[2] The town is the seat of the district government and a centre of tourism for the Muskoka area and has several historical sites, such as the Clock Tower, Woodchester Villa, and the Silver Bridge, which joins Manitoba Street with Ecclestone Drive.

The arrival of the Grand Trunk Railway cemented the town's role as a transportation hub for the area.

With the advent of steamship service on Lake Muskoka a few years later, Bracebridge prospered as the main distribution centre for the region.

(In 1868 Macauley and six additional townships had been detached from the County and transferred to the new District of Muskoka, but were not withdrawn for municipal purposes until 1877.)

The municipal boundaries of Bracebridge also encompass the smaller communities of Clear Lake, Falkenburg (ghost town), Falkenburg Station, Fraserburg, Germania, Lakewood, Matthiasville, Monsell (ghost town), Purbrook, Rocksborough, Springdale Park, Stoneleigh, Uffington and Vankoughnet.

[9] Georgian College operates a satellite campus in the town with programming that supports the local labour market.

[11] The Town of Bracebridge built a Sportsplex in 2006 which contains a rock climbing wall, indoor track, eight-lane swimming pool and fitness studio.

The Sportsplex is part of the same complex including the Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School and Rene M. Caisse Memorial Theatre.

[15] Bracebridge also opened a new 3.75 Million dollar softball venue called Peake Fields at Verena Acres.

Plans are currently in place for a new Arena/Fieldhouse/Library complex that is now currently under construction with an expected opening of the facility in March 2023[16] Bracebridge is the home of Santa's Village, a Christmas theme park, established in 1955.