[4] Founded in 1848, Corsicana was named by José Antonio Navarro after the Mediterranean island of Corsica, the birthplace of his father.

In its earliest days, it was supported by George Taylor Jester (1847–1922), a wealthy dry-goods and cotton distributor, banker, and politician.

Baker, with tools manufactured by the American Well and Prospecting machine shop, owned by N.G.

[11][12][13][14][15] During World War II, an airman flying school called Corsicana Air Field trained thousands of pilots.

Corsicana is home to the Lake Halbert dam and recreational park, and is less than 15 mi (24 km) from Richland Chambers Reservoir, with recreational fishing, public boat ramps, and 330 mi (530 km) of tree-lined and green shorelines.

[19] Leafy oak, pecan, magnolia, and walnut trees are common, and grasses grow tall and green.

Rain is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, with small, wetter peaks in May and October.

[24] The median amount of real estate property taxes paid for housing units in 2007 was $912.

[24] Today's downtown supports an active performing-arts community, with year-round live theater, art exhibits, and music performances in a corner of downtown anchored by the Warehouse Living Arts Center and the Palace Theater.

At one end of the community park is the town YMCA, with a year-round indoor pool, basketball courts, cardio- and free-weight equipment, and instructor-led fitness workshops.

The town has several museums: Pioneer Village, located by Jester Park, offers reconstructed buildings and artifacts from the early historical period of the area.

A museum is dedicated to Lefty Frizzell, a Nashville singer born in town during the late 1920s.

The Cook Education Center, located on the Navarro College campus, is a multifaceted venue offering event space, gift shop, a planetarium, Civil War museum, and Western Art gallery.

The planetarium offers narrated astronomical shows and 70 mm film for nominal admission.

Major employers include Russell Stover Candies and Collin Street Bakery, Guardian Industries (glass), Corsicana Bedding, and Kohl's distribution centers, Navarro Regional hospital (160+ beds), Trinity/Mother Francis Health System, and the Texas State Home.

Tradewest was known for publishing such Nintendo Entertainment System classics as "Double Dragon" and "Battletoads".

Navarro College came to international prominence in 2020 owing to its dominant coed cheerleading team, which was featured that year in the Netflix docuseries Cheer.

[28][29] The cheerleading squad is currently coached by Monica Aldama, who, since 2000, has led the Bulldogs to 14 championships in their division, as well as five "Grand National" designations (for the highest overall score in competition that year).