Kirkhamgate is situated on rising ground at a junction on the Wakefield to Batley road to the east of the M1 motorway. It is primarily a residential village surrounded by farmland that is part of the Rhubarb Triangle.
Kirkhamgate holds an annual scarecrow festival in September.
Governance
Alverthorpe civil parish was formed on 31 December 1894 from part of Alverthorpe with Thornes in Wakefield Rural District. On 1 April 1916 the parish was renamed Kirkhamgate. In 1931 the parish had a population of 1,320. On 1 April 1937 the parish was abolished and merged with Stanley.