The area of Shibushi was part of ancient Hyūga Province, and developed as the port of Shimazu-shō, the vast shōen landed manor in Ōsumi, Satsuma, and Hyūga that was opened at the end of the Heian period, and which evolved into Satsuma Domain in the Edo period .

After the Meiji restoration, the villages of Shibushi and Matsuyama were established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889.

Shibushi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Kagoshima 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

JR Kyushu - Nichinan Line This Kagoshima Prefecture location article is a stub.