Canby is the location of the main branch of the I'SOT religious community,[5] and is known for the I'SOT's nativity scenes prominently displayed along the town's main street, California State Route 299.

[7] Until the late 1940s, Canby was the site of Big Lakes Box Company and the supply point for Big Lakes Logging Camp in the Adin Mountains about 10 miles (16 km) to the southeast, where conditions were primitive.

[8] About 9.3 mi (15 km) northwest of Canby is a California Historical Landmark number #111 about the Old Emigrant Trail.

[11] California Historical Landmark number 125 reads: According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 2.3 square miles (6 km2), 98.21% of it land, and 1.79% of it water.

This region experiences hot and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F.

There were 76 housing units at an average density of 32.9 per square mile (12.7/km2), of which 34 (54.8%) were owner-occupied, and 28 (45.2%) were occupied by renters.

[33] Federally, Canby is in California's 1st congressional district, represented by Republican Doug LaMalfa.