Grand Strand
Encyclopedia
The Grand Strand refers to a large stretch of beaches on the East Coast
of the United States
extending from Little River
to Georgetown
in the U.S. State
of South Carolina
. It consists of 60+ miles along an essentially uninterrupted arc of beach land, beginning around the Little River and terminating at Winyah Bay
. The population
of the Grand Strand was 329,449 at the 2010 United States Census.
It is said that Grand Strand term was coined by The Myrtle Beach Sun columnist Claude Dunnagan in 1949. and "Strand" itself derives from the German, meaning "beach".
The Grand Strand has become a major tourist attraction along the Southeastern coast, with its primary city, Myrtle Beach
, attracting over ten million visitors each season. It is home to numerous restaurants and theme parks, making it popular with families and college students in the summer and Snowbirds
during the winter.
, the Myrtle Beach area has a humid subtropical climate
that is heavily influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, giving the area a more oceanic
feel. The city experiences cool winters and hot, humid summers. Rainfall is plentiful throughout the whole year, but most concentrated during the summer months, where it is not uncommon for almost every day to have at least a 30% chance of rain. The area is susceptible to strong thunderstorms, especially in the summer months. These typically have a very short duration, although some may have intense hail with tornadoes rarely. Snowfall is extremely rare in this part of the state, but does occasionally occur.
Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the Long Bay area was inhabited by the native Waccamaw
Tribe. The Waccamaw used the river for travel and fished along the shore around Little River
. Waties Island
, the primary barrier island along Long Bay, has evidence of burial and shell mounds, remains of the visiting Waccamaw.
The first European settler along Long Bay arrived in the late 18th Century, attempting to extend the plantation system
outward towards the ocean. Records are sparse from this period, with most of the recorded history pieced together from old land grants documents.
These settlers were met with mixed results, producing unremarkable quantities of indigo
and tobacco
as the coast's soil was sandy and most of the crop yields were of an inferior quality.
Prior to the American Revolution
, the area along the future Grand Strand was essentially uninhabited. Several families received land grants along the coast, including the Withers: John, Richard, William, and Mary. This family received an area around present-day Wither's Swash, also known as Myrtle Swash or the 8-Mile Swash. A separate grant was granted to James Minor, including a barrier island named Minor Island, now Waties Island
, off of the coast near Little River.
Mary Wither's gravestone at Prince George Winyah Episcopal Church
speaks to the remoteness of the former Strand: "She gave up the pleasures of Society and retired to Long Bay, where she resided a great part of her life devoted to the welfare of her children."
As the American colonies gained independence, the area remained essentially unchanged, and the coast remained barren. George Washington
scouted out the Southern states during his term, traveling down the King's Highway
. He stayed a night at Windy Hill (part of present day North Myrtle Beach) and was led across Wither's Swash to Georgetown
by Jeremiah Vereen.
The Withers family remained one of the few settlers around Myrtle Beach for the next half-century. In 1822, a strong hurricane swept the house of R. F. Withers into the ocean, drowning 18 people inside. The tragedy made the Withers family decide to abandon their plots along the coast.
Left unattended, the area began to return to forest.
On February 28, 1899 Burroughs and Collins, predecessor of modern day Burroughs and Chapin, received their charter to build the Conway & Seashore Railroad to transport timber from the coast to inland customers. The railroad began daily service on May 1, 1900 with two wood-burning locomotives. One of the engines was dubbed The Black Maria and came second-hand from a North Carolina logging operation. A community named "Withers" post office
was established at the site of the old Swash.
After the railroad was finished, employees of the lumber and railroad company would take train flatcar
s down to beach area on their free weekends, becoming the first Grand Strand tourists. The railroad terminus was nicknamed "New Town", contrasting it with the "Old Town", or Conway
.
At the turn of the 20th century, Franklin Burroughs
envisioned turning New Town into a tourist destination rivaling the Florida
and northeastern beaches. Burroughs
died in 1897, but his sons completed the railroad's expansion to the beach and opened the Seaside Inn in 1901.
After its original founding, New Town continued to grow until 1957, when it finally incorporated. A contest was held to name the town and Burroughs' wife suggested honoring the locally abundant shrub, the Southern Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera
). So the town was named Myrtle Beach.
In 1937, Myrtle Beach Municipal Airport
was built, however it was promptly taken over by the United States Army Air Corps
in 1940 and converted into a military base
. Commercial flights began in 1976 and shared the runway for over 15 years until the air base closed in 1993. Since then the airport has been named Myrtle Beach International Airport
. In 2010 plans to build a new terminal were approved. In 1940, Kings Highway was finally paved, giving Myrtle Beach its first primary highway.
There are over 250 golf courses in and around Myrtle Beach as the golfing industry represents a significant presence in the area.
A manufacturing base produces plastic, rubber, cardboard, foam, and ceramic products usually in small scale.
Myrtle Beach hosts a variety of special conventions, events, and musical concerts. The area's attractions include its beaches and many golf courses, as well as a number of amusement parks, an aquarium, an IMAX
theater, retail developments and over 1,900 restaurants including seafood restaurants, and a number of shopping complexes. The area also has dinner theaters, nightclubs, and many tourist shops. Myrtle Beach has an estimated 460 hotels, with many on the beachfront, and approximately 89,000 accommodation units in total. Also in the city is Myrtle Waves
, one of the largest water parks on the eastern seaboard.
The Carolina Opry
is another highly-acclaimed attraction, which features various musical, comedy, dance, and entertainment shows, including The Carolina Opry (variety show), Good Vibrations (best of the 60s, 70s, and 80s), LIGHT—a Laser Extravaganza. During the holiday season, the venue hosts The Carolina Opry Christmas Special. It is currently housed in a 2,200 seat theater.
The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk
opened in 2010 and has been recognized as the nation's #3 boardwalk by National Geographic and one of the best US boardwalks by Travel + Leisure magazine
. Scheduled to open at the boardwalk in May, 2011 is The Myrtle Beach Skywheel, a 200 feet (61 m) observation wheel, similar to a ferris wheel, with glass gondolas that look over the Atlantic Ocean. This will be the first wheel of its kind in the U.S. Myrtle Beach State Park
, established in 1935, has just under a mile of Grand Strand beach and is a prime location for swimming, hiking, biking, and fishing.
The Myrtle Beach Convention Center
is a large facility that hosts an array of different meetings, conferences, exhibits, and special events every year. The expansive center, which opened in 2003, also features a Sheraton
hotel and resort.
