For one of the smallest and most genuinely charming towns in Martin County, North Carolina, Bear Grass is a real treasure. With just 89 residents at the 2020 census and only one stoplight in town, this delightful Martin County community combines deep historical roots, a fascinating Prohibition-era reputation as the “Moonshine Capital of the World,” and one of the most distinctive incorporation stories anywhere in North Carolina — when the town’s boundary was drawn as a circle with a 500-yard radius from a white oak tree in 1909. With unique landmarks, historic buildings, a beloved fall festival, and a tight-knit farming community spirit, Bear Grass rewards visitors who appreciate the deeper character of small-town NC. Click on the image cards below to explore the attractions and food and beverage spots we’ve visited around Bear Grass.
Named for the Yucca Plant — Since 1761
Bear Grass takes its name from the Yucca flaccida — a low-growing yucca that reaches less than two feet in height and grows abundantly across the local swamps and surrounding terrain. The name dates back at least to 1761, when one of the first settlers, John Swinson, received a large tract of land from the Earl of Granville (the last Lord Proprietor). Bear Grass Swamp was part of that property and was named in Swinson’s original deed, giving the community its earliest formal identity.
Early settlers in the area were largely farmers who grew cotton and corn sold in the broader river-trade economy along the Tar and Roanoke Rivers. They also raised sheep, cattle, and hogs in large numbers, and supplemented their income with shingle making, woodcrafts, and the production of tar and turpentine from the area’s abundant forests — the same tar and turpentine economy that helped fuel North Carolina’s broader colonial-era growth.
A Circular Town Boundary
The community of Bear Grass didn’t formally emerge until after the Civil War, with growth anchored by the establishment of the Bear Grass Primitive Baptist Church congregation in 1828 and the opening of a public school in the late 1860s. Because Bear Grass was located away from rivers and railroads, growth was slow, and the town had only a brief post office in 1885 before many local businesses began using Williamston’s address instead.
In early 1909, the town’s merchants drew up a charter, and on February 16, 1909, the North Carolina General Assembly granted a charter to the town of Bear Grass. What makes the incorporation genuinely remarkable is the town’s physical layout: when incorporated, the boundary was drawn as a circle with a 500-yard radius from a white oak tree described in town records as standing “near a well at the stores of Rogers Brothers and Cowing Brothers.” These limits remain in effect today, making Bear Grass one of the few towns in North Carolina laid out in this circular manner.
During the Great Depression, with residents focused on more pressing concerns, the town government became dormant in 1934 and remained inactive for nearly three decades until it was reactivated on June 21, 1961.
The “Moonshine Capital of the World”
One of Bear Grass’s most colorful historical chapters came during Prohibition, when the small farming community gained widespread fame as the “Moonshine Capital of the World.” The reputation grew from a remarkable concentration of illegal liquor production in and around Bear Grass — a quietly defiant cottage industry that took advantage of the town’s rural isolation and its distance from major roads, rivers, and law enforcement.
The Moonshine Capital era has long since passed, but the legacy remains a beloved part of Bear Grass’s identity — a wonderful reminder that even the smallest towns can carry outsized stories.
Historic Buildings and Landmarks
For its small size, Bear Grass is home to a remarkable concentration of historic buildings and landmarks within the Bear Grass Historical District, including:
- The Bear Grass School from around 1925
- The Bear Grass Primitive Baptist Church building from the 1830s and 1840s
- The Yucca House teacherage, built in 1935, is the former Bear Grass School teacherage
- A Presbyterian church
- Three early 20th-century frame stores make up the small business district
Bear Grass is also home to two beloved statues — both created by local artist Henry C. Cowen:
- The “rampant bear” statue standing in front of the school, sculpted in 1981
- A statue of George Washington in front of the Yucca House, commissioned by the Bear Grass Ruritan Club in 1987 to honor the country’s constitutional bicentennial
Together, these landmarks give Bear Grass a quietly distinctive character that genuinely sets it apart from other small towns in eastern North Carolina.
The Chicken Mull Festival
Each fall, Bear Grass comes together for the beloved Chicken Mull Festival — a community celebration of the traditional local stew known as “chicken mull,” made with parboiled chicken, broth, crushed crackers, and eggs. The festival features crafts, fundraisers, and live music spanning gospel, country, and bluegrass — capturing the genuine spirit of the community in one of the most distinctive small-town festivals anywhere in Martin County.
The community is located about eight miles southwest of Williamston, the county seat, making it a perfect addition to a longer day exploring the broader area.
Things To Do in Bear Grass, NC
Resources
Explore Martin County NC Website