Butterworth, town, Eastern Cape province, South Africa. It lies north of East London. One of the oldest white settlements in the Transkei region, it grew from a Wesleyan mission station founded in 1827. The settlement was named after Joseph Butterworth, a treasurer of the Wesleyan Mission Society, and acquired town status in 1904. Butterworth now has major industrial sites, including Zitulele and Ibeka, on its outskirts. Its industries produce processed food, beverages, tobacco products, textiles, wearing apparel, leather goods, wood and wood products, chemicals, and rubber and plastic products. It is on the Umtata-East London railway line, and its nearest port is East London. The Butterworth River Cascades with a total drop of 279 feet (85 m) and the Bawa Falls with a sheer drop of 361 feet (110 m) are located nearby. The town is a point of departure for the popular seaside resorts of Mazeppa Bay and Qolora on the Wild Coast (Indian Ocean) to the east. Pop. (2001) 45,900.