The eastern half is in the Lozells and East Handsworth Ward and the western half is in the Handsworth Wood Ward.

The surrounding areas are Birchfield, Lozells, Soho, Perry Barr, Winson Green, Handsworth Wood and Sandwell.

Handsworth is a corruption of the Anglo-Saxon "Hune's Worth" meaning the homestead (worth) owned by Hune.

It remained a small village until the 1850's when it rapidly developed into a large industrial town;

And is still characterised by a largely Victorian townscape of small red-brick terraced houses.

Handsworth became a self-governing urban district in 1894 and was annexed by Birmingham in 1911.

This website contains more information about Handsworth.