter [[Buzz Aldrin|Aldrin]] in the porridge eating contest next time; he's on the 19th bowl. [[Voice procedure|Roger]]."{{citation needed|date=June 2025}}

===Media===
Local news and television programmes is provided by [[BBC East]] and [[ITV Anglia]]. Television signals are received from the [[Sandy Heath transmitting station|Sandy Heath]] TV transmitter, [[BBC East Midlands]] and [[ITV Central]]  can also be received from the [[Waltham transmitting station|Waltham]] TV transmitter.

The town's local radio stations are [[Northants 1]] and [[Northants 2]] from NN Media, a local media organisation, providing local information, news and advertising and specialises in providing media training for young people in Northamptonshire, with their studios based in Kettering, broadcasting to the surrounding areas. The town also benefits from [[Corby Radio]] on 96.3 FM, a community radio station.

Also serving the town are [[BBC Radio Northampton]] on 103.6 FM, [[Heart East]] on 96.6 FM, [[Smooth East Midlands]] (formerly [[Connect Radio 97.2 & 107.4|Connect FM]]) on 107.4 FM.

Corby's local newspaper is the [[Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph]].

==Sport and leisure==

Corby is home to Adrenaline Alley which is one of Europe's largest urban sports venues.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Charity {{!}} Adrenaline Alley |url=https://www.adrenalinealley.co.uk/our-charity/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=www.adrenalinealley.co.uk}}</ref> Members of [[Team GB]] have trained there ahead of competing in the [[Olympic Games]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-26 |title=Corby BMX venue 'buzzing' as champion riders chase Paris glory |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqv51zjx66yo |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

[[Corby Town|Corby Town F.C.]] play home games at Steel Park in the town. As of 2025/26 "The Steelmen" play in the [[Northern Premier League Division One Midlands]].  The club also has women's, youth and walking football sides who play at county level.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Preview...but not as you'd expect |url=https://www.corbytown.co.uk/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=www.corbytown.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>

Other football clubs from Corby field sides in the [[Northamptonshire Combination Football League]]. Corby has football, rugby union<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stewarts & Lloyds RFC |url=https://stewartslloydsrfc.rfu.club/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=stewartslloydsrfc.rfu.club |language=en-GB}}</ref> cricket<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stewarts & Lloyds Corby Cricket Club |url=https://www.northamptonshiresport.org/club/stewarts-lloyds-corby-cricket-club/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=Northamptonshire Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref> and bowls clubs which are named after the original owners of the town's former steelworks, [[Stewarts & Lloyds]].

Corby is also home to the [[Corby East Midlands International Swimming Pool]], which opened in 2009, which in turn hosts the town's amateur swimming club.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-09-14 |title=Home - Corby Amateur Swimming Club |url=https://corbyswimmingclub.org.uk/ |access-date=2022-08-24 |language=en-GB |archive-date=24 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824190702/https://corbyswimmingclub.org.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Corby Athletic Club are based at the Rockingham Triangle Stadium,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home {{!}} Corby Athletics Club |url=https://www.corbyac.co.uk/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=Corby AC |language=en}}</ref> which was also a former home of Corby Town F.C. The town also has a Tennis Centre<ref>{{Cite web |title=Corby Tennis Centre |url=https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/CorbyTennisCentre |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240724050659/https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/CorbyTennisCentre |archive-date=24 July 2024 |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=Corby Tennis Centre |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref> and clubs for Table Tennis<ref>{{Cite web |title=Corby Town TTC / Corby Table Tennis Club/ www.corbytownttc.co.uk/ |url=https://www.corbytownttc.co.uk/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=corbytownttc |language=en}}</ref> and various combat sports. A [[parkrun]] is held by volunteers on a weekly basis at West Glebe Park.<ref>{{Cite web |title=home {{!}} Corby parkrun {{!}} Corby parkrun |url=https://www.parkrun.org.uk/corby/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=www.parkrun.org.uk |language=en-US}}</ref>

Public facilities at Lodge Park Sports Centre and Priors Hall Golf Course are overseen by [[North Northamptonshire Council]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leisure and sports {{!}} North Northamptonshire Council |url=https://www.northnorthants.gov.uk/leisure-and-sports |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=www.northnorthants.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref>

