Its location roughly corresponds to the identically titled subzone in the Geylang Planning Area and is approximately sandwiched between the neighbourhoods of Aljunied and Paya Lebar.

[2][3] MacPherson largely consists of various public housing estates centred on Circuit Road and an industrial area.

Many residents in MacPherson are from the older generation, as the area was one of the first major public housing projects developed between the 1950s to 1970s.

He succeeded Colonel H. Man as Executive Engineer and Superintendent of Convicts and Resident Councillor, Malacca in 1855 and 1857 respectively.

MacPherson had also designed the current St Andrew's Cathedral along the lines of the ruined Netley Abbey in England and had built it in six years using forced penal labour sent over from the British Raj.

They include Trinity Christian Centre, Grace Baptist Church, Sallim Mattar Mosque and Huang Lao Xian Shi Temple.

The neighbourhood's hawker centres are often featured and patronised by local media as well as food bloggers, including international ones.

[10] To cater to the diversity of races and religions in MacPherson, and Singapore in general, they serve unique dishes stemming from Singaporean cuisine which had been created by the local Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian communities.

[21] Although hawker centres are widespread throughout the country, the allure towards MacPherson are due to the fact that the majority of the hawker stall owners are older and would prepare their food in the traditional styles, and due to the demographics of MacPherson, the cost of food is also lower for more widespread affordability.