The town is located within the Binghamton Metropolitan Area, and lies approximately 10 miles southeast of the city proper.

The town itself is also in close proximity to the border with the U.S. State of Pennsylvania, and both Interstate 81 and New York Route 7 run through it.

c. 1781, Jonathan Fitch built a water-powered gristmill at what is present-day Fivemile Point, becoming the first settler to live in the area.

Many others arrived in the years following and settled on the Susquehanna River, enabling the area (which was then a part of the larger town of Conklin) to develop into a location more suitable for an agrarian lifestyle.

[4] In June 2006 and September 2011, parts of the town, including hundreds of homes, were damaged when the Susquehanna River overflowed its banks.

Susquehanna Valley Central School District encompasses the southernmost part of Kirkwood, as well as the towns of Conklin and Binghamton.

Kirkwood is located in the central part of Broome County, geographically adjacent to the northeast bank of the Susquehanna River.