[[European Le Mans Series]] [[LMP2]] and [[LMP3]] team [[Nielsen Racing]] is based in Corby.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date= 2025|title= Contact|url= https://nielsen-racing.com/contact/|website= Nielsen Racing|location= |publisher= |access-date=14 June 2025}}</ref>

==Transport==

===Roads===
The town is located along the [[A43 road|A43]], [[A427 road|A427]], [[A6003 road|A6003]] and is {{convert|6|mi}} from the [[A14 road (England)|A14]] at [[Kettering]]. Corby lies within two hours' drive of four international airports: [[Birmingham Airport|Birmingham]], [[Luton Airport|Luton]], [[Stansted Airport|Stansted]] and [[East Midlands Airport|East Midlands]]. Being a new town, Corby's road network is different from that of older towns. There are several dual carriageways, most of the principal roads have wide reservations and high speed limits and pedestrian crossings over them are often underpasses. However, Corby is only connected by dual carriageway to one neighbouring town, Kettering (the [[A6003 road|A6003]]). All other roads into the town are single carriageways. The three dual carriageways form an outer ring road around most of Corby,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Corby/@52.4902112,-0.726666,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x487784a815f83a55:0x64863bc36efe7a68!8m2!3d52.4922983!4d-0.6842333|title=Google Maps|website=Google Maps|access-date=1 May 2018|archive-date=4 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204125740/https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Corby/@52.4902112,-0.726666,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x487784a815f83a55:0x64863bc36efe7a68!8m2!3d52.4922983!4d-0.6842333|url-status=live}}</ref> however it only encircles suburbs south of the town centre and a small amount of countryside.

===Buses===
[[File:Midland Mainline bus Corby Rail link livery in Kettering, Northamptonshire June 2004.jpg|thumb|[[Midland Mainline (train operating company)|Midland Mainline]] Corby rail-link bus]]
Corby is served by six bus routes under the Corby Star brand name.<ref>[http://www.stagecoachbus.com/uploads/corbymapdownloadlo.pdf Stagecoach Northants: Corby Star network]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Accessed 9 April 2010</ref> [[Stagecoach Gold bus route X4|Route X4]] connects the town with [[Peterborough]], [[Oundle]], [[Weldon, Northamptonshire|Weldon]], Danesholme, [[Kettering]], [[Isham]], [[Wellingborough]], [[Earls Barton]], [[Northampton]],  It is also operated by [[Stagecoach Midlands]].<ref>[http://www.stagecoachbus.com/northamptonshire-X4.aspx Stagecoach X4] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925200235/http://www.stagecoachbus.com/northamptonshire-X4.aspx |date=25 September 2010 }} Accessed 9 April 2010</ref> [[National Express Coaches|National Express coaches]] also provide long-distance connections to the north and Scotland. Plans to build a new bus station in Corby are being considered by the council following the closure of the old bus station in August 2002.

===Rail===
{{See also|Corby railway station}}
[[File:Corby railway station 23 February 2009.jpg|thumb|[[Corby railway station]] opened on 23 February 2009]]
Following a number of years when the town had no railway station, a new facility opened on 23 February 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/northamptonshire/7905148.stm |title=Corby's London service on track |publisher=BBC |date=23 February 2009 |access-date=27 November 2017 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201050340/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/northamptonshire/7905148.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> [[East Midlands Railway]] runs half-hourly services to [[St Pancras railway station|London St Pancras]] via {{rws|Kettering}} and {{rws|Wellingborough}}. The route to London was converted to electric traction in May 2021.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210513114557/https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/may21?station=Corbyy Corby] East Midlands Railway 16 May 2021</ref> There is also a limited peak time service running north to {{rws|Oakham}}, {{rws|Melton Mowbray}}, {{rws|East Midlands Parkway}} and {{rws|Derby}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.northantset.co.uk/corby/Corby-rail-users39-joy-at.4433720.jp |title=New Service to run north to Oakham |publisher=Northantset.co.uk |date=27 August 2008 |access-date=2 October 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204104737/http://www.northantset.co.uk/corby/Corby-rail-users39-joy-at.4433720.jp |archive-date=4 December 2008 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Employment and education==

