It includes three neighbourhoods: Neðra-Breiðholt [ˈnɛðra-ˌpreiðˌhɔl̥t] (Bakkar [ˈpahkar̥], Mjódd [ˈmjoutː] and Stekkir [ˈstɛhcɪr̥]), Efra-Breiðholt [ˈɛvra-ˌpreiðˌhɔl̥t] (Hólar [ˈhouːlar̥], Berg [ˈpɛrk] and Fell [ˈfɛtl̥]) and Seljahverfi [ˈsɛljaˌkʰvɛrvɪ] (Sel [ˈsɛːl̥]).

[2] Breiðholt was originally a farm, first mentioned in the 10th century, in recent times a small village.

Inadequate housing had been a significant problem, forcing many families to live in the cold, frail barracks that the British and American armies had left behind.

During the 1960s, Reykjavík underwent an unprecedented boom period, and in 1962 work began implementing zoning plans for all of Reykjavík, lasting until 1983, and Italian architect Aldo Rossi was influential in the development.

"[4] The district contains a large school which serves the wider area and has a significant foreign population and several colleges and other schools which have sprung up in recent times,[5] and it also contains the 25 metre Breiðholtslaug leisure pool,[6] the Landsbankinn building, and the SAMfilms studios next to it.