Butterworth, Seberang Perai

Butterworth is the city centre of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. It lies about 3 km (1.9 mi) east of George Town, the capital city of Penang, across the Penang Strait. As of 2020, Butterworth had a total population of 80,378 residents.

Butterworth
Bagan
City centre of Seberang Perai
Other transcription(s)
 • Mandarin北海
Běi hǎi (Pinyin)
 • Hokkien北海
Pak-hái (Tâi-lô)
 • Tamilபட்டர்வொர்த்
Paṭṭarvort (Transliteration)
 • Thaiบัตเตอร์เวิร์ท
Battoewoet (RTGS)
Etymology: William John Butterworth
Butterworth
Location within    Seberang Perai in    Penang
Coordinates: 5°23′39″N 100°21′59″E
Country Malaysia
State Penang
City Seberang Perai
DistrictNorth Seberang Perai
Government
 • Local governmentSeberang Perai City Council
 • Mayor of Seberang PeraiAzhar Arshad
Area
 • Total14.6 km2 (5.6 sq mi)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total80,378
 • Density5,500/km2 (14,000/sq mi)
Demographics
 • Ethnic groups
  • 51.6% Chinese
  • 24.3% Bumiputera
    • 24.1% Malay
    • 0.3% indigenous groups from Sabah and Sarawak
  • 14.1% Indian
  • 0.5% Other ethnicities
  • 9.5% Non-citizens
Time zoneUTC+8 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)Not observed
Postal code
120xx to 134xx
Area code(s)+6043

Butterworth was named after William John Butterworth, a former Governor of the Straits Settlements during the mid-19th century. Under the British Raj, the town came into being as a transportation hub, due to its proximity to George Town. While the British East India Company initially obtained Seberang Perai (then named Province Wellesley) for agricultural purposes, Butterworth has also witnessed massive industrialisation during the latter half of the 20th century. In 1974, the Port of Penang was relocated into the town.

Currently, Rapid Ferry is the main transportation link between Butterworth and George Town. The Port of Penang handled 1.52 million TEUs of cargo as of 2017, making it one of the busiest seaports in Malaysia. In addition, the Butterworth railway station, situated adjacent to the town's ferry terminal, is a major Malayan Railway station, with train services operated by both the Malayan Railway and the State Railway of Thailand.

Butterworth is also home to RMAF Butterworth, a British-built facility, which now functions as a major Royal Malaysian Air Force base.

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