===Employment===
[[File:Rockingham Grandstands.jpg|thumb|left|[[Rockingham Motor Speedway]]]]
Since the 1980s the unemployment rate has returned to a level closer to the national average (2.7% in October 2005).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.go-em.gov.uk/geography-skin.php?set=unemploy&LA=34UB |title=Geographical Statistical Information – Unemployment |publisher=Go-em.gov.uk |access-date=2 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222235909/http://www.go-em.gov.uk/geography-skin.php?set=unemploy&LA=34UB |archive-date=22 February 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Employment is biased towards manufacturing (36.8% compared with a regional average of 18.5%) and against public administration, health and education (10.0% compared with the regional average of 25.9%).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.go-em.gov.uk/geography-skin.php?LA=34UB&x=0&county=northants&y=1 |title=Geographical Statistical Information |publisher=Go-em.gov.uk |access-date=2 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222235913/http://www.go-em.gov.uk/geography-skin.php?LA=34UB&x=0&county=northants&y=1 |archive-date=22 February 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Much of industry is concentrated in purpose-built industrial estates on the outskirts of the town. [[Fairline Boats]] were manufactured here. [[Weetabix Limited]] make [[Weetos]] in the north of the town. [[RS Components]] are based near Rockingham Speedway.  Taste Original (formerly Puredrive), part of Zwanenberg Food Group UK has operated from Corby since 1988 making cooked meat snacking products. [[Amy's Kitchen]] has recently opened a factory here, and manufactured products for the UK market here.

2018 research by [[Sky News]] identified Corby as the town most threatened by job losses in the UK due to automation with 31% of employment subject to cliff-edge automation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/line-18-sky-news-reveals-the-uk-areas-most-at-risk-from-robots-11308560|title=Line 18: Sky News reveals the UK areas most at risk from robots|website=sky.com|access-date=1 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406231433/https://news.sky.com/story/line-18-sky-news-reveals-the-uk-areas-most-at-risk-from-robots-11308560|archive-date=6 April 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Demography===
According to the 2001 Census the proportion of the working age population with degree-level qualifications (8.5%) is the lowest of all areas in England and Wales. 39.3% have no [[GCSE]]-equivalent qualifications at all.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/34UB-A.asp |title=Census 2001 |publisher=Statistics.gov.uk |date=27 March 2011 |access-date=2 October 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629142329/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/34UB-A.asp |archive-date=29 June 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The borough of Corby has the highest rate of [[Teenage pregnancy and sexual health in the United Kingdom|teenage pregnancy]] in the East Midlands, outside of the metropolitan boroughs (unitary authorities), although [[Lincoln, Lincolnshire|Lincoln]] is very similar.

According to the 2011 census, Corby had a population of 61,255 and was 85.0% White British, 9.1% Other White (not including White Irish and Irish Traveller), 1.4% mixed race, 1.4% Asian and 1.7% Black.<ref name="ukcensusdata.com">{{cite web|url=http://ukcensusdata.com/corby-e07000150#sthash.ULHsfYUs.okoR9Zhy.dpbs|title=Corby – UK Census Data 2011|first=Good Stuff IT|last=Services|website=UK Census Data|access-date=1 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170112080627/http://ukcensusdata.com/corby-e07000150#sthash.ULHsfYUs.okoR9Zhy.dpbs|archive-date=12 January 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Corby's least White British ward is Oakley Vale where 70.7% of the population are White British while Corby's least ethnically diverse ward is Rural West, where 95.6% of the population are White British.<ref name="ukcensusdata.com"/> In 2011, 5567 people registered their ethnicity as 'Other White' or 9.1% of the population. This figure includes a large community of people from Poland and the Baltic States.

===Schools===
[[File:Brooke Weston City Technology College, Great Oakley - geograph.org.uk - 49135.jpg|thumb|left|Brooke Weston Academy]]
The Corby campus of [[Tresham Institute of Further and Higher Education]] provides a range of [[vocational]] courses for post-16 students and adult learners. The nearest universities are the [[University of Northampton]], {{convert|23|mi|km|abbr=on}} to the south and both the [[University of Leicester]] and [[De Montfort University]] in [[Leicester]], {{convert|25|mi|km|abbr=on}} to the west.