Myrtle Beach welcomed Hard Rock Park
in 2008, which was themed after the popular Hard Rock Cafe
chain. After financial issues, the park became Freestyle Music Park for the 2009 season. The park features attractions themed after different genres of music, such as the British Invasion
. The park did not open for the 2010 season however, and is currently tied up in legal issues.
Each March since 1951 during Ontario's spring break
, Myrtle Beach has hosted Canadian-American Days, also known as Can-Am Days. Tens of thousands tourists flock to the area for a week's worth of special events. Myrtle Beach is also home to Coastal Uncorked, a food and wine festival held in the late spring annually.
With numerous professional fireworks displays along the oceanfront, Myrtle Beach is recognized among the top destinations for Fourth of July travel. Priceline.com
ranked Myrtle Beach among its top 20 destinations for Fourth of July in 2010.
It is notable that gambling is not legal in South Carolina
. However, Myrtle Beach residents and visitors have easy access to gambling by boat, which transports passengers into international waters beyond the reach of federal and state gambling laws.
that started in 1940 and attracted as many as 200,000 visitors to the city every May. Black Bike Week
, founded in 1980, takes place the weekend around Memorial Day Weekend and is the largest African American
motorcycle rally in the US and attracts as many as 400,000 visitors. The event was created in response to a history of discrimination against African-American visitors and riders to Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand Area.
The Myrtle Beach government created 15 new laws aimed at preventing all sanctioned motorcycle events within the city in response to controversy including accusations of racism by African-American riders during their event and complaints of lawlessness and poor behavior during all highly attended events. Several lawsuits by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
(NAACP) against Myrtle Beach businesses were settled with agreements that discrimination cease, compensation be given to some plaintiffs, and employees be given diversity training. The NAACP suit against the City of Myrtle Beach was settled in 2006 without the city paying damages, but with the agreement police would use the same traffic control rules during both the black and the white motorcycle rallies.
The South Carolina Supreme Court
in June 2010 unanimously overturned one of the 15 ordinances, which had required all motorcyclists to wear helmets
, on the grounds that the state law, requiring helmets only for riders under age 21, cannot be preempted by a city ordinance. In addition, the Court ruled, the ordinance created undue confusion, and that the city itself had invalidated their own helmet law and some other ordinances in a subsequent amendment. The law had been challenged by a group of motorcyclists and a group of Myrtle Beach businesses called BOOST, Business Owners Organized to Support Tourism, who opposed the city's anti-motorcycle tourism policy.
, and is the largest shopping destination in South Carolina
.
Carolina Southern Railroad is a short line rail operator running on less than 100 miles (160.9 km) of rail at a maximum speed of 10 mi/h. It transports mostly freight brought to it from national rail operators. The company makes one scheduled delivery per month into the City of Myrtle Beach.
Within the last decade, new roads have been created to ease congestion caused by the yearly influx of visitors. Most of these roads follow the Metro Loop Road Plan, organized in 1997 to improve the traffic flow of Myrtle Beach. Some of the roads included have either been funded through RIDE I funding or through the City of Myrtle Beach.
RIDE II plans include the third phase of S.C. Highway 31, a graded separation of Farrow Parkway
and US 17 Bypass at the back gate of the former Air Force base, and many other projects. The county is currently debating where to allocate the $400 million generated through a proposed 1-cent sales tax. Other road projects in Horry County, including some in Aynor
and Conway
, will be included when voted upon.
Plans exist for Myrtle Beach to be eventually served by two interstates, Interstate 73
and Interstate 74
. The Robert Edge Parkway will connect I-74 to downtown North Myrtle Beach
.
, a Carolina League
baseball team and Texas Rangers
farm franchise.
BB&T Coastal Field is the home field of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans and is located just off Highway 17 in Myrtle Beach. It opened in 1999 and seats 6,500 people. It is the finish point of the Bi-Lo Myrtle Beach Marathon, an athletics event held in February of each year.
BB&T Coastal Field is also home of the annual "Baseball At The Beach" collegiate baseball tournament. Hosted by Coastal Carolina University each year, the tournament pits participating NCAA Division I baseball programs in the United States.
From 1998-2009 and again starting in 2011 (no Saturday races were held in 2010), the area hosted the Bi-Lo
Myrtle Beach Marathon presented by Chick-Fil-A
, every February featuring (since 2004) the Friday night Royal Bank of Canada
5K and the Saturday Dasani Half Marathon and Bi-Lo Marathon (from 1998 until 2008, a relay was held but dropped because of the popularity of the other events). Marathon day draws the limit of 6,000 runners annually (2,500 full, 3,500 half) and results usually in an unusual dawn as the race starts before dawn (6:30 AM) in order to finish by 2:30 PM.
NASCAR
-sanctioned Stock car racing
is held at Myrtle Beach Speedway
, a 0.538 mile (0.86582492 km), semi-banked, asphalt-paved oval track located on US 501. Drivers in the Late Model classes will compete (against those of Greenville-Pickens Speedway
) for the South Carolina Championship in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. South Carolina Champions' scores will be calculated against other state and provincial champions for a continental championship.
It hosted the 2010 UOA Nationals where 8 collegiate ultimate teams from 5 conferences will be represented.
share a common defined market by Nielsen Media Research
in Horry
, Marion, Dillon, Darlington, Marlboro, Scotland
, Robeson
, and Florence
counties.
, to Sunset Beach, North Carolina
. The paper has been in existence since the 1930s and was formerly published by Knight Ridder
before that company was bought by The McClatchy Company
.
There are by several weekly papers, including The Weekly Surge, the Myrtle Beach Herald, and the Horry Independent.
There is also an online newspaper, myrtlebeachgazette.com
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
extending from Little River
Little River, South Carolina
Little River is a census-designated place in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 7,027 at the 2000 census....
to Georgetown
Georgetown, South Carolina
Georgetown is the third oldest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina and the county seat of Georgetown County, in the Low Country. Located on Winyah Bay at the confluence of the Great Pee Dee River, Waccamaw River, and Sampit River, Georgetown is the second largest seaport in South Carolina,...
in the U.S. State
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. It consists of 60+ miles along an essentially uninterrupted arc of beach land, beginning around the Little River and terminating at Winyah Bay
Winyah Bay
Winyah Bay is a coastal estuary that is the confluence of the Waccamaw River, the Pee Dee River, the Black River and the Sampit River in Georgetown County in eastern South Carolina...
