Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - wikipedia Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Myrtle Beach, South Carolina City City of Myrtle Beach Ferris wheel in Myrtle Beach Flag Seal Location of Myrtle Beach in South Carolina Myrtle Beach Location in the United States Coordinates : 33 ° 43 ′ N 78 ° 53 ′ W ﻿ / ﻿ 33.717 ° N 78.883 ° W ﻿ / 33.717 ; - 78.883 Coordinates : 33 ° 43 ′ N 78 ° 53 ′ W ﻿ / ﻿ 33.717 ° N 78.883 ° W ﻿ / 33.717 ; - 78.883 Country United States State South Carolina County Horry Government Mayor John Rhodes ( Brenda Bethune is not yet mayor, she will not be officially be the mayor until early January 2018 ) Area City 16.8 sq mi ( 43.5 km ) Land 16.8 sq mi ( 43.5 km ) Water 12,359,674 sq mi ( 0.1 km ) Elevation 26 ft ( 8 m ) Population ( 2013 ) City 29,175 Rank SC : 13th Density 1,356 / sq mi ( 523.7 / km ) Metro 269,291 Time zone EST ( UTC - 5 ) Summer ( DST ) EDT ( UTC - 4 ) ZIP Codes 29572, 29575, 29577, 29578, 29579, 29586, 29587, 29588 Area code ( s ) 843 854 ( new overlay Area code 854 effective early 2015. ) FIPS code 45 - 49075 GNIS feature ID 1249770 Website www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com Myrtle Beach / ˈmɜːrtəlˈbiːtʃ / 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. Myrtle Beach is one of the major centers of tourism in South Carolina and the United States because of the city 's warm subtropical climate and extensive beaches, attracting an estimated 14 million visitors each year. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city was 27,109 with the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area population at 465,391 according to a 2013 estimate. Contents 1 History 2 Geography 2.1 Neighborhoods 2.2 Climate 3 Demographics 3.1 Ethnicities 3.2 Age 3.3 Income 4 Economy 4.1 Tourism 4.1. 1 Thong bikini ban 4.1. 2 Motorcycle rallies 4.2 Shopping 5 Sports 5.1 Golf 6 Government 6.1 Mayors 7 Education 7.1 Primary and secondary education 7.1. 1 Public schools 7.1. 2 Private Schools and Charter Schools 7.2 Higher education 8 Media 8.1 Television 8.2 Radio 8.3 Newspapers 9 Infrastructure 9.1 Transportation 9.1. 1 Air 9.1. 2 Rail 9.1. 3 Roads 9.1. 4 Mass transit 9.2 Healthcare 10 Sister cities 11 Notable people 12 References 13 External links History The F.G. Burroughs steamship Original Myrtle Beach Air Force Base during World War II Rainbow Court ( 1935 to 1959 ) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places Brookgreen Gardens sculpture park ( 1932 ) in Murrells Inlet 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 Witherses : John, Richard, William, and Mary. This family received an area around present - day Wither 's Swash, also known as Myrtle Swash or the eight - 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. The Burroughs and Collins Company of Conway, predecessor of modern - day Burroughs & Chapin, purchased much of the Withers ' family land in 1881, and the growing community was called New Town around the start of the 20th century. A post office named `` Withers '' to serve the site of the old Swash in 1888. On February 28, 1899 Burroughs and Collins received a 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. After the railroad was finished, employees of the lumber and railroad company would take train flatcars 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. Around the start 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. Around 1900, a contest was held to name the area and Burroughs ' wife suggested honoring the locally abundant shrub, the Southern Wax Myrtle ( Myrica cerifera ). The Withers post office changed its name to Myrtle Beach soon afterward. It incorporated as a town in 1938 and as a city in 1957. 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. The Myrtle Heights - Oak Park Historic District, Myrtle Beach Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Station, Ocean Forest Country Club, Pleasant Inn, and Rainbow Court are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Also listed was the Chesterfield Inn, now demolished. The demolished Myrtle Beach Pavilion. The Gay Dolphin Gift Cove on the Boardwalk was built in 1946, and sells seashells and Myrtle Beach souvenirs. It claims to be the `` nation 's largest gift shop. '' Geography A man - made island, Myrtle Beach has been separated from the continental United States since 1936 by the Intracoastal Waterway, forcing the city and area in general to develop within a small distance from the coast. In part due to this separation, the area directly west of Myrtle Beach across the waterway remained primarily rural, whereas its northern and southern ends were bordered by other developed tourist towns, North Myrtle Beach and Surfside Beach. Since then, the inland portion of the Myrtle Beach area has developed dramatically and the beach itself is developing westward. