The History of Brunswick County
Our little corner of the Carolina Coast is as rich in history as it is excited about the future. Although the earliest Europeans first visited the area in the early 1500s, much of Calabash and Brunswick County has been spared from over-development, in part due to the abundance of wilderness and waterways.
Brunswick County was officially formed in 1764, and small coastal communities gradually sprang up along the waterfront, particularly farmers and fishermen. Early settlements like Lockwood Folly, Southport and Shallotte continue to carry on the distinct character of the Carolina Coast.
Named after the native gourds that were used for drinking water from wells, Calabash made its way on the map as a fishing village. Outdoor fishing camps thrived on the waterfront and eventually the downtown district of Calabash earned the nickname “The Seafood Capital of America”- a moniker it proudly lives up to today.