. The population
Myrtle Beach metropolitan area
The Myrtle Beach metropolitan area is a census-designated metropolitan area in Horry County and Georgetown County, South Carolina. It consists of Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway, South Carolina and Georgetown.-Counties:*Horry*Georgetown-Demographics:The estimated population of the...
of the Grand Strand was 329,449 at the 2010 United States Census.
It is said that Grand Strand term was coined by The Myrtle Beach Sun columnist Claude Dunnagan in 1949. and "Strand" itself derives from the German, meaning "beach".
The Grand Strand has become a major tourist attraction along the Southeastern coast, with its primary city, Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach is a coastal city on the east coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is situated on the center of a large and continuous stretch of beach known as the Grand Strand in northeastern South Carolina. It is considered to be a major tourist destination in the...
, attracting over ten million visitors each season. It is home to numerous restaurants and theme parks, making it popular with families and college students in the summer and Snowbirds
Snowbird (people)
The term snowbird is used to describe people from the U.S. Northeast, U.S. Midwest, or Canada who spend a large portion of winter in warmer locales such as California, Arizona, Florida, Texas, the Carolinas, or elsewhere along the Sun Belt region of the southern and southwest United States,...
during the winter.
Climate
According to Köppen climate classificationKöppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
, the Myrtle Beach area has a humid subtropical climate
Humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
that is heavily influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, giving the area a more oceanic
Oceanic
Oceanic may mean:*Of or relating to the ocean*Of or relating to Oceania*A person or the peoples of Oceania, also called "Pacific Islander"*The Oceanic languages*Oceanic climate-Ships:*RMS Oceanic *RMS Oceanic...
feel. The city experiences cool winters and hot, humid summers. Rainfall is plentiful throughout the whole year, but most concentrated during the summer months, where it is not uncommon for almost every day to have at least a 30% chance of rain. The area is susceptible to strong thunderstorms, especially in the summer months. These typically have a very short duration, although some may have intense hail with tornadoes rarely. Snowfall is extremely rare in this part of the state, but does occasionally occur.
History
Waccamaw
The Waccamaw Indians of South Carolina, distinct from the Waccamaw Siouan Indians of North Carolina, are the first state-recognized tribe of Native Americans in South Carolina...
Tribe. The Waccamaw used the river for travel and fished along the shore around Little River
Little River, South Carolina
Little River is a census-designated place in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 7,027 at the 2000 census....
. Waties Island
Waties Island, South Carolina
Waties Island is an undeveloped barrier island in the eastern coast of South Carolina. It is under the jurisdiction of Coastal Carolina University and is used primarily as an educational research facility.-History:...
, the primary barrier island along Long Bay, has evidence of burial and shell mounds, remains of the visiting Waccamaw.
The first European settler along Long Bay arrived in the late 18th Century, attempting to extend the plantation system
Plantation economy
A plantation economy is an economy which is based on agricultural mass production, usually of a few staple products grown on large farms called plantations. Plantation economies rely on the export of cash crops as a source of income...
outward towards the ocean. Records are sparse from this period, with most of the recorded history pieced together from old land grants documents.
These settlers were met with mixed results, producing unremarkable quantities of indigo
Indigo
Indigo is a color named after the purple dye derived from the plant Indigofera tinctoria and related species. The color is placed on the electromagnetic spectrum between about 420 and 450 nm in wavelength, placing it between blue and violet...
and tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
as the coast's soil was sandy and most of the crop yields were of an inferior quality.
Prior to the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, the area along the future Grand Strand was essentially uninhabited. Several families received land grants along the coast, including the Withers: John, Richard, William, and Mary. This family received an area around present-day Wither's Swash, also known as Myrtle Swash or the 8-Mile Swash. A separate grant was granted to James Minor, including a barrier island named Minor Island, now Waties Island
Waties Island, South Carolina
Waties Island is an undeveloped barrier island in the eastern coast of South Carolina. It is under the jurisdiction of Coastal Carolina University and is used primarily as an educational research facility.-History:...
, off of the coast near Little River.
Mary Wither's gravestone at Prince George Winyah Episcopal Church
Prince George Winyah Episcopal Church
Prince George Winyah Church is an Episcopal church in Georgetown, South Carolina. Prince George Winyah is one of the oldest continuous congregations in South Carolina, and the church building is one of the oldest churches in continuous service in South Carolina...
speaks to the remoteness of the former Strand: "She gave up the pleasures of Society and retired to Long Bay, where she resided a great part of her life devoted to the welfare of her children."
As the American colonies gained independence, the area remained essentially unchanged, and the coast remained barren. George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
scouted out the Southern states during his term, traveling down the King's Highway
King's Highway (Charleston to Boston)
The King's Highway is a route over in length in the eastern United States. It joins Charleston, South Carolina, to Boston, Massachusetts. It was named after Charles II of England, who in 1650 directed his colonial governors to build it. It did not become a continuous wagon road until 1735...
. He stayed a night at Windy Hill (part of present day North Myrtle Beach) and was led across Wither's Swash to Georgetown
Georgetown, South Carolina
Georgetown is the third oldest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina and the county seat of Georgetown County, in the Low Country. Located on Winyah Bay at the confluence of the Great Pee Dee River, Waccamaw River, and Sampit River, Georgetown is the second largest seaport in South Carolina,...
by Jeremiah Vereen.
The Withers family remained one of the few settlers around Myrtle Beach for the next half-century. In 1822, a strong hurricane swept the house of R. F. Withers into the ocean, drowning 18 people inside. The tragedy made the Withers family decide to abandon their plots along the coast.
Left unattended, the area began to return to forest.
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
was established at the site of the old Swash.
After the railroad was finished, employees of the lumber and railroad company would take train flatcar
Flatcar
A flatcar is a piece of railroad or railway rolling stock that consists of an open, flat deck on four or six wheels or a pair of trucks or bogies . The deck of the car can be wood or steel, and the sides of the deck can include pockets for stakes or tie-down points to secure loads...
s down to beach area on their free weekends, becoming the first Grand Strand tourists. The railroad terminus was nicknamed "New Town", contrasting it with the "Old Town", or Conway
Conway, South Carolina
Conway is a city in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 16,317 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Horry County and is part of the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area. It is the home of Coastal Carolina University....
.
