The three districts comprising Cilacap town formerly formed an Autonomous city but have now been subsumed back into the regency.

Nevertheless, the disaster took 147 lives, devastated beaches, damaged 435 fishing boats and inflicted material losses amounting to about Rp 86 billion (around $9 million).

During World War II Cilacap was an important departure point for people fleeing the Japanese invasion, especially Dutch colonists.

Many left the Dutch East Indies by boat or seaplane, the majority heading for Broome in Western Australia.

Nearby the Teluk Penyu beach is also an old Dutch fortress called Benteng Pendem.

The three administrative districts (kecamatan) which together comprise the town of Cilacap are sub-divided into the following fifteen urban villages (kelurahan), listed below with their areas and their populations according to the mid-2023 official estimates.

To overcome the sedimentation in Segara Anakan Bay, Ciamis Regency has agreed, if a new canal from Citanduy River pass their area and exit in Nusawiru near Pangandaran Beach.