It is bounded by Horton Bank Top to the north, Wibsey to the east, Woodside to the south and Shelf to the west.

The construction of the council estate moved the centre of the district northward on to what was then farm land, which prior to the 20th century had been extensively mined.

The rugby union player Frank Whitcombe Jr attended Buttershaw St Paul's Church School Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College is the main secondary school serving the area.

As the new building was opened the school was renamed Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College.

Buttershaw's council estates gained notoriety in 1986 when they were featured as the setting for most of the scenes in the film Rita, Sue and Bob Too, based on plays by local resident Andrea Dunbar.