At the turn of the 20th century, Franklin Burroughs
Franklin Burroughs
Franklin G. Burroughs was a turpentine and naval entrepreneur who, along with Benjamin Grier Collins, founded the Burroughs and Collins company, later known as Burroughs and Chapin. The company was a major catalyst in growing the Grand Strand area in South Carolina and continues to play a major...
envisioned turning New Town into a tourist destination rivaling the Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and northeastern beaches. Burroughs
Franklin Burroughs
Franklin G. Burroughs was a turpentine and naval entrepreneur who, along with Benjamin Grier Collins, founded the Burroughs and Collins company, later known as Burroughs and Chapin. The company was a major catalyst in growing the Grand Strand area in South Carolina and continues to play a major...
died in 1897, but his sons completed the railroad's expansion to the beach and opened the Seaside Inn in 1901.
After its original founding, New Town continued to grow until 1957, when it finally incorporated. A contest was held to name the town and Burroughs' wife suggested honoring the locally abundant shrub, the Southern Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera
Myrica cerifera
Myrica cerifera is a small tree or large shrub native to North America. Its common names include Wax myrtle, Bayberry, Candleberry, Bayberry tree, and Tallow shrub...
). So the town was named Myrtle Beach.
In 1937, Myrtle Beach Municipal Airport
Myrtle Beach International Airport
Myrtle Beach International Airport is a county-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Myrtle Beach, in Horry County, South Carolina, United States...
was built, however it was promptly taken over by the United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
in 1940 and converted into a military base
Myrtle Beach Air Force Base
Myrtle Beach Air Force Base is a closed United States Air Force facility, located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It was established in 1940 as a World War II training base and was also used for coastal patrols during the war...
. Commercial flights began in 1976 and shared the runway for over 15 years until the air base closed in 1993. Since then the airport has been named Myrtle Beach International Airport
Myrtle Beach International Airport
Myrtle Beach International Airport is a county-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Myrtle Beach, in Horry County, South Carolina, United States...
. In 2010 plans to build a new terminal were approved. In 1940, Kings Highway was finally paved, giving Myrtle Beach its first primary highway.
Economy
The Grand Strand's economy is dominated by the tourist industry, with tourism bringing in millions of dollars each year. Hotels, motels, resorts, restaurants, attractions, and retail developments exist in abundance to service visitors.There are over 250 golf courses in and around Myrtle Beach as the golfing industry represents a significant presence in the area.
A manufacturing base produces plastic, rubber, cardboard, foam, and ceramic products usually in small scale.
Tourism
Hosting over 14.6 million visitors annually, The Grand Strand is home to an array of tourist attractions, and the area receives a large influx of visitors during all seasons.Myrtle Beach hosts a variety of special conventions, events, and musical concerts. The area's attractions include its beaches and many golf courses, as well as a number of amusement parks, an aquarium, an IMAX
IMAX
IMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
theater, retail developments and over 1,900 restaurants including seafood restaurants, and a number of shopping complexes. The area also has dinner theaters, nightclubs, and many tourist shops. Myrtle Beach has an estimated 460 hotels, with many on the beachfront, and approximately 89,000 accommodation units in total. Also in the city is Myrtle Waves
Myrtle Waves
Myrtle Waves is a water park attraction in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It is operated by PARC Management.-LayZee River:A trip around the park. Its with single or double inner tubes.-Bubble Bay:...
, one of the largest water parks on the eastern seaboard.
The Carolina Opry
The Carolina Opry
The Carolina Opry is a musical variety show located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.- History :The Carolina Opry opened in Surfside Beach, South Carolina in 1986 and was founded by singer, producer and entrepreneur, Calvin Gilmore. The original venue was a 1,000 seat theater located one block from...
is another highly-acclaimed attraction, which features various musical, comedy, dance, and entertainment shows, including The Carolina Opry (variety show), Good Vibrations (best of the 60s, 70s, and 80s), LIGHT—a Laser Extravaganza. During the holiday season, the venue hosts The Carolina Opry Christmas Special. It is currently housed in a 2,200 seat theater.
The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk
Myrtle Beach Boardwalk
The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk & Promenade, located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, officially opened in May 2010 at a cost of nearly $6.4 million and runs along the oceanfront from the Pier 14 at 14th Avenue North to the 2nd Avenue Pier at 2nd Avenue North...
opened in 2010 and has been recognized as the nation's #3 boardwalk by National Geographic and one of the best US boardwalks by Travel + Leisure magazine
Travel + Leisure
Travel + Leisure is a travel magazine based in New York City, New York. Published 12 times a year, it has 4.8 million readers, according to its corporate media kit. It is put out by American Express Publishing Corporation, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Express Company led by...
. Scheduled to open at the boardwalk in May, 2011 is The Myrtle Beach Skywheel, a 200 feet (61 m) observation wheel, similar to a ferris wheel, with glass gondolas that look over the Atlantic Ocean. This will be the first wheel of its kind in the U.S. Myrtle Beach State Park
Myrtle Beach State Park
Myrtle Beach State Park is a small state park located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It consists of several miles of forest and stretches along the Atlantic Ocean....
, established in 1935, has just under a mile of Grand Strand beach and is a prime location for swimming, hiking, biking, and fishing.
The Myrtle Beach Convention Center
Myrtle Beach Convention Center
Myrtle Beach Convention Center is a 8,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It hosts various local concerts and sporting events for the area and was the home arena for the Myrtle Beach Stingrays of the National Indoor Football League in 2003.This was also the location of...
is a large facility that hosts an array of different meetings, conferences, exhibits, and special events every year. The expansive center, which opened in 2003, also features a Sheraton
Sheraton Hotels and Resorts
Sheraton Hotels and Resorts is Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide's largest and second oldest brand . Starwood's headquarters are in White Plains, New York.-Sheraton history:...
hotel and resort.
Myrtle Beach welcomed Hard Rock Park
Hard Rock Park
Freestyle Music Park, formerly Hard Rock Park, was a music theme park located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina that opened on April 15, 2008, that temporarily closed on September 24, 2008 due to financial issues, reopened May 23, 2009 under the Freestyle brand, and closed yet again after its 2009...
in 2008, which was themed after the popular Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe is a chain of theme restaurants founded in 1971 by Americans Peter Morton & Isaac Tigrett. In 1979, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and roll memorabilia, a tradition which expanded to others in the chain. In 2006, Hard Rock was sold to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and...
chain. After financial issues, the park became Freestyle Music Park for the 2009 season. The park features attractions themed after different genres of music, such as the British Invasion
British Invasion
The British Invasion is a term used to describe the large number of rock and roll, beat, rock, and pop performers from the United Kingdom who became popular in the United States during the time period from 1964 through 1966.- Background :...
