Originally a small industrial village housing works for the nearby shale mine and works, it now forms the eastern part of the new town of Livingston, which was constructed to the west of Pumpherston in the late 1960s and quickly grew to incorporate Pumpherston in its wider urban settlement, as defined by the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS).

[4] By 1914, Pumpherston north village had continued to expand to over 220 houses, as well as a workingmans institute, library, hall and bowling green.

The main refinery closed in 1964 although the detergent plant continued to operate until the earlier 1990s.

Manu de Pomphray was a Belgian mercenary who was rewarded for his "deeds" by King Malcolm circa 1130-1145 —Sybil Cavanagh et al.[2] There is evidence of the Roman occupation approximately two miles north east of Pumpherston - at Roman Camp, near Broxburn.

Lothian Country operate bus service 72 between Fauldhouse & Kirkliston via Whitburn, Livingston, Broxburn & Winchburgh calling at the town.

Kerry McGregor, who had success with many ventures including the Eurovision Song Contest qualifiers and X Factor, as well as acting, came from Pumpherston.

The history Pumpherston, the story of a shale oil village was commissioned by BP and collated and edited by local area historian Sybil Cavanagh.