This area was occupied for thousands of years by varying indigenous cultures of First Nations peoples. Brownsville was founded by Irish settlers who had immigrated to Canada from Pennsylvania in the United States. It was named for its founder, businessman Thomas Brown, who was one of twelve siblings born in Pennsylvania, and one of four who emigrated to Upper Canada. About 1830, his farmer brother John R. Brown settled on lot 26, concession 8, establishing the rural community. Thomas built the community's only flour mill in 1836, stimulating development. The mill was eventually bought by their brother Garrett, who also established the first bank in the community. For postal service, residents used the post office in the nearby community of Lloydtown. In 1861, the community applied for a post office, but was rejected because another post office with the name Brownsville was already in operation in York County. In 1862, the community was renamed Schomberg, a name suggested by Thomas Roberts Ferguson, and its post office was established. The name was likely for The 3rd Duke of Schomberg and 1st Duke of Leinster, K.G., a general under King William III of England. On 6 June 1890, the town was one of many flooded as a result of a storm in the eastern United States and Canada. The flood destroyed buildings, leaving many residents homeless and businesses ruined, and swept away two mill dams. It also carried one building downstream, where it came to rest on a farm. In Ontario, the storm also caused flooding in Barrie, Brooklin, Greenwood, and Orangeville. On 25 March 1899, the community was established as a police village. In 1902, the Traders Bank of Canada established the first commercial bank in Schomberg, and in January 1920 the Imperial Bank of Canada established a branch. For some time in the early 20th century, the town was the terminus of the Schomberg and Aurora Railway that connected to the Toronto and York Radial Railway on Yonge Street, some distance to the east. The railway was constructed to bring shoppers and day-trippers from Toronto to the town, but was never very popular. Opened for traffic in 1902, it was electrified in 1916 and closed in 1927. The rails were removed the next year, but the right of way can still be seen to the east of the town. Urbanization of the community occurred primarily in the southwestern part, with small developments. In the 1950s and 1960s, housing was developed near the centre, and in the 1990s in the Roselena Drive area. Two developments in the 2010s added 147 detached homes, 52 semi-detached homes, 29 townhouses, and a 127-unit six-storey condominium.
As of the Canada 2011 Census, Schomberg was home to 2,321 residents in 892 dwellings, an increase in population of 38.2% from the 1,679 residents counted in the Canada 2006 Census.
Culture
An annual tradition is the Schomberg Fair, first held in 1851. It is an agricultural fair featuring a variety of events and activities. It is held every year on the last weekend in May. The fairgrounds are located at the corner of Ontario Highway 9 and York Regional Road 27 A more recent annual tradition is Main Street Christmas. This is held one evening in December, during which people celebrate the holiday season by listening to carols, going on hay rides, and viewing ice sculptures, among other things. Schomberg is home to the Schomberg Cougars, a Junior C hockey team playing in the Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League. The Schomberg Minor Hockey Association and the Schomberg Cougars are tenants of the Trisan Centre. The largest inuksuk is located at Allstone Quarry on Highway 27 north of 18th Sideroad in Schomberg. It was built by a local stone quarry as an attraction for commerce.
The 1970 Canadian film, Homer, starring Don Scardino and Ralph Endersby, was shot mainly in downtown Schomberg. In the film, the characters referred to the fictional town as "Schomberg, Wisconsin".
Several other motion pictures have been shot in Schomberg and surrounding areas