. The park did not open for the 2010 season however, and is currently tied up in legal issues.
Each March since 1951 during Ontario's spring break
Spring break
Spring break – also known as March break, Study week or Reading week in the United Kingdom and some parts of Canada – is a recess in early spring at universities and schools in the United States, Canada, mainland China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, the United...
, Myrtle Beach has hosted Canadian-American Days, also known as Can-Am Days. Tens of thousands tourists flock to the area for a week's worth of special events. Myrtle Beach is also home to Coastal Uncorked, a food and wine festival held in the late spring annually.
With numerous professional fireworks displays along the oceanfront, Myrtle Beach is recognized among the top destinations for Fourth of July travel. Priceline.com
Priceline.com
Priceline.com is a company and a commercial website that helps users obtain discount rates for travel-related purchases such as airline tickets and hotel stays. The company is not a direct supplier of these services; instead it facilitates the provision of travel services by its suppliers to its...
ranked Myrtle Beach among its top 20 destinations for Fourth of July in 2010.
It is notable that gambling is not legal in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. However, Myrtle Beach residents and visitors have easy access to gambling by boat, which transports passengers into international waters beyond the reach of federal and state gambling laws.
Motorcycle rallies
Myrtle Beach Bike Week, also called "Harley Bike Week" is a week-long motorcycle rallyMotorcycle rally
A motorcycle rally is a gathering of motorcycle enthusiasts. Rallies can be large or small, and one-time or recurring. Some rallies are ride-in events, whereas some like the Iron Butt Rally involve days of riding and an actual gathering only at the end of the ride.-North America:Notable annual...
that started in 1940 and attracted as many as 200,000 visitors to the city every May. Black Bike Week
Black Bike Week
Black Bike Week, also called Atlantic Beach Bikefest and Black Bikers Week, is an annual motorcycle rally at Atlantic Beach, South Carolina, held on Memorial Day weekend. It is also sometimes called Black Fill-in-the-Blank Week, because it has evolved to attract many non-motorcycling visitors who...
, founded in 1980, takes place the weekend around Memorial Day Weekend and is the largest African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
motorcycle rally in the US and attracts as many as 400,000 visitors. The event was created in response to a history of discrimination against African-American visitors and riders to Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand Area.
The Myrtle Beach government created 15 new laws aimed at preventing all sanctioned motorcycle events within the city in response to controversy including accusations of racism by African-American riders during their event and complaints of lawlessness and poor behavior during all highly attended events. Several lawsuits by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, usually abbreviated as NAACP, is an African-American civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909. Its mission is "to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to...
(NAACP) against Myrtle Beach businesses were settled with agreements that discrimination cease, compensation be given to some plaintiffs, and employees be given diversity training. The NAACP suit against the City of Myrtle Beach was settled in 2006 without the city paying damages, but with the agreement police would use the same traffic control rules during both the black and the white motorcycle rallies.
The South Carolina Supreme Court
South Carolina Supreme Court
The South Carolina Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The court is composed of a Chief Justice and four Associate Justices.-Selection of Justices:...
in June 2010 unanimously overturned one of the 15 ordinances, which had required all motorcyclists to wear helmets
Motorcycle helmet
A motorcycle helmet is a type of protective headgear used by motorcycle riders. The primary goal of a motorcycle helmet is motorcycle safety - to protect the rider's head during impact, thus preventing or reducing head injury or saving the rider's life...
, on the grounds that the state law, requiring helmets only for riders under age 21, cannot be preempted by a city ordinance. In addition, the Court ruled, the ordinance created undue confusion, and that the city itself had invalidated their own helmet law and some other ordinances in a subsequent amendment. The law had been challenged by a group of motorcyclists and a group of Myrtle Beach businesses called BOOST, Business Owners Organized to Support Tourism, who opposed the city's anti-motorcycle tourism policy.
Shopping
Myrtle Beach has many different stores and malls, is one of the largest shopping areas in the Southeastern United StatesSoutheastern United States
The Southeastern United States, colloquially referred to as the Southeast, is the eastern portion of the Southern United States. It is one of the most populous regions in the United States of America....
, and is the largest shopping destination in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
.
- Barefoot LandingBarefoot LandingBarefoot Landing is a large shopping complex located in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It consists of several divided sections of stores and attractions located on filled land over top of Lake Louie, next to the Intracoastal Waterway....
opened in 1988 and currently includes 100 stores, restaurants and attractions. The center also has the Alabama TheatreAlabama Theatre (Myrtle Beach)The Alabama Theatre is a public theatre located in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and part of the Barefoot Landing complex. Opened in 1993, the theatre hosts many shows that are geared towards families who spend time vacationing in the Myrtle Beach area. The theatre is most popular for having...
, which has concerts by traditional country musicCountry musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singers. The center also includes a golf resort. - Coastal Grand MallCoastal Grand MallCoastal Grand Mall is a super-regional shopping mall in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States. The mall is the second largest in the state, with of retail space. The mall is one level, but the majority of the anchor stores have two.-Description:...
opened in 2004 and is the largest indoor mall in the state. The mall, which has indoor and outdoor shopping areas, has a gross leasable area of 1047732 square feet (97,337.5 m²). The single-story facility features five anchor stores (including BelkBelkBelk is a department store chain founded in 1888 in Monroe, North Carolina, today part of the Charlotte metropolitan area. After the founding of the first Belk store, the company grew in size and influence throughout the South via the chain in the USA, with its stores primarily located in the...
, JCPenney, and Dillard'sDillard'sDillard's, Inc. is a department store chain in the United States, with 330 stores in 29 states. Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dillard's locations are concentrated in Texas and Florida; with a major presence in other states including Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri,...
), a 14-screen movie theater, a food court, and roughly 170 stores in total. - Myrtle Beach MallMyrtle Beach MallMyrtle Beach Mall is a regional shopping mall located in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States. The mall has , JCPenney, and Bass Pro Shops....
is 525385 square feet (48,809.9 m²), and features three anchor stores, notably Bass Pro ShopsBass Pro ShopsBass Pro Shops is a privately held retailer of hunting, fishing, camping and related outdoor recreation merchandise. Bass Pro Shops is known for a large selection of hunting, fishing, and other outdoor gear.-History:The owner, John L...
