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. 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 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

now borders on 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, 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 to Shallotte.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Calabash has a total area of , of which is land and , or 9.27%, is water.

Demographics

Calabash is part of the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Calabash had a population of 2,011. The median age was 56.4 years. 12.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 32.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.3 males age 18 and over.

97.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 2.8% lived in rural areas.

There were 992 households in Calabash, of which 14.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 40.7% were married-couple households, 22.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 38.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

References

  • Town website