The Cowdenbeath area encompasses a large part of central Fife from Cardenden and Cluny in the east, to Crossgates and Kingseat in the west. The area stretches to Kelty and Blairadam in the north and borders Tayside at Kelty and Benarty. 

Cowdenbeath has a population of approximately 40,500 which is about 11% of the population of Fife and includes the main towns of Cowdenbeath, Lochgelly and Kelty along with a number of smaller towns and villages.

The area consists predominantly of former mining communities with Mossmorran petro-chemical plant prominent to the south side of the town of Cowdenbeath. There is a large open cast coalmine near to Kelty, which is bounded by the A92 regional road to the south and the M90 motorway to the west. In addition, Cowdenbeath, Lochgelly and Cardenden have a railway station on the Fife Circle line.

Cowdenbeath has a Scottish League football team which plays it's home games at Central Park. This is also the venue for stock car racing season running from May to November each year, including World Championship events which attract sizable crowds. There are several golf courses in the area including one within Lochore Meadows Country Park, which is a 1200 acre countryside park on land previously occupied by coalmines.