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 23.55 square miles ( 61.0 km ). Neighborhoods Arcadian Shores Benton Park Booker T. Washington Carrie May Johnson Carver Chestnut Hill Dogwood Dunes Cove East Chester Fantasy Harbour Forest Acres Forest Dunes Futrell Park Grande Dunes Green Bay Park Harlem Highlands Hurl Rocks Konig Market Common Myrtlewood Myrtle Heights Northwood Ocean Forest Ocean View Old Pine Lakes Owens Pebble Beach Pine Lake Estates Pine Lakes Plantation Point Racepath Ramsey Acres Seagate Village Springmaid Beach The Dunes Washington Park Withers Preserve Withers Swash Yaupon Circle Climate According to the Köppen climate classification, Myrtle Beach has a humid subtropical climate or Cfa -- typical of the Gulf and South Atlantic states. The city enjoys abundant sunshine year - round with more than 2800 hours annually. Myrtle Beach is protected from erosion by vegetation - filled sand dunes. The summer season is long, hot, and humid in Myrtle Beach. Average daytime highs are from 83 to 91 ° F ( 28 to 33 ° C ) and average night - time lows are near 70 ° F ( 21 ° C ). The coastal location of Myrtle Beach mitigates summer heat somewhat compared to inland areas of South Carolina : Thus, while nearby Florence averages 65 days annually with high temperatures of 90 ° F or higher -- Myrtle Beach averages only 21. The Bermuda High pumps in humidity from the tropical Atlantic toward Myrtle Beach, giving summers a near tropical feel in the city. The warm Atlantic Ocean reaches 80 ° F or higher in the summer months off Myrtle Beach, making for warm and sultry summer nights. Summer thunderstorms are common in the hot season in Myrtle Beach, and the summer months from June through September have the most precipitation. In summer, thunderstorms normally build during the heat of the day -- followed by brief and intense downpours. Myrtle Beach has mostly mild winters of short duration : Average daytime highs range from 57 to 61 ° F ( 14 -- 16 ° C ) and nighttime lows are in the 36 to 38 ° F ( 2 -- 3 ° C ) from December through February. Winter temperatures vary more than summer temperatures in Myrtle Beach : Some winters can see several cold days with highs only in the upper 40s F ( 7 -- 9 ° C ), while other winter days can see highs in the upper 60s and low 70s F ( 19 -- 23 ° C ). Myrtle Beach averages 33 days annually with frost, though in some years less than 15 days will see frost. Snowfall is very rare in Myrtle Beach, however a few times every 15 or 20 years a trace of snow might fall. In February 2010, a rare 2.8 inches ( 71 mm ) of snow fell in Myrtle Beach. The spring ( March, April and May ) and fall ( September, October and November ) months are normally mild and sunny in Myrtle Beach, with high temperatures in the 60s and 70s. The beach season in Myrtle Beach normally runs from late April through late October. SST ( Sea Surface Temperatures ) are often in the lower 80 's ( 26 -- 28 ° C ) off South Carolina in summer and early fall. Summer thunderstorms can be severe, but are brief, but tornadoes are rare in Myrtle Beach. Tropical cyclones occasionally impact Myrtle Beach, though weaker tropical storms and weak tropical lows are more common. Like most areas prone to tropical cyclones, a direct hit by a major hurricane is infrequent in Myrtle Beach. The last hurricane to cause significant damage in Myrtle Beach was Hurricane Hugo in 1989. The worst hurricane in the history of Myrtle Beach was Hurricane Hazel in 1954. Climate data for Myrtle Beach ( 1988 − 2010 normals ) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high ° F ( ° C ) 83 ( 28 ) 85 ( 29 ) 94 ( 34 ) 96 ( 36 ) 101 ( 38 ) 106 ( 41 ) 104 ( 40 ) 106 ( 41 ) 102 ( 39 ) 98 ( 37 ) 89 ( 32 ) 84 ( 29 ) 106 ( 41 ) Average high ° F ( ° C ) 56.3 ( 13.5 ) 58.6 ( 14.8 ) 64.2 ( 17.9 ) 71.9 ( 22.2 ) 78.9 ( 26.1 ) 84.7 ( 29.3 ) 87.7 ( 30.9 ) 86.9 ( 30.5 ) 83.7 ( 28.7 ) 75.8 ( 24.3 ) 67.8 ( 19.9 ) 58.2 ( 14.6 ) 72.9 ( 22.7 ) Average low ° F ( ° C ) 36.7 ( 2.6 ) 38.0 ( 3.3 ) 44.2 ( 6.8 ) 51.8 ( 11 ) 60.5 ( 15.8 ) 68.9 ( 20.5 ) 72.8 ( 22.7 ) 71.1 ( 21.7 ) 65.8 ( 18.8 ) 54.6 ( 12.6 ) 45.0 ( 7.2 ) 37.3 ( 2.9 ) 53.9 ( 12.2 ) Record low ° F ( ° C ) ( − 16 ) 11 ( − 12 ) 12 ( − 11 ) 22 ( − 6 ) 35 ( 2 ) 42 ( 6 ) 51 ( 11 ) 55 ( 13 ) 45 ( 7 ) 22 ( − 6 ) 16 ( − 9 ) 8 ( − 13 ) ( − 16 ) Average precipitation inches ( mm ) 3.31 ( 84.1 ) 3.43 ( 87.1 ) 3.60 ( 91.4 ) 2.51 ( 63.8 ) 3.14 ( 79.8 ) 4.38 ( 111.3 ) 5.68 ( 144.3 ) 6.19 ( 157.2 ) 6.33 ( 160.8 ) 3.91 ( 99.3 ) 2.50 ( 63.5 ) 3.27 ( 83.1 ) 48.24 ( 1,225.3 ) Average snowfall inches ( cm ) 0 ( 0 ) 0.1 ( 0.3 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0.6 ( 1.5 ) 0.8 ( 2 ) Average precipitation days ( ≥ 0.01 in ) 8.5 6.8 7.0 5.9 7.7 8.7 9.9 10.6 8.4 6.0 5.7 7.6 92.8 Average snowy days ( ≥ 0.1 in ) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 0.1 Source : ( 2 ) Demographics Historical population Census