According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2), all land.

French Creek, a southeastward-flowing tributary of the Allegheny River, forms the southwestern border of the borough.

Cochranton was created by order of the Crawford County Court of Quarter Sessions on April 5, 1855.

Early settler Charles Cochran, along with other residents of the community, had petitioned the county court for borough status.

James Greer was elected Burgess, and the first borough council consisted of Charles Cochran, D. M. DeVore, Samuel Markle, William T. Dunn, and Hugh Smith.

26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% comprised someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.