Historically in the West Riding of Yorkshire, it was in the civil parish of Bentley with Arksey.

Scawthorpe expanded in the early 20th century following the opening of Bentley Colliery, when affordable houses were built by the National Coal Board.

[2] Scawthorpe is situated primarily to the east of the A638 road, straddling it in its northern extremity where it meets the B6422 to Little Canada.

Scawthorpe is surrounded by, clockwise from the north, the suburbs of Bentley, Cusworth, Scawsby, Sunnyfields and Highfields.

Sunnyfields and Castle Hills Primary Schools cover the southern and northern halves of Scawthorpe respectively.