Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Myrtle Beach is a coastal city and major beach destination in Horry County, South Carolina. Covering 16.8 sq mi (43.5 sq km), it has a population of 27,000 people (2011 estimate). The city features a wide sandy beach called Grand Strand which has been developed into a tourist belt lined with beach hotels, condominiums and beach homes.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Myrtle_Beach,_SC_Spring_Break_2007_33.jpg
Author: Curtis and Eric


Myrtle Beach enjoys a humid subtropical climate moderated by the Atlantic Ocean. Summers here are hot and humid while winters cool. The city receives quite a lot of rain particularly in the summer months. August is the wettest month at Myrtle Beach, receiving 7.38 in (187.5 mm) of rain. July is the warmest month, with average high temperature reaching 91°F (33°C). January is the coldest month, at 34°F (1°C).

The Myrtle Beach area was the traditional homeland of the Waccamaw tribe of Native Americans. The first Europeans settled here in the late 18th century and established plantations along the coast. They grew indigo and tobacco, of insignificant quantity and quality, due to the poor quality of the soil. Hence not much was written about the area in the early days.

In the 18th and early 19th century, recreational tourism has not yet been developed, and the pristine coastline remained uninhabited and undeveloped. It was only with the arrival of the railway line, in the final year of the 19th century, that the otherwise barren Myrtle Beach began to develop. But not for tourism. The early industry was lumber.

The person instrumental in putting Myrtle Beach on the tourist map was Franklin Burroughs, to envisioned a tourist destination similar to Florida. Though he died before realising his dream, his sons extended the railway line to the coast, and opened Seaside Inn in 1901. At that time, Myrtle Beach was known by the rather drab name of New Town. It got its present name in 1957, when it was incorporated.

Today Myrtle Beach receives 14.6 million visitors every year. It is a regional destination for conventions, events and music concerts. The city has a developed entertainment industry, with amusement parks, an IMAX theater and numerous seafood restaurants.

Visiting Myrtle Beach

You can fly directly to Myrtle Beach, arriving at the Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR), which gets regular flights from Allentown, Atlanta, Boston, Charleston, Charlotte, Columbus, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Huntington (West Virginia), Newark, New York-LaGuardia, Niagara, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington DC and Youngstown, among others. If coming by car, take Interstate 95, then continue on US Highway 501 all the way till Myrtle Beach.

Places of Interest in Myrtle Beach

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