It is set in 1860s New York City, during the American Civil War, and stars Tom Weston-Jones as an Irish immigrant policeman, or "copper", who patrols and resides in the Five Points neighborhood.

[3] The series centers on Kevin "Corky" Corcoran, an Irish immigrant police detective trying to keep the peace in the historical Five Points neighborhood, in 1860s New York City.

[5] General Manager Perry Simon said the series is a "great fit" for the network, as it "[captures] the early American multicultural experience in provocative, ground-breaking fashion".

[6] Series creators Tom Fontana and Will Rokos are joined as executive producers by Barry Levinson and Cineflix Studios president Christina Wayne.

[16][17] On September 19, 2013, BBC America announced that Copper would end its run after the Season 2 finale, stating that the series had reached "a fitting moment to conclude".