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Schopfheim is situated at an altitude of 380 m in the valley of the river Wiese in the southwestern foothills of the Schwarzwald (Black Forest) in southwestern Baden-Württemberg. Schopfheim has a population of about 19,200 (2004).

The earliest written mention of Schopfheim (Scofheim) dates from 807 AD and is found in a deed of donation for the monastery of Sankt Gallen. Schopfheim was chartered as a town in 1250 and thus is the oldest city of the region, the Markgräfler Land. In 1529, after Schopfheim had become part of the margraviate (1806 Grand Duchy) of Baden, the town obtained the right to use its own seal. Between 1971 and 1975 the neighbouring communities of Fahrnau, Langenau, Raitbach, Enkenstein, Gersbach, Wiechs and Eichen were incorporated into Schopfheim.