The 2001 census recorded a population of 492 in the parish of Corsenside, of which West Woodburn is the main settlement.

West Woodburn lies on the line of Dere Street, a Roman road which linked Eboracum (York) to the area around Din Eidyn (Edinburgh), and thus later England to Scotland.

An influential resident of West Woodburn was Adam Telfer and his sheepdog Old Hemp.

Telfer was a shepherd who lived in the village circa 1893 and is best known for being the man who first bred the Border Collie sheepdog.

A campaign was started to install a memorial to Telfer and Old Hemp, and permission was granted by the relevant authorities.