Question: How did Cape Fear get its name?
Answer: Cape Fear was known during various eras as Cape Feare, Cape Fair, and Cape Fayre. During the 17th century, when colonists were encouraged to settle in the Carolina region, it was often referred to as Cape Fair—a name that was not permanently accepted.
By the time the American Revolution took place, the cape and its surrounding region were known as Cape Fear. Some historians believe “Fear” replaced “Fair” due to dangerous sandbars and shoals along the region’s river, known today as the Cape Fear River.
