Historically part of the North Riding of Yorkshire, it is 8.5 miles (13.7 km) north-west of the county town of Northallerton just to the west of the River Swale.

The manor was held by Earl Edwin at the time of the Norman invasion, and was afterwards was granted to Count Alan of Brittany.

During the reign of Queen Mary I, the manor was granted to the youngest daughter of Henry Pole, 1st Baron Montagu, whose son Francis Barrington inherited the honour.

[10][11] Pallet Hill, just to the north of the village church, is the site of the earthwork remains of a motte and bailey castle.

It is recorded that during the First World War, men came to Catterick to complete their basic training before being deployed to their respective front or Base Depot.

[15] RAF Catterick, the airfield to the south of the village also opened in 1914, was transferred to the Army and is now Marne Barracks, named after the site of two significant battles of the First World War.

The current Member of Parliament is Rishi Sunak, a Conservative, who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

The A1 bypass, which cost £1 million at the time, was opened in 1959 by Lord Chesham, the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport.

In conjunction with the new build and upgrading of the A1 to motorway standard, a £6 million flood reservoir was built on the west side of the A1(M) and downstream of Brough Park.

The scheme was officially opened in May 2018, but had its first major test in March 2018 when meltwater from snow in the dales flooded the lower valley.

Horse racing takes place year round at Catterick Racecourse, where the first recorded meeting was in 1783.

BFBS Radio broadcasts from studios on Shute Road across the town and surrounding areas on 106.9 FM as part of its UK Bases network.

Michael Sydall C of E Primary School provides education for a mixed gender pupil intake between the ages of four and eleven.

[11] The school is in the catchment area of Risedale Sports & Community College in nearby Catterick Garrison for secondary education needs.