[3] The town currently consists of the following districts: Schortens, Heidmühle, Grafschaft, Accum, Sillenstede, Schoost, Roffhausen, Middelsfähr, Addernhausen, Oestringfelde, Ostiem and Upjever.

[4] Graves discovered during excavations in the 1970s indicate the existence of an early human settlement in the area of Schortens already during the 5th century.

Many workers settled down in what would become central Schortens, a railway connection to Jever, established in 1871 also contributed to the development of the town.

The deployment of the Olympia-Werke typewriter factory in Roffhausen just after World War II is also seen as an important stage in the development of the town.

In 1933 Schortens united with the towns of Cleverns and Sande to form the Greater Oestringen, this union was however dissolved during World War II.