Butterworth, Seberang Perai
Town in Malaysia / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Butterworth, Seberang Perai?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
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.[2] As of 2020[update], Butterworth had a total population of 80,378 residents.[3]
Butterworth
Bagan | |
---|---|
Other transcription(s) | |
• Mandarin | 北海 Běi hǎi (Pinyin) |
• Hokkien | 北海 Pak-hái (Tâi-lô) |
• Tamil | பட்டர்வொர்த் Paṭṭarvort (Transliteration) |
• Thai | บัตเตอร์เวิร์ท Battoewoet (RTGS) |
Etymology: William John Butterworth | |
Coordinates: 5°23′39″N 100°21′59″E | |
Country | Malaysia |
State | Penang |
City | Seberang Perai |
District | North Seberang Perai |
Government | |
• Local government | Seberang Perai City Council |
• Mayor of Seberang Perai | Azhar Arshad |
Area | |
• Total | 14.6 km2 (5.6 sq mi) |
Population (2020)[1] | |
• Total | 80,378 |
• Density | 5,500/km2 (14,000/sq mi) |
Demographics | |
• Ethnic groups | |
Time zone | UTC+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.[4][5] In 1974, the Port of Penang was relocated into the town.[6]
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[update], making it one of the busiest seaports in Malaysia.[7] 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.