It is named after Sir Charles Cowper, an early Premier of New South Wales.

[2] Its most prominent member has been Sir Earle Page, former leader of the Country Party and interim Prime Minister of Australia in 1939.

The division is located on the north coast of New South Wales, and on its current boundaries takes in the towns of Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Kempsey, Macksville and Nambucca Heads.

The northern parts of Cowper, from Sapphire Beach to Red Rock were shifted to the division of Page.

Since the 2019 election, the member for Cowper has been Pat Conaghan, representing the National Party of Australia.