Pop. % ± 1940 1,597 -- 1950 3,345 109.5 % 1960 7,834 134.2 % 1970 8,536 9.0 % 1980 18,446 116.1 % 24,848 34.7 % 2000 22,759 − 8.4 % 27,109 19.1 % Est. 2016 32,240 18.9 % U.S. Decennial Census Myrtle Beach is the largest principal city of the Myrtle Beach - Conway - Georgetown CSA, a Combined Statistical Area that includes the Myrtle Beach - Conway - North Myrtle Beach metropolitan area ( Horry County ) and the Georgetown micropolitan area ( Georgetown County ), which had a combined population of 329,449 at the 2010 census. As of the 2010 census, the population of Myrtle Beach was 27,109. Per the 2000 census there were 22,759 permanent residents in Myrtle Beach, 10,413 households, 5,414 families, 1,356.5 people per square mile ( 523.7 / km2 ), with 14,658 housing units at an average density of 873.5 per square mile ( 337.3 / km2 ). Ethnicities The racial makeup of the city was : 72.3 % white 13.9 % Black 0.7 % Native American 1.5 % Asian 0.3 % Pacific Islander 8.7 % from other races 2.7 % from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.7 % of the population. Age Location of the Myrtle Beach - Conway - Georgetown CSA and its components : Myrtle Beach - Conway - North Myrtle Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area Georgetown Micropolitan Statistical Area Of the total Myrtle Beach population : 18.0 % were 1 -- 17 11.0 % were between 18 -- 24 33.6 % were between 25 -- 44 22.5 % were between 45 -- 64 15.0 % were 65 or older Median age was 37 years 103 males per 100 females overall 101 males per 100 females age 18 and over Income Overall median income for a household in the city was $35,498 Median income for a family was $43,900 Males had a median income of $26,039 Females had a median income of $22,473 The per capita income for the city was $23,214. About 7.6 % of families and 12.0 % of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.1 % of those under age 18 and 6.6 % of those age 65 or over. Economy The 29 - floor Margate Hotel Tower is the tallest building in Myrtle Beach Myrtle Beach 's economy is dominated by the tourist industry ; hotels, motels, resorts, restaurants, attractions, and retail developments exist in abundance to service visitors. There are approximately 95 golf courses in and around Myrtle Beach ( as of 2015 ) 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 Myrtle Beach ( July 2014 ) Hosting over 14 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. Nearly 100,000 visitors a year are estimated to come from overseas, with tourists from Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom. Main article : List of attractions in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Myrtle Beach hosts a variety of special conventions, events, and musical concerts. The area 's attractions include its beaches and courses, as well as a number of amusement parks, an aquarium, Legends In Concert, retail developments, a number of shopping complexes and over 1,900 restaurants including seafood restaurants. 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 East Coast of the United States. Myrtle Beach has the Sun Fun Festival early each June. 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 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s ), Light -- a Laser Extravaganza. During the holiday season, the venue hosts the Carolina Opry Christmas Special. It is 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. The Myrtle Beach Skywheel opened at the boardwalk in May, 2011, and is a 200 - foot ( 61 m ) observation wheel, similar to a ferris wheel, with glass gondolas that look over the Atlantic Ocean. This is 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 camping, swimming, hiking, biking, and fishing. Pier 14 by the Boardwalk. Hotels and tourists along the Myrtle Beach shoreline ( July 2014 ) View of hotels in Myrtle Beach Myrtle Beach Boardwalk Myrtle Beach SkyWheel Splashes Oceanfront Water Park Family Kingdom Amusement Park opened in 1966 The Myrtle Beach Convention Center is a large facility that hosts a variety of meetings, conferences, exhibits, and special events every year. The expansive center, which opened in 2003, has a Sheraton hotel and resort. 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 of 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. In June, recently graduated high school seniors come to Myrtle Beach for Senior Week. 