Strabane, situated on the east bank of the River Foyle, sits approximately halfway between Omagh, Derry, and Letterkenny.

The River Mourne runs through the town, merging with the River Finn to form the River Foyle, which marks the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland. Across the Foyle, connected by the Lifford Bridge, lies the smaller Irish town of Lifford. A large hill named Knockavoe, which marks the beginning of the Sperrin Mountains, forms the backdrop of the town.

The area around Strabane has been inhabited for centuries. As far back as the 4th century, the region was home to a group of northern Celts known as the Orighella. The territories of Owen (later Tír Eoghain) and Connail (later Tír Chonaill, mostly modern County Donegal) were established during this period, and the Orighella were assimilated into the Cenél Conaill. The town's name, Strabane, is derived from the Irish An Srath Bán, meaning "the white river-holm," a reflection of its location on the east bank of the River Foyle.

During the Middle Ages, Strabane's location made it an important centre for trade and communication. The area was influenced by the Celtic Church, which played a significant role in the spread of Christianity and the establishment of monastic settlements. The Hiberno-Scottish missions, begun by Irish monks like Saint Columba, spread the Irish vision of Christianity to pagan England and the Frankish Empire, earning Ireland the nickname "the island of saints and scholars."

The 17th century saw significant changes in Strabane's political and social landscape due to the Plantation of Ulster, an organised period of colonisation by people from Great Britain during the reign of King James VI and I.

The partition of Ireland in 1922 turned the boundary with County Donegal into an international frontier, with profound implications for the town. The partition divided communities and disrupted trade patterns, placing border posts on the railways and roads. Despite these challenges, Strabane continued to develop, with the establishment of the Strabane and Letterkenny Railway in 1909.

The 20th century was a period of significant turmoil for Strabane, particularly during the period of discord known as The Troubles. The town's location on the border made it a focal point for conflict. Strabane suffered extensive damage from the early 1970s, with the town hall being destroyed in a bomb attack in 1972. The strife continued throughout much of the 1990s, with bombings and shootings commonplace. Irish Republican paramilitary groups, mainly the Provisional Irish Republican Army, regularly attacked the town's British Army and Royal Ulster Constabulary bases. During this period, Strabane was the most bombed town in Europe in proportion to its size and the most bombed town in Northern Ireland. Many civilians and members of the security forces were killed or injured in the area over the course of this period.

Strabane has undergone significant changes in recent decades. Its population is between 13,000 and 14,000, with more than 90% belonging to or being raised in the Catholic faith and fewer than 6% belonging to Protestant and other Christian denominations.

Once extremely important to the economy of Strabane, its railroads have declined. The Joint Committee's Strabane-Derry line was closed in 1954, followed by the remainder of the narrow gauge system in 1960. In 1958, the Ulster Transport Authority took over the remaining GNR lines on the Northern Ireland side of the border, and the former GNR line through Strabane to Derry was closed in 1965, and little remains of Strabane's railways other than one old railway building.

Although The Troubles essentially ended with the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, the border has been a source of political tension and conflict. Customs agreements between Ireland and Northern Ireland have enabled some trade and movement, yet the border remains a complex and sensitive issue.

Today, Strabane has three Catholic churches to serve its large Catholic population, but there are also Protestant churches representing the Church of Ireland, the Presbyterian Church, and the Methodist Church, as well as some non-denominational Christian churches.

Businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, museums, libraries, art galleries, entertainment venues, organisations, events, and recreational and sports programmes and activities in Strabane are the focus of this category.

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