The Parish of Sowerby is situated towards the northern end of the Vale of York, in an area known as the Vale of Mowbray, close to the Hambleton Hills and the North York Moors National Park.
The Cod Beck, a tributary of the River Swale, runs through the parish.

Sowerby Parish includes the urban area of the village together with its rural hinterland. Altogether it has an electorate of 3,600. The first tier of local government covering Sowerby is Sowerby Parish Council, which was first elected following the Local Government Act of 1894.Currently the Council has eleven members, who are subject to election every four years.
The Council elects a Chairman and Vice-Chairman annually and also employs a part-time Parish Clerk and has an office in the Parish, in Sowerby Road at Town End.
The Council meets monthly in Thirsk and Sowerby Town Hall.

The aim of Sowerby Parish Council is to improve the quality of life for everyone throughout our area.The Council works in partnership with other authorities, organisations and community groups to improve the area and to ensure that services are provided locally to benefit the area as a whole. Any member of the public in the parish can raise any issue of concern with the Council as a whole or with any individual Councillor.Equally suggestions that the Council might consider for ways of improving the area will also be welcome.