Dorchester is the historical shire town of the county.

Also in every shire one town at least, like the two latter examples, served as the focus for community affairs and local administration.

People called these towns the shire town.

Barnstable, the shire town (county seat) of the county, first settled in 1639 and incorporated 1650.

Taunton, the shire town of the county, incorporated 1639.

Plymouth, the shire town of the county and capital of the colony.

These became known as the shire town or later the county town.

Barnstable, by then, was the Cape's shire town, or county seat.

Guatire, the municipality's shire town, is located near the western border.

Being a former shire town, Newcastle is the location of several government offices and the county court house.