Brunswick County, N.C.

Established | Founded in 1762, incorporated in 1968.

Origin of name | Named after the town of Brunswick in honor of King George I of England, who was also the Duke of Brunswick.

What it’s known for | Brunswick County residents are proud to live in a place known to give equal billing to maintaining lifestyle and development. It is home to more than 50,000 acres of conserved, botanically rich land and a watershed management plan on the Lockwood Folly River that is setting the standard for the state and the nation.

What’s grand about it | All the beaches throughout Brunswick County make this part of North Carolina special.

Major employers | Brunswick Novant Medical Center, Progress Energy.

Major events | The county is home to the N.C. Oyster Festival, which takes place annually in Ocean Isle Beach in mid-October.

Property tax rate | $0.4425 per hundred of assessed value

Numbers to know

Government complex | 45 Courthouse Drive NE, Bolivia, N.C., 910-253-2000.

Commissioners | 910-253-2000

Calabash, N.C.

Established | 1973

Origin of name | Once known as Pea Landing, it was named after the Calabash gourd found along the banks of the Calabash River in the 1800s.

What it’s known for | Self-described as “The Seafood Capital of the World”; “Calabash-style” seafood, which is lightly battered and fried; its small-town atmosphere.

What’s grand about it | Fresh seafood is sold on the waterfront late on most afternoons

Major events | Independence Day celebration; seafood and car show fall festival; Christmas tree lighting

Property tax rate | $0.4425 per hundred of assessed value

Numbers to know

Zip code | 28467

Town hall | 882 Persimmon Road, 910-579-6747; towncalabash@atmc.net; www.townofcalabash.net

Mayor | Mary Louise Knight

Commissioners | Daria Buccilli, Sandy Melahn, Joseph Nance, Charles Walton

Carolina Shores, N.C.

Established | 1998. It was part of Calabash from 1989 but disputes over the sewer system, sign ordinance and proposed development on the Calabash waterfront caused Calabash representatives to petition the state legislature to separate to two municipalities.

Origin of name | It originally started as a 18-hole golf course community, but has expanded over the past decade.

What it’s known for | Having six residential communities: Carolina Shores, the Village at Calabash, the Farm at Brunswick, Beacon Townes, Lighthouse Cove, Calabash Lakes; Carolina Shores Golf and Country Club.

What’s grand about it | The Carolina Shores Golf Course is state of the art and boasts to be one of the best in North Carolina.

Major events | Annual Arbor Day festival in March.

Property tax rate | $.1016 per hundred of assessed value.

Numbers to know

Zip code | 28467

Town hall | 200 Permisson Road, 910-575-4877; towncs@atmc.net; www.carolinashoresnc.govoffice3.com

Mayor | Walter Goodenough

Commissioners | John Russo, Joyce Dunn, Bill Brennan, Greg Davis

Sunset Beach, N.C.

Established | 1968.

Origin of name | Named by Manon C. Gore, who bought the island from the Brooks family in 1955.

What it’s known for | Ingram Planetarium; the old swing bridge

What’s grand about it | Sunset Beach is a part of the North Carolina Birding Trail. Bird Island even made Yahoo!’s list of the World’s Most Unusual Beaches in January 2012.

Major events | Sunset at Sunset fall street fair.

Property tax rate | $.10 per hundred of assessed value

Numbers to know

Zip code | 28468

Town hall | 700 Sunset Blvd. N., 910-579-6297; www.sunsetbeachnc.gov

Mayor | Richard Cerrato

Councilmembers | Karen Joseph, Carol Scott, Wilson Sherrill, Mike Williams

Holden Beach, N.C.

Established | 1969.

Origin of name | In 1756, Royal Gov. Dobbs gave land to Benjamin Holden, governor of colonial North Carolina. Records from 1785 refer to the area as Holden Beach.

What it’s known for | Holden Beach pavilion on Jordan Boulevard, which serves as a stage during festivals and can be rented for private functions.

What’s grand about it | Holden Beach offers a beautiful family beach with a plethora of different wildlife in the area.

Major events | Day at the Docks; N.C. Festival by the Sea

Property tax rate | $0.127 per hundred of assessed value

Numbers to know

Zip code | 28462

Town hall | 110 Rothschild St., 910-842-6488; heather@hbtownhall.com; www.hbtownhall.com

Mayor | J. Alan Holden

Commissioners | Sheila Young, Dennis Harrington, Sandy Miller, Ray Lehr

Shallotte, N.C.

Established | 1899.

Origin of name | Named for the shallot onion but pronounced with a long ‘o’.

What it’s known for | The commercial hub of southwestern Brunswick County, between Wilmington, N.C., and North Myrtle Beach.

What’s grand about it | Planet Fun is a family entertainment center near the only theater complex in southern Brunswick County.

Major events | Annual Christmas tree lighting and Christmas parade; summer series in the park with movies or live bands; Farmers Market.

Property tax rate | $0.35 per hundred of assessed value

Numbers to know

Zip code | 28459

City Hall | 106 Cheers St., 910-754-4032; www.townofshallotte.org

Mayor | Sara McCullough

Aldermen | Alan Lewis, Larry Harrelson, Carson Durham

Ocean Isle Beach, N.C.

Established | 1959

Origin of name | Named by developer.

What it’s known for | The population of Ocean Isle Beach swells with the tourist season, from about 800 year-round residents to 20,000.

What’s grand about it | Other than its 7-mile beach, the town is home to a maritime museum and stages a summer concert series.

Major events | N.C. Oyster Festival in October.

Property tax rate | $0.06 per hundred of assessed value

Numbers to know

Town Hall | 3 W. Third St., 910-579-2166

Mayor | Debbie S. Smith

Commissioners | Betty Williamson, Bob Williams, Dean Walters, D.B. Grantham