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Calabash is located in southwestern Brunswick County near the South Carolina state line and along the Calabash River, a tidal waterway connected to the Intracoastal Waterway and Atlantic Ocean. Indigenous peoples lived throughout this coastal region long before European settlement, making use of the abundant fish, shellfish, forests, wetlands, and navigable waterways. European-American settlement gradually introduced farms, timber operations, fishing communities, and small trading settlements. Calabash remained relatively small for generations, but its location near productive coastal waters ultimately gave the community an identity that would become recognized far beyond Brunswick County.

Fishing and seafood became the defining elements of Calabash's economy and culture. Local fishermen harvested shrimp, fish, oysters, crabs, and other seafood from the coastal waters, while restaurants began serving fresh catches using a preparation style that became known as "Calabash-style" seafood. Traditionally associated with lightly breaded and fried seafood served in generous portions, the style became so popular that restaurants throughout the Southeast adopted the Calabash name. This culinary tradition helped transform a small fishing community into a regional dining destination and earned Calabash widespread recognition as the "Seafood Capital of the World."

Transportation improvements helped bring increasing numbers of visitors to the community during the twentieth century. U.S. Highway 17 became the principal north-south route through the region, linking Calabash with Wilmington, Shallotte, Myrtle Beach, and other coastal destinations. The development of the Grand Strand immediately to the south created an enormous tourism market, while improved roads to Sunset Beach and Ocean Isle Beach increased traffic through southwestern Brunswick County. Calabash's position near the state line allowed it to benefit from growth on both sides of the Carolinas.

The community expanded beyond its traditional fishing economy as golf courses, residential developments, retail businesses, and services appeared throughout the surrounding area. Retirees and second-home owners were increasingly attracted to southwestern Brunswick County because of its mild coastal climate, proximity to beaches, and relatively relaxed pace of life. Planned communities and golf-oriented neighborhoods added new types of housing while the waterfront retained restaurants, docks, fishing vessels, and businesses reflecting the town's maritime roots.

Calabash's cultural identity remains strongly connected to seafood and the water. Generations of residents and visitors have gathered along the waterfront to dine, fish, shop, and watch boats travel the river. Local festivals and community events celebrate the area's traditions, while nearby Sunset Beach and the Intracoastal Waterway provide additional opportunities for boating, fishing, and coastal recreation. Even as residential growth has transformed the surrounding landscape, Calabash's seafood heritage remains central to how the community presents itself.

Today, Calabash combines the atmosphere of a traditional coastal fishing town with the amenities of a growing residential and tourism destination. Homeowners have access to restaurants, golf courses, shops, marinas, beaches, and the larger entertainment offerings of the Myrtle Beach area. Housing ranges from established residences to condominiums, golf communities, townhomes, and newer construction. Its location at the southern edge of Brunswick County, together with its distinctive culinary reputation and waterfront heritage, gives Calabash a character unlike any other community along North Carolina's coast.