County seat

The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States.

An equivalent term, shire town, is used in the U.S. state of Vermont and in several other English-speaking jurisdictions.

In the provinces of Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, the term "shire town" is used in place of county seat.

They have existed since the Warring States period and were set up nationwide by the Qin dynasty.

Government below the county level was often undertaken through informal non-bureaucratic means, varying between dynasties.

With the increase of Han Chinese population in Taiwan, the number of counties also grew by time.

By September 1945, Taiwan was divided into 8 prefectures (州 and 廳), which remained after the Republic of China took over.

For example, Cape May Court House, New Jersey, though unincorporated, is a section of Middle Township, an incorporated municipality.

The practice of multiple county seat towns dates from the days when travel was difficult.

There have been few efforts to eliminate the two-seat arrangement, since a county seat is a source of civic pride for the towns involved, along with providing employment opportunities.

In New England, counties have served mainly as dividing lines for the states' judicial systems.