Home Base
In terms of the Amusement Park theory (see the link in post #6), the PCs need a restaurant for the time between rides, a place where they can mostly rely on not getting hosed by secretly evil NPCs, etc. It also sets up Raven Crowking's suggestion #6 from
the Depth in Worldbuilding thread, to make the commoners in your campaign people worth saving if danger ever befalls them. You could, of course, use one of the other towns as a base, but there is enough politics going on there that it isn't always same to trust people.
Oakhurst is a hamlet on the river road between Brindinford and Deepwatch, basically just a market, inn, tavern, stable, chapel, and manor house. A few low level NPCs with classes live there, and they are the ones terrorized by goblins in Within the Circle, outlined above. The stream that runs past the town into the river has been poisoned by goblins, who seek tribute. The local lord spends most of his time patrolling the outlying farms and the Tors, keeping bandits and dangerous animals in check. The squire runs things while the lord's away, and has sent to the Baron for help.
I don't plan on using it as a plot hook after that first time, although NPCs here might be good for dealing out info. It is also a good candidate for replacement PCs, if necessary. Travellers can also be introduced here.