[[Brooke Weston|Brooke Weston Academy]], one of  fifteen [[City Technology College]]s in England, opened in 1990. Brooke Weston CTC consistently achieved examination results in the top 5% of English state schools, and has been a [[Academy (England)|City Academy]] since September 2008.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/apr/13/publicservices.uk1 |title=Full list of academies |publisher=Politics.guardian.co.uk |date=13 April 2006 |access-date=2 October 2013 |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112214350/http://politics.guardian.co.uk/publicservices/story/0,,1753474,00.html |archive-date=12 January 2008 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

[[File:LODGEPARK.jpg|thumb|Lodge Park Technology College on Shetland Way]]
Since 1990 several of Corby's other secondary schools have fared less well with a series of poor examination results and critical inspection reports leading to mergers and closures, the most recent being the closure of Our Lady and Pope John School in 2005. Currently there are five secondary schools in Corby: [[Brooke Weston Academy]], [[Lodge Park Academy]], [[Corby Business Academy]], [[Kingswood Secondary Academy]] and Corby Technical School, which opened to students in an old unused primary school in September 2012 with the new building completed and opened in November 2013. Corby Business Academy has a unit for children with severe special educational needs. All four schools have [[sixth form]]s for post-16 students.

Corby has 17 primary schools, of which two are [[Church of England]] schools, three are [[Roman Catholic]] and one for children with severe [[Emotional and behavioral disorders|behavioural and emotional difficulties]].

==Regeneration and redevelopment==
Corby has an Urban Regeneration Company – North Northants Development Company, which now covers the whole of North Northamptonshire rather than just Corby (it was previously known as Catalyst Corby).{{cn|date=September 2025}} The company is working with Corby Borough Council, Land Securities (town centre owners), the East Midlands Development Agency and the Homes and Communities Agency to regenerate the town centre as part of the masterplan for the whole town. The population of Corby town is expected to double in the next 30 years through housing on large estates such as Prior's Hall, Little Stanion, [[Oakley Vale]] and Great Oakley.

In October 2007 Corby's new shopping precinct, Willow Place, opened.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nndev.co.uk/newsdetail.php?nid=23|title=Mayor declares Willow Place officially open}}{{Dead link|date=March 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In addition Parkland Gateway, the Borough's £50m investment situated adjacent to Willow Place and including a new Olympic-sized swimming pool and civic hub, was built following its approval in January 2007. Work began on the project in October 2007 and the Corby East Midlands International Pool was officially opened by Olympian [[Mark Foster (swimmer)|Mark Foster]] in July 2009. Although the Evolution Corby project is currently on hold, limited aesthetic augmentation work within the town centre continues.

"The Saxon Crown",  a [[Wetherspoon]] pub and hotel in Corby town centre is a refurbished 1960s Cooperative store. Its name refers to the history of the area: the village of Corby derives its name from Kori, a leader of Danish invaders who settled in a clearing in Rockingham Forest.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/northamptonshire/the-saxon-crown-corby |title=jdwetherspoon.co.uk |publisher=Wetherspoon Hotels |access-date=5 June 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501125332/https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/northamptonshire/the-saxon-crown-corby |archive-date=1 May 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

===North Londonshire===
[[Stephen Fry]] [[voice-over|voiced]] an advertising campaign in London from 2010 to entice people to move to Corby and the surrounding area including [[Rushden]], [[Kettering]] and [[Wellingborough]]. The North Northamptonshire Development Corporation's<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nndev.co.uk/ |title=nndev.co.uk |publisher=nndev.co.uk |access-date=30 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140117010828/http://www.nndev.co.uk/ |archive-date=17 January 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>  campaign uses newspaper and [[London Underground]] advertisements, and also local radio with North Northamptonshire, being dubbed 'North Londonshire',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.northlondonshire.co.uk/ |title=northlondonshire.co.uk |publisher=northlondonshire.co.uk |access-date=30 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140117041425/http://www.northlondonshire.co.uk/ |archive-date=17 January 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>  as the area is only an hour from [[St Pancras railway station|London St Pancras]] by express rail. The campaign was criticised by residents in the county proud of the [[Northamptonshire]] name.<ref name = "BBC News 03-03-2101">{{cite news |title='North Londonshire' label for Northamptonshire attacked |author=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/northamptonshire/8548647.stm |date=3 March 2010 |access-date=14 August 2012 |archive-date=17 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117195013/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/northamptonshire/8548647.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="DlyTel 05-03-2010">{{cite news |title=Anger as Northamptonshire rebranded 'North Londonshire' |author=Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/7369322/Anger-as-Northamptonshire-rebranded-North-Londonshire.html |date=5 March 2010 |access-date=14 August 2012 |work=The Daily Telegraph |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131027094529/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/7369322/Anger-as-Northamptonshire-rebranded-North-Londonshire.html |archive-date=27 October 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Toxic waste contamination==
{{Main|Corby toxic waste case}}
In July 2009 Corby Borough Council was found liable for negligently exposing pregnant women to toxic waste (dust) during the reclamation of the former [[British Steel Corporation]] steelworks, causing birth defects to their children.<ref>Williams, Rachel. [https://www.theguardian.com/society/2009/jul/29/corby-council-steelworks-disabilities Council found liable for children's exposure to toxic waste] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309154145/http://www.theguardian.com/society/2009/jul/29/corby-council-steelworks-disabilities |date=9 March 2016 }}. 29 July 2009. Guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 29 July 2009.</ref> The judge found in favour of 16 of the 18 claimants, the oldest of whom was 22 at the time of the ruling. The ruling was significant as it was the first in the world to find that airborne pollution could cause such birth defects.

==Geography==

{{Geographic Location
|title = '''Destinations from Corby'''
|Northwest = '''[[Leicester]]''', [[Melton Mowbray]], '''[[Nottingham]]'''
|North     = [[Oakham]], '''[[Grantham]]'''
|Northeast = [[Stamford, Lincolnshire|Stamford]], '''[[Spalding, Lincolnshire|Spalding]]'''
|West      = [[Market Harborough]], [[Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby]], '''[[Coventry]]'''
|Centre    = Corby
|East      = [[Oundle]], '''[[Peterborough]]'''
|Southwest = [[Northampton]], '''[[Oxford]]'''
|South     = [[Kettering]], [[Wellingborough]], '''[[Milton Keynes]]''', [[Bedford]]
|Southeast = [[Huntingdon]], [[St Neots]], '''[[Cambridge]]'''
}}

Corby is {{convert|72|mi}} north-northwest of London, {{convert|23|mi}} northeast of Northampton, {{convert|28|mi}} southeast of [[Leicester]], {{convert|51|mi}} east of [[Birmingham]] and {{convert|19|mi}} west of [[Peterborough]], its nearest city.

The built up area of Corby had a population of 56,810<ref name="citypopulation.de">{{cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/UK-EnglandUA.html?cityid=7135|title=United Kingdom: Urban Areas in England – Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information|website=www.citypopulation.de|access-date=1 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304055156/https://www.citypopulation.de/UK-EnglandUA.html?cityid=7135|archive-date=4 March 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref> in 2011 compared with 61,255 for the Borough of Corby. The urban area had an area of 20.5 km2 compared with 80.3 km2 for the larger borough. Corby is expanding rapidly, with the borough having a population of 53,400 in 2001 and increasing to 61,300 in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/php/uk-admin.php?adm2id=E07000150|title=Corby (District, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom) – Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location|website=www.citypopulation.de|access-date=1 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908155301/https://www.citypopulation.de/php/uk-admin.php?adm2id=E07000150|archive-date=8 September 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The expansion has resulted in villages like Great Oakley and Weldon being absorbed into the town's urban area.<ref name="citypopulation.de"/> However, the latter remains a parish, being separated from the rest of Corby by the A43.

===Areas of Corby===
Most of Corby's population live in the town itself, however in terms of area it is mostly rural. This list includes the villages within the borough but also districts of the urban area and modern housing developments. The borough of Corby is made up of 11 wards<ref name="corby.gov.uk">{{cite web|url=https://www.corby.gov.uk/home/council/council-democracy/councillors-information-advice/wards|title=Wards – Corby Borough Council|website=www.corby.gov.uk|access-date=1 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311201830/https://www.corby.gov.uk/home/council/council-democracy/councillors-information-advice/wards|archive-date=11 March 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref> following a boundary change after the 2011 census.
{{div col}}
*[[Weldon, Northamptonshire|Weldon]] 
*Danesholme
*Kingswood
*[[Rockingham, Northamptonshire|Rockingham]] 
*Corby Old Village
*[[Gretton, Northamptonshire|Gretton]] 
*Exeter
*[[Cottingham, Northamptonshire|Cottingham]] 
*[[Oakley Vale|Snatchill]]
*[[Middleton, Northamptonshire|Middleton]] 
*Town Centre
*[[Oakley Vale]]
*[[Great Oakley, Northamptonshire|Great Oakley]]
*[[East Carlton]] 
*Hazelwood
*Rowlett
*Willowbrook
*[[Stanion]] 
*[[Little Stanion]]
*Beanfield
*Lodge Park
{{div col end}}

==Twin towns==
Corby is [[town twinning|twinned]] with:

* [[Châtellerault]], France<ref name="Town twinning - Corby">{{cite web |url=http://www.corby.gov.uk/site-page/town-twinning |publisher=Corby Borough Council |title=Town twinning – Corby |access-date=17 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103075803/http://www.corby.gov.uk/site-page/town-twinning |archive-date=3 November 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* [[Velbert]], Germany<ref name="Town twinning - Corby"/>
* [[Shijiazhuang]], China<ref name="Town twinning - Corby"/>

==Arms==
{{Infobox COA wide
|escutcheon = Gules a cross patonce cantoning four oak leaves each enfiled by a ducal coronet Or.
|crest = On a wreath of the colours a corbie wings elevated Sable beaked membered gorged with a ducal coronet and chained Or its dexter claw resting on a gad of steel Proper.
|motto = Deeds Not Words<ref>{{cite web |url=http://civicheraldry.co.uk/east_midlands.html |title=East Midlands Region |publisher=Civic Heraldry of England |accessdate=5 March 2021 |archive-date=12 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512150340/http://civicheraldry.co.uk/east_midlands.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|notes = Granted to the Urban District Council on 3 March 1958, then the District Council on 30 September 1976, then the Town Council on 17 December 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/CrownOffFOIDs/status/1507359869698985984#m |title=HM The Queen's Licence for the transfer of arms of the District Council of Corby to the Town Council of Corby. |publisher=Crown Office |accessdate=17 August 2022 |archive-date=25 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325141346/https://twitter.com/CrownOffFOIDs/status/1507359869698985984#m |url-status=live }}</ref>}}

==In popular culture==
In the BBC radio sitcom ''[[Party (radio series)|Party]]'', the third series is centred on the unnamed party's parliamentary by-election campaign in Corby.

The song ''[[Steeltown]]'' by [[Big Country]] (title track of the album) was written about the town of Corby, telling how many Scots went to work there, but who found themselves unemployed when the steelworks declined. (Source: ''Melody Maker'', 1984)

In February 2025 [[Netflix]] released the TV series ''[[Toxic Town]]'', based on the [[Corby toxic waste case]] that litigated liability in negligence, public nuisance and a breach of statutory duty for reclamation of the  Corby Steelworks between 1985 and 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Asatryan |first=Tigran |date=22 January 2025 |title='Toxic Town' Netflix Series: Jodie Whittaker and Robert Carlyle Series Sets February Release |url=https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/toxic-town-netflix-limited-series-what-we-know-so-far-01-2025/ |access-date=22 January 2025 |website=What's on Netflix |language=en |archive-date=30 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130160642/https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/toxic-town-netflix-limited-series-what-we-know-so-far-01-2025/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|England}}
* [[Grade I listed buildings in Northamptonshire#Corby|Grade I listed buildings in Corby]]
* [[Grade II* listed buildings in Corby]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
[[File:Phoenix Parkway, Corby - geograph.org.uk - 378042.jpg|thumb|Phoenix Parkway with the power station in the distance]]

* {{Wikivoyage inline}}
* [https://www.corbytowncouncil.gov.uk/ Corby Town Council]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064946/http://www.corbylocal.com/ Corby Local Shops News & Events]
* [http://www.corby.gov.uk Corby Borough Council] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220222920/http://www.corby.gov.uk/ |date=20 February 2016 }}
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/immig_emig/england/northants/article_1.shtml BBC website about Corby]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070817003230/http://heritage.scotsman.com/people.cfm?id=2089062005 The English town that's truly Scottish] (Scotsman.com)

{{Northamptonshire}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Corby| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Northamptonshire]]
[[Category:Ironworks and steelworks in England]]
[[Category:Planned communities in England]]
[[Category:Planned communities established in the 1950s]]
[[Category:North Northamptonshire]]
[[Category:Scottish diaspora]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Northamptonshire]]
[[Category:Ethnic enclaves in the United Kingdom]]