History

The county was formed in 1764 from parts of Bladen County and New Hanover County. It was named for the colonial port of Brunswick Town (which is now in ruins) named for Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg; at the time held by the British kings of the House of Hanover.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,050 square miles, of which, 855 square miles of it is land and 195 square miles of it (18.59%) is water.

Townships

The county is divided into six townships:

• Lockwoods Folly
• Northwest
• Shallotte
• Smithville Township
• Town Creek
• Waccamaw.

Cities and Towns

• Bald Head Island
• Belville
• Boiling Spring Lakes
• Bolivia
• Calabash
• Carolina Shores
• Caswell Beach
• Holden Beach
• Leland
• Navassa
• Northwest
• Oak Island
• Ocean Isle Beach
• Sandy Creek
• Shallotte
• Southport
• St. James
• Sunset Beach
• Varnamtown