[1] Rusholme is bounded by Chorlton-on-Medlock to the north, Victoria Park and Longsight to the east, Fallowfield to the south and Moss Side to the west.

[2] Late in the Roman occupation of Britain a hoard of about 200 gold coins was hidden in the valley of the Gore Brook.

An early record of the Platt estate mentions the Nico Ditch, an 8th or 9th-century Anglo-Saxon linear earthwork running east–west through the area and probably marking an administrative boundary.

Rusholme was originally a politically autonomous entity, which was vital to its self-conception as a discrete area even after its incorporation into Manchester.

Richard Cobden, William Royle (author of a history of the township), and Thomas Lowe (1815–1892) were long-time residents.

[13] Rusholme is represented on Manchester City Council by three Labour councillors, Ahmed Ali,[14] Jill Lovecy[15] and Rabnawaz Akbar.

The community is surrounded by Fallowfield to the south, Moss Side to the west, Victoria Park to the east and Chorlton-on-Medlock to the north.

A large public park in the south-west, it opened in 1910 and proved popular; it was maintained by a team of up to 50 gardeners until the second half of the 20th century.

The grounds contain Platt Hall, several formal gardens, and three dedicated show fields for outdoor events.

[21][22] John Ruskin gave the lectures later published as Sesame and Lilies in 1865 at Rusholme Town Hall.

[23] In 1963 the BBC bought the studios as its northern base and on New Year's Day 1964, the first edition of Top of the Pops was broadcast from the Rusholme premises, presented by Jimmy Savile and opening with The Rolling Stones performing "I Wanna Be Your Man".

Top of the Pops was broadcast from Rusholme until 1967, when the show moved to a larger facility at Lime Grove Studios in London.

Rusholme was the home of the second indoor ice-skating rink in England, after the London Glaciarium, although this has since been replaced by a grocery store, having spent many years as a cabaret venue (Oceans 11).

Rusholme is one of the south Manchester areas, along with Moss Side, Longsight, Hulme and Old Trafford, to have suffered from gang-related gun crime and gang activity.

A section of this road known locally as the Curry Mile contains at least 70 restaurants, takeaways and kebab houses specialising in the cuisines of South Asia and the Middle East.