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. The majority of visitors make their way to the region during the high season ( June -- August ) looking to make the most of its fine weather. Although gambling is not legal in South Carolina, Myrtle Beach residents and visitors have easy access to gambling by boat, as passengers can travel into international waters beyond the reach of federal and state gambling laws. The city and surrounding area is served by Myrtle Beach International Airport. With regular flights to and from destinations such as Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, New York and Washington, the airport itself is well connected for both domestic and international tourists visiting the region. The airport also serves as a seasonal gateway to and from the likes of Chicago, Dallas and Toronto. The city is located between Wilmington, North Carolina and Charleston, South Carolina with U.S. Route 17 serving as the main transport link for those journeying from the north and south. Thong bikini ban Thongs ( or any swimwear revealing any portion of the buttocks ) are not permitted anywhere in public in Myrtle Beach, including all beaches. Violators of the ban may be arrested, jailed, or fined. The city 's `` thong ordinance '' has been in effect since the 1990s. Motorcycle rallies Riders in traffic at the 2008 Atlantic Beach Bikefest. Myrtle Beach Bike Week, also called `` Harley Bike Week '' is a week - long motorcycle rally first held in 1940, the same year Kings Highway was paved. The event has 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, can not 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 is home to a large number of beachwear shops Alabama Theatre at Barefoot Landing Myrtle Beach has many stores and malls, is one of the largest shopping areas in the Southeastern United States, and is the largest shopping destination in South Carolina. Coastal Grand Mall opened in 2004 and is one of the largest indoor malls in the state. The mall, which has indoor and outdoor shopping areas, has a gross leasable area of 1,047,732 square feet ( 97,337.5 m ). The single - story facility has five anchor stores ( including Sears, Belk, JCPenney, and Dillard 's ), a 14 - screen movie theater, a food court, and roughly 170 stores in total. Myrtle Beach Mall is 525,385 square feet ( 48,809.9 m ), and has three anchor stores, Bass Pro Shops, Belk and JCPenney. The single - story mall also has a 12 - screen movie theater, a food court, and other specialty stores. It used to be known as Colonial Mall, and was built as Briarcliffe Mall. Tanger Outlets is a shopping outlet center. There are two locations, one near Briarcliffe Acres and one near Carolina Forest. Broadway at the Beach is a shopping complex set on 350 acres ( 1.4 km ) along the U.S. 17 Bypass surrounding the 23 - acre ( 93,000 m ) Lake Broadway. It is the largest festival entertainment complex in South Carolina. Barefoot Landing is an outdoor shopping complex that consists of several divided sections located on filled land over top of Louis Lake, next to the Intracoastal Waterway. It contains many stores and attractions such as House of Blues ( opened in 1997 ) and the Alabama Theatre. Opened in 1988. The Market Common is a lifestyle district housing several upscale retail and apartments. It is located on the site of the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. Sports Myrtle Beach Speedway The Myrtlewood Golf Club Myrtle Beach is home to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, a Carolina League baseball team, a Chicago Cubs farm franchise and the Myrtle Beach FC, a pro soccer team playing in the Premier Development League. From 1998 - 2009 and again starting in 2011 ( no Saturday races were held in 2010 due to snow ), 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. TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark 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. TicketReturn.com 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. NASCAR - sanctioned Stock car racing is held at Myrtle Beach Speedway, a. 538 - mile ( 866 m ), 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. 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 roughly 100 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. The Grand Strand is home of `` Hootie and the Blowfish Day After the Masters Tournament ''. Extensive Chinese investment to the Myrtle Beach area golf market has resulted in a significant surge of Chinese tourists to the area and also resulted in 25 + golf courses being owned and / or operated by Chinese nationals. Some of the notable golf courses and / or resorts include : North Strand Tidewater Thistle Rivers Edge Barefoot Resort Long Bay Glen Dornoch Surf Club Cape Fear National Ocean Ridge Plantation St. James Plantation Myrtle Beach / Conway Dunes Golf and Beach Club Grande Dunes Myrtle Beach National Pine Lakes International Legends Wild Wing Prestwick Arcadian Shores Myrtlewood Whispering Pines South Strand Caledonia True Blue Heritage Club TPC of Myrtle Beach Pawley 's Plantation Wachesaw Plantation DeBordieu Colony Reserve Club of Litchfield Willbrook River Club Government The city of Myrtle Beach has a council - manager government. The Mayor sits as a Council member - at - large and presides over City Council meetings. In the event that the Mