Cortemilia borders the following municipalities: Bergolo, Bosia, Castino, Perletto, Pezzolo Valle Uzzone, Serole, and Torre Bormida.

In the area surrounding the town were found some fragments of artefacts and tools dated back to the Palaeolithic and Neolithic age, like an ax's front.

These evidences confirm the possible existence of "stations" (settlements more or less temporary) in the area where nowadays Cortemilia is situated from the sixth until the second millennium BC.

He was the creator of the track "Via Aemilia Scauri" that connected Luni Vada Sabatia (Savona) with Its hinterland.

Cortemilia is noted for production of one of the most famous types of hazelnut, the Tonda Gentile di Langa, awarded IGP status.