, as well as BelkBelkBelk is a department store chain founded in 1888 in Monroe, North Carolina, today part of the Charlotte metropolitan area. After the founding of the first Belk store, the company grew in size and influence throughout the South via the chain in the USA, with its stores primarily located in the...
and JCPenney. The single-story mall also has a 12-screen movie theater, a food court, and a variety of other specialty stores. This is formerly known as Colonial Mall, and originally Briarcliffe Mall. - Tanger Outlets at Myrtle Beach features over 100 brand name outlets from many of the country's most popular brands, such as Nautica and SonySony, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
. It is located on U.S. Route 501 entering the city. - Broadway at the BeachBroadway at the BeachBroadway at the Beach is a shopping center located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Since its inception in 1996, it has grown to be one of Myrtle Beach's premier shopping destinations. Broadway at the Beach is owned and operated by Burroughs & Chapin Company, Inc...
is a shopping complex set on 350 acres (1.4 km²) along the Highway 17 Bypass, featuring three theaters, 17 restaurants and more than 100 specialty shops as well as attractions, nightclubs, and three hotels, all surrounding the 23 acres (93,077.8 m²) Lake Broadway. It is the largest festival entertainment complex in South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. Notable attractions are an IMAX theater, Ripley's Aquarium, Hard Rock CafeHard Rock CafeHard Rock Cafe is a chain of theme restaurants founded in 1971 by Americans Peter Morton & Isaac Tigrett. In 1979, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and roll memorabilia, a tradition which expanded to others in the chain. In 2006, Hard Rock was sold to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and...
, Planet HollywoodPlanet HollywoodPlanet Hollywood, a restaurant inspired by the popular portrayal of Hollywood, was launched in New York on October 22, 1991, with the backing of Hollywood stars Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.-History:...
, Jimmy Buffett's MargaritavilleJimmy Buffett's MargaritavilleJimmy Buffett's Margaritaville is the name of a United States-based casual dining American restaurant chain and a chain of stores selling Jimmy Buffett-themed merchandise...
, and The Pavilion Nostalgia Park. - The Market Common Myrtle BeachThe Market Common Myrtle BeachThe Market Common Myrtle Beach is a lifestyle center located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It is part of the Myrtle Beach International Airport complex that became civilian after the closure of the Air Force Base that was shared with the airport. It is located near the Myrtle Beach...
is a lifestyle centerLifestyle center (retail)A lifestyle center is a shopping center or mixed-used commercial development that combines the traditional retail functions of a shopping mall with leisure amenities oriented towards upscale consumers...
featuring several upscale shops, a movie theater. It is located on the site of the former Myrtle Beach Air Force BaseMyrtle Beach Air Force BaseMyrtle Beach Air Force Base is a closed United States Air Force facility, located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It was established in 1940 as a World War II training base and was also used for coastal patrols during the war...
.
College/post-secondary
The Myrtle Beach metro area provides following college and post-secondary schools:Private schools
Below is a list of private schools within the city of Myrtle Beach.- St. Andrew's Catholic School
- Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach
- Carolina Bays Academy
- Chabad Academy
- Calvary Christian School
- Bridgewater Academy
- Cathedral Hall High School
- Christian Academy
- Life Christian Academy & Child
- Socastee Montessori School
- St Andrew Catholic School
Horry County, South Carolina
- Myrtle Beach, South CarolinaMyrtle Beach, South CarolinaMyrtle Beach is a coastal city on the east coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is situated on the center of a large and continuous stretch of beach known as the Grand Strand in northeastern South Carolina. It is considered to be a major tourist destination in the...
- pop. 22,759 (2006, city)- Carolina Forest, South CarolinaCarolina Forest, South CarolinaCarolina Forest is an unincorporated community in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. It lies between Myrtle Beach and Conway in an area planned by International Paper in the late 1990s. Regarded as the "bedroom community" of Myrtle Beach, the planned unit development will have 20,000...
- pop. 5,009 (2000, unincorporated Horry County) - Forestbrook, South CarolinaForestbrook, South CarolinaForestbrook is a census-designated place in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 3,391 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Forestbrook is located at ....
- pop. 3,391 (2000, unincorporated Horry County) - Socastee, South CarolinaSocastee, South CarolinaSocastee is a census-designated place in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 14,295 at the 2000 census.-History:...
- pop. 14,295 (2000, unincorporated Horry County)
- Carolina Forest, South Carolina
- North Myrtle Beach, South CarolinaNorth Myrtle Beach, South CarolinaNorth Myrtle Beach is a coastal resort city in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. It was created in 1968 from four existing municipalities north of Myrtle Beach, and serves as one of the primary tourist towns along the Grand Strand...
- pop. 10,974 (2000, city)- Cherry Grove Beach, South CarolinaCherry Grove Beach, South CarolinaCherry Grove Beach, sometimes known as Cherry Grove, is neighborhood of the city of North Myrtle Beach in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. It lies along SC 9 and SC 65. The Cherry Grove Pier is a popular landmark of Cherry Grove. It was built early in the 1950s. It has weathered many...
(neighborhood) - Ocean Drive, South Carolina (neighborhood)
- Crescent Beach, South CarolinaCrescent Beach, South CarolinaCrescent Beach is a neighborhood of the city of North Myrtle Beach in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. In 1968 Crescent Beach merged with Windy Hill Beach, Ocean Drive Beach, and Cherry Grove Beach to form the city of North Myrtle Beach. Crescent Beach, CB is on the South Side of NMB...
(neighborhood) - Windy Hill, South Carolina (neighborhood)
- Cherry Grove Beach, South Carolina
- Atlantic Beach, South CarolinaAtlantic Beach, South CarolinaAtlantic Beach is a small Seaside town in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 351 at the 2000 census. Most of the land around the town is annexed into the city of North Myrtle Beach.-Geography:Atlantic Beach is located at ....
- pop. 351 (2000, town) - Briarcliffe Acres, South CarolinaBriarcliffe Acres, South CarolinaBriarcliffe Acres is a town in Horry County, South Carolina, United States that is between Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach. The population was 470 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Briarcliffe Acres is located at...
- pop. 470 (2000, unincorporated Horry County) - Little River, South CarolinaLittle River, South CarolinaLittle River is a census-designated place in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 7,027 at the 2000 census....
