Take a trip to the state line
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 | It is home to more than 50,000 acres of conserved, botanically rich land.
What’s grand about it | It has about 50 miles of beaches.
Major employers | Brunswick Novant Medical Center; Duke Energy Progress
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 | $0.4850 per hundred of assessed value
Government complex | 45 Courthouse Drive NE, Bolivia, N.C., 910-253-2000, www.bruns wickcountync.gov
Commissioners | 910-253-2000; Scott Phillips, chairman; Pat Sykes, vice chair; John Martin (Marty) Cooke Jr., Randy Thompson, Frank Williams
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 is lightly battered and fried; it has a small-town atmosphere.
What’s grand about it | Fresh seafood is sold on the waterfront on most afternoons when the ships return.
Major employers | Restaurant industry
Major events | Summer concerts and movies in its new park, Calabash Community Park, 868 Persimmon Road; annual Town Hall Day; Christmas tree lighting.
Property tax rate | $0.0875 per hundred of assessed value
Zip code | 28467
Town hall | 882 Persimmon Road, 910-579-6747, towncala bash@atmc.net, www.town ofcalabash.net
Mayor | Mary Louise Knight
Commissioners | Joseph “Jody” Nance, mayor pro tem; Daria Buccilli, Cecelia Herman, Sandy Melahn, Charles “Buddy” 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 the two municipalities.
Origin of name | It originally started as an 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
Major employers | Food Lion
Major events | Annual Arbor Day festival in March
Property tax rate | $0.1016 per hundred of assessed value
Zip code | 28467
Town hall | 200 Persimmon Road, 910-575-4877, towncs@atmc.net, www .townofcarolinashores.com
Mayor | Walter Goodenough
Commissioners | Joseph Przywara, mayor pro tem; Bill Brennan, Greg Davis, John Manning, John Russo
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 town 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 employers | Real estate companies and restaurants
Major events | Day at the Docks; N.C. Festival by the Sea; Christmas tree lighting
Property tax rate | $0.15 per hundred of assessed value
Zip code | 28462
Town hall | 110 Rothschild St., 910-842-6488, heather @hbtownhall.com, www.hbtownhall.com
Mayor | J. Alan Holden
Commissioners | Ken Kyser, mayor pro tem; Dennis Harrington, Regina Martin, Sandy Miller, Sheila Young
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 from about 550 year-round residents to 25,000 during with the tourist season.
What’s grand about it | Other than its seven-mile beach, the town is home to a natural history museum and stages a summer concert series.
Major employers | Atlantic Telephone; Brunswick Electric
Major events | N.C. Oyster Festival in October; Fourth of July Parade; Super Saturday, which includes a Christmas parade, caroling and visit from Santa Claus
Property tax rate | $0.1875 per hundred of assessed value
Town Hall | 3 W. Third St., 910-579-2166, daisy@oibgov.com, www.oibgov.com
Mayor | Debbie S. Smith
Commissioners | Dean Walters, mayor pro tem; D. B. Grantham, Wayne Rowell, Bob Williams, Betty Williamson
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 employers | ATMC; Shallotte Crossing shopping center
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
Zip code | 28459
City Hall | 106 Cheers St., 910-754-4032, rjohnson@townofshallotte.org, www.townofshallotte.org
Mayor | Walter Eccard
Aldermen | Carson Durham IV, mayor pro tem; Jimmy Bellamy, Larry Harrelson, Alan Lewis, Gene Vasile
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; Old Bridge Preservation Society; Kindred Spirit mailbox
What’s grand about it | Sunset Beach is a part of the North Carolina Birding Trail. In January 2012, Bird Island made Yahoo!’s list of the World’s Most Unusual Beaches.
Major employer | Village at Sunset Beach shopping and dining establishments; real estate offices.
Major events | Sunset at Sunset fall street fair, summer concerts on Wednesday evenings
Property tax rate | $0.16 per hundred of assessed value
Zip code | 28468
Town hall | 700 Sunset Blvd. N., 910-579-6297, sunsetbeach@atmc.net, www.sunsetbeachnc.gov
Mayor | Ron Watts
Council | Lou DeVita, mayor pro tem; Terry Johnson, Carol Scott, Wilson Sherrill, Mike Williams
Fast fact
Brunswick County was named after the town of Brunswick in honor of King George I of England, who was also the Duke of Brunswick, and has more than 50 miles of beaches.
Fast fact
In January 2012, Bird Island in Sunset Beach, N.C., made Yahoo!’s list of the World’s Most Unusual Beaches
This story was originally published September 24, 2015 at 2:21 PM with the headline "Take a trip to the state line."