Elections to Cookstown District Council were held on 21 May 1997 on the same day as the other Northern Irish local government elections.

The election used three district electoral areas to elect a total of 16 councillors.

Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes.

1993: 2 x SDLP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x DUP 1997: 2 x SDLP, 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x DUP 1993-1997 Change: Sinn Féin gain from UUP 1993: 2 x UUP, 2 x SDLP, 1 x DUP 1997: 2 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Sinn Féin 1993-1997 Change: Sinn Féin gain from SDLP 1993: 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Independent Unionist 1997: 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Independent Unionist 1993-1997 Change: Sinn Féin gain from DUP