- pop. 7,027 (2000, town) - Conway, South CarolinaConway, South CarolinaConway is a city in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 16,317 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Horry County and is part of the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area. It is the home of Coastal Carolina University....
- pop. 11,788 (2000, city) - Surfside Beach, South CarolinaSurfside Beach, South CarolinaSurfside Beach is a small seaside town in Horry County, South Carolina, United States situated directly south of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Its nickname is "The Family Beach". The population was 4,425 at the 2000 census...
- pop. 4,425 (2000, town) - Garden City, South CarolinaGarden City, South CarolinaGarden City, sometimes known as Garden City Beach, is a census-designated place in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. While Garden City is sometimes considered to be a city it is not incorporated and does not yet have a city council or mayor. The population was 9,357 at the 2000 census...
- pop. 9,357 (2000, unincorporated Horry County)
Georgetown County, South Carolina
- Murrells Inlet, South CarolinaMurrells Inlet, South CarolinaMurrells Inlet is a small fishing village in Horry County, South Carolina, United States that is considered to be the "Seafood Capital of South Carolina". The population was 5,519 at the 2000 census. It was once primarily a fishing village, but has grown substantially in modern time, along with the...
- pop. 5,519 (2000, unincorporated Georgetown County) - Litchfield Beach, South CarolinaLitchfield Beach, South CarolinaLitchfield Beach, also known simply as Litchfield, is an unincorporated community in Georgetown County, South Carolina. It lies in the Waccamaw Neck section, 3 miles north of Pawleys Island, on the Grand Strand....
- (unincorporated Georgetown County) - Pawleys Island, South CarolinaPawleys Island, South CarolinaPawleys Island is a town in Georgetown County, South Carolina, United States, and the Atlantic coast barrier island on which the town sits. The population was 138 at the 2000 census...
- pop. 1,380 (2000, town) - DeBordieu, South CarolinaDeBordieu, South CarolinaDeBordieu, DeBordieu Beach or DeBordieu Colony is a private community in Georgetown County, South Carolina. It covers of land and wildlife preserve. DeBordieu is located south of Pawleys Island and north of Georgetown just off of U.S. Route 17...
- (unincorporated Georgetown County) - Georgetown, South CarolinaGeorgetown, South CarolinaGeorgetown is the third oldest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina and the county seat of Georgetown County, in the Low Country. Located on Winyah Bay at the confluence of the Great Pee Dee River, Waccamaw River, and Sampit River, Georgetown is the second largest seaport in South Carolina,...
- pop. 8,950 (2000, city)
Air
- Myrtle Beach International AirportMyrtle Beach International AirportMyrtle Beach International Airport is a county-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Myrtle Beach, in Horry County, South Carolina, United States...
opened in 1976 and is located on the south side of town. - The Grand Strand AirportGrand Strand AirportGrand Strand Airport is a county-owned, public-use airport located one nautical mile northwest of the central business district of North Myrtle Beach, in Horry County, South Carolina, United States...
, located in the North Myrtle Beach area, is a single-terminal airport (CRE), serving primarily banner planes and small aircraft. - A private helicopter facility operated by Omniflight services Myrtle Beach and surrounding areas.
Rail
Myrtle Beach is served by the Waccamaw Coastline Railroad rail line that runs largely parallel to U.S. Route 501 between Conway and downtown Myrtle Beach. The line is owned by Horry County, but was leased in 2000 to the Carolina Southern Railroad.Carolina Southern Railroad is a short line rail operator running on less than 100 miles (160.9 km) of rail at a maximum speed of 10 mi/h. It transports mostly freight brought to it from national rail operators. The company makes one scheduled delivery per month into the City of Myrtle Beach.
Roads
- Farrow ParkwayFarrow ParkwayFarrow Parkway is a four-lane, parkway that connects US 17 and US 17 Business in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The $6.9 million roadway replaced a former two-lane roadway through the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base with funding from the city of Myrtle Beach funds and Horry County RIDE funds....
- Ocean BoulevardSouth Carolina Highway 73South Carolina Highway 73 was a highway running along the Atlantic coast in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.- Route description :...
- Harrelson BoulevardHarrelson BoulevardHarrelson Boulevard is a four lane highway in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It starts at George Bishop Parkway, crosses the Intracoastal Waterway and U.S. 17 and goes to Myrtle Beach International Airport and runs near Coastal Grand Mall. The highway is also the southern terminus for Grissom Parkway...
- Grissom ParkwayRobert Grissom ParkwayRobert M. Grissom Parkway, locally known as Grissom Parkway, is a major four-lane connector highway in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The road begins at Harrelson Boulevard near Myrtle Beach International Airport and terminates in Carolina Forest, South Carolina at SC Highway 31 and International...
Within the last decade, new roads have been created to ease congestion caused by the yearly influx of visitors. Most of these roads follow the Metro Loop Road Plan, organized in 1997 to improve the traffic flow of Myrtle Beach. Some of the roads included have either been funded through RIDE I funding or through the City of Myrtle Beach.
RIDE II plans include the third phase of S.C. Highway 31, a graded separation of Farrow Parkway
Farrow Parkway
Farrow Parkway is a four-lane, parkway that connects US 17 and US 17 Business in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The $6.9 million roadway replaced a former two-lane roadway through the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base with funding from the city of Myrtle Beach funds and Horry County RIDE funds....
and US 17 Bypass at the back gate of the former Air Force base, and many other projects. The county is currently debating where to allocate the $400 million generated through a proposed 1-cent sales tax. Other road projects in Horry County, including some in Aynor
Aynor, South Carolina
Aynor is a town in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 647 in September 2011. The surrounding Aynor area of Galivants Ferry has a population of 5,429 as of September 2011.-Geography:Aynor is located at ....
and Conway
Conway, South Carolina
Conway is a city in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 16,317 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Horry County and is part of the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area. It is the home of Coastal Carolina University....
, will be included when voted upon.
Plans exist for Myrtle Beach to be eventually served by two interstates, Interstate 73
Interstate 73
Interstate 73 is a main route of the Interstate Highway System, currently located entirely within the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is part of a longer planned corridor, defined by various Federal laws to run from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to Grayling, Michigan, but only the part south of...
and Interstate 74
Interstate 74
Interstate 74 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western end is at an intersection with Interstate 80 in Davenport, Iowa; the eastern end of its Midwest segment is at an intersection with Interstate 75 in Cincinnati, Ohio...
. The Robert Edge Parkway will connect I-74 to downtown North Myrtle Beach
North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
North Myrtle Beach is a coastal resort city in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. It was created in 1968 from four existing municipalities north of Myrtle Beach, and serves as one of the primary tourist towns along the Grand Strand...
.
Sports
Myrtle Beach is home to the Myrtle Beach PelicansMyrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are a minor league baseball team in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. They are a Class A Advanced team in the Carolina League and the franchise is currently the farm team of the Texas Rangers. From their inaugural season until 2010, the Pelicans were an affiliate of the...
, a Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
baseball team and Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
farm franchise.
BB&T Coastal Field is the home field of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans and is located just off Highway 17 in Myrtle Beach. It opened in 1999 and seats 6,500 people. It is the finish point of the Bi-Lo Myrtle Beach Marathon, an athletics event held in February of each year.
BB&T Coastal Field is also home of the annual "Baseball At The Beach" collegiate baseball tournament. Hosted by Coastal Carolina University each year, the tournament pits participating NCAA Division I baseball programs in the United States.
From 1998-2009 and again starting in 2011 (no Saturday races were held in 2010), the area hosted the Bi-Lo
BI-LO (United States)
BI-LO is a supermarket chain headquartered in Mauldin, South Carolina. As of May 2010, BI-LO operates 207 supermarkets in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. The company employs approximately 17,000 people. Supermarket News ranked BI-LO No...
Myrtle Beach Marathon presented by Chick-Fil-A
Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A |"fillet"]]) is a quick service restaurant chain headquartered in College Park, Georgia, United States, specializing in chicken entrées and is known for promoting the company founder's claims of Christian values. Long associated with the southern United States, where it has been a...
, every February featuring (since 2004) the Friday night Royal Bank of Canada
Royal Bank of Canada
The Royal Bank of Canada or RBC Financial Group is the largest financial institution in Canada, as measured by deposits, revenues, and market capitalization. The bank serves seventeen million clients and has 80,100 employees worldwide. The company corporate headquarters are located in Toronto,...
5K and the Saturday Dasani Half Marathon and Bi-Lo Marathon (from 1998 until 2008, a relay was held but dropped because of the popularity of the other events). Marathon day draws the limit of 6,000 runners annually (2,500 full, 3,500 half) and results usually in an unusual dawn as the race starts before dawn (6:30 AM) in order to finish by 2:30 PM.
NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
-sanctioned Stock car racing
Stock car racing
Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing found mainly in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain, Brazil and Argentina. Traditionally, races are run on oval tracks measuring approximately in length...
is held at Myrtle Beach Speedway
Myrtle Beach Speedway
The Myrtle Beach Speedway, originally named Rambi Raceway, was built in 1958 and is located on U.S. Route 501 near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.The speedway is a semi-banked asphaltic oval track that spans...
, a 0.538 mile (0.86582492 km), semi-banked, asphalt-paved oval track located on US 501. Drivers in the Late Model classes will compete (against those of Greenville-Pickens Speedway
Greenville-Pickens Speedway
Greenville-Pickens Speedway is a race track located in Pickens County, South Carolina, just west of Greenville, South Carolina, USA, and just east of Easley, South Carolina. The track hosts weekly NASCAR sanctioned races. Several touring series visit the track each year, including the Whelen...
) for the South Carolina Championship in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. South Carolina Champions' scores will be calculated against other state and provincial champions for a continental championship.
It hosted the 2010 UOA Nationals where 8 collegiate ultimate teams from 5 conferences will be represented.
Golf
The area is home to numerous golf courses and mini-golf courses along the Grand Strand and further inland. Myrtle Beach has been called the "Golf Capital of the World" because of the 120 golf courses located there, the record 4.2 million rounds played, and many miniature golf courses. 3.7 million total rounds of golf were played in 2007. The majority of the area's golf courses are public. Some of the notable golf courses and/or resorts include:Television
The Grand Strand and Florence, South CarolinaFlorence, South Carolina
-Municipal government and politics:The City of Florence has a council-manager form of government. The mayor and city council are elected every four years, with no term limits...
share a common defined market by Nielsen Media Research
Nielsen Media Research
Nielsen Media Research is an American firm that measures media audiences, including television, radio, theatre films and newspapers...
in Horry
Horry County, South Carolina
Horry County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. This name honored Revolutionary War Hero, Peter Horry. Brigadier General Horry was born in South Carolina sometime around 1743 and started his distinguished military career in 1775 as one of 20 captains the Provincial Congress...
, Marion, Dillon, Darlington, Marlboro, Scotland
Scotland County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 35,998 people, 13,399 households, and 9,674 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 14,693 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...
, Robeson
Robeson County, North Carolina
Robeson County is a county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010 it had a population of 134,168. Since then, it has been one of the 10% of United States counties that were majority-minority; its combined population of American Indian, African American and Latino residents comprise over...
, and Florence
Florence County, South Carolina
Florence is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2000, its population was recorded to be 125,761; in 2005, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that its population had reached 131,097. Its county seat is Florence. The county's population is about 60% urban and it comprises part of...
counties.
Newspapers
The Sun News is the largest daily paper published along the Grand Strand, with a readership base extending from Georgetown, South CarolinaGeorgetown, South Carolina
Georgetown is the third oldest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina and the county seat of Georgetown County, in the Low Country. Located on Winyah Bay at the confluence of the Great Pee Dee River, Waccamaw River, and Sampit River, Georgetown is the second largest seaport in South Carolina,...
, to Sunset Beach, North Carolina
Sunset Beach, North Carolina
Sunset Beach is a seaside town in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,824 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Sunset Beach is located at ....
. The paper has been in existence since the 1930s and was formerly published by Knight Ridder
Knight Ridder
Knight Ridder was an American media company, specializing in newspaper and Internet publishing. Until it was bought by The McClatchy Company on June 27, 2006, it was the second-largest newspaper publisher in the United States, with 32 daily newspapers sold.- History :The corporate ancestors of...
before that company was bought by The McClatchy Company
The McClatchy Company
The McClatchy Company is a publicly traded American publishing company based in Sacramento, California. It operates 30 daily newspapers in 15 states and has an average weekday circulation of 2.2 million and Sunday circulation of 2.8 million...
.
There are by several weekly papers, including The Weekly Surge, the Myrtle Beach Herald, and the Horry Independent.
There is also an online newspaper, myrtlebeachgazette.com