Cortland is a city in central Trumbull County, Ohio, United States. It lies on the eastern shore of Mosquito Creek Lake, 19 miles (31 km) north of Youngstown. The population was 7,105 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Youngstown–Warren metropolitan area.

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The area was once known as Baconsburg, after Samuel Bacon, who built a sawmill and several buildings in the area during the early 19th century. Cortland became a village in 1874 with the construction of a railroad depot. It became a city in 1980 when its population exceeded 5,000 people.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.25 square miles (11.01 km), all land. It lies along the eastern shore of Mosquito Creek Lake and the accompanying Mosquito Lake State Park.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	616		—
1890	697		13.1%
1900	620		−11.0%
1910	612		−1.3%
1920	750		22.5%
1930	940		25.3%
1940	1,014		7.9%
1950	1,259		24.2%
1960	1,957		55.4%
1970	2,525		29.0%
1980	5,011		98.5%
1990	5,666		13.1%
2000	6,830		20.5%
2010	7,104		4.0%
2020	7,105		0.0%
2023 (est.)	7,062		−0.6%
Sources:

As of the census of 2010, there were 7,104 people, 3,010 households, and 2,032 families living in the city. The population density was 1,671.5 inhabitants per square mile (645.4/km). There were 3,211 housing units at an average density of 755.5 per square mile (291.7/km). The racial makeup of the city was 97.0% White, 1.2% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.9% of the population.

There were 3,010 households, of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.5% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age in the city was 44.4 years. 22% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.3% were from 25 to 44; 30.7% were from 45 to 64; and 18.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.0% male and 53.0% female.

As of 2000, there were 6,830 people, 2,738 households, and 1,968 families living in the city. The population density was 1,524.8 inhabitants per square mile (588.7/km). There were 2,899 housing units at an average density of 647.2 per square mile (249.9/km). The racial makeup of the city was 97.61% White, 0.94% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population.

There were 2,738 households, out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city the population was spread out, with 24.6% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $50,941 and the median income for a family was $62,441. Males had a median income of $50,739 versus $28,320 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,972. About 4.6% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.

Lakeview Local Schools operates one Pk-8 Building and one high school (Lakeview High School). A few residences within the easternmost portions of the city of Cortland, closest to SR-11, are zoned for the Mathews Local School District. Residences north of Bradley Brownlee Road are in the Maplewood Local School District.

Cortland has a public library, a branch of the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library.

The following highways pass through Cortland:

• State Route 5
• State Route 46

• City website