This 'Seafood Capital of the World' in Brunswick County was once known by another name
This picturesque fishing village in Brunswick County, before it was known as the "Seafood Capital of the World," had another name.
In the early 1700s, the site that is now inhabited by Calabash developed into a village known as Pea Landing. It was named for the peanut crops brought to the river for shipment by area planters.
Many say Calabash was chosen because of the gourd-like shape (drinking gourds that hung at wells in the area) of the Calabash River.
In 1873, the village town name was changed to Calabash.
The town fronting the banks of the Calabash River where it joins the Intracoastal Waterway is the last town on the coast in the state of North Carolina.
Calabash isn't just the name of a town, it's a catch phrase for good eating. Because of the abundance of fresh seafood, Calabash has been famous for its "Calabash" style seafood restaurants for many years. Calabash-style food preparation requires coating fresh seafood with a light, flavorful batter, then dipping the seafood into a searing hot fryer, frying until lightly golden.
Waterfront Seafood Shack, located at 9945 Nance St., was one of many restaurants that made Yelp’s 2024 list of top 100 seafood spots.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: How did Calabash, NC, get its name?
