Calabash, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Calabash, North Carolina
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| Nickname(s):
Seafood Capital of the World
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 Calabash, North Carolina
Location in North Carolina
Calabash, North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | |
| State | North Carolina | |
| County | Brunswick | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 4.87 sq mi (12.62 km2) | |
| • Land | 4.53 sq mi (11.73 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.34 sq mi (0.88 km2) | |
| Elevation | 30 ft (9 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,011 | |
| • Density | 443.93/sq mi (171.40/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
28467
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| Area codes | 910, 472 | |
| FIPS code | 37-09540 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2405358 | |
Calabash is a small fishing town in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the town was 2,011. It is known as the "Seafood Capital of the World" because of the town's seafood restaurants.
History
Calabash was named after the gourds that grew in the region, which were used for drinking well water. Since the 1930s, Calabash has been known for its distinctive style of fried seafood, which has come to be known as "Calabash Style." The New York Times reported in 1983 that Calabash had 32 restaurants and about 180 residents. 40 years later, the number of restaurants was about the same but the town had around 2,000 residents. Calabash style buffets are common in many eastern Carolina coastal towns. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is home to a large number of these restaurants, as the city is just 25 miles (40 km) from Calabash.
In 1998, a large portion of the town of Calabash split to form the town of Carolina Shores. The split came as the result of years of bickering over "sewer, garbage collection and sign restrictions". The town limits of Carolina Shores currently interlock with those of Calabash.
Geography
Calabash is located in southwestern Brunswick County and its southwest border is the South Carolina state line. It is bordered to the northwest by the town of Carolina Shores, and the town of Sunset Beach lies to the east. The tidal Calabash River flows through the southern part of the town, leading southwest to the Little River in South Carolina, 3 miles (5 km) upstream from that river's mouth at Little River Inlet on the Atlantic Ocean.
The main road through the town is North Carolina Highway 179 (Beach Drive), leading west to U.S. Route 17 in South Carolina and east by a winding route 15 miles (24 km) to Shallotte.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Calabash has a total area of 3.7 square miles (9.5 km2), of which 3.3 square miles (8.6 km2) is land and 0.35 square miles (0.9 km2), or 9.27%, is water.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1980 | 128 | — | |
| 1990 | 1,210 | 845.3% | |
| 2000 | 711 | −41.2% | |
| 2010 | 1,786 | 151.2% | |
| 2020 | 2,011 | 12.6% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 2,433 | 36.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Calabash is part of the Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 1,621 | 80.61% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 70 | 3.48% |
| Native American | 19 | 0.94% |
| Asian | 11 | 0.55% |
| Other/Mixed | 91 | 4.53% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 199 | 9.9% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,011 people, 812 households, and 415 families residing in the town.
Infrastructure
The town's emergency services serve the communities of Calabash, Sunset Beach, and Carolina Shores.
In Popular Culture
Jimmy Durante, comedian and host of radio and television programs from 1947 to 1970, signed off each episode with his familiar national catchphrase: "Good night, Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are." Durante revealed in 1966 that this was a tribute to his first wife, Jean, who had died in 1943: While driving across the country, the couple stopped and stayed in Calabash, whose name Jean had loved. "Mrs. Calabash" became his pet name for her.
See also
In Spanish: Calabash (Carolina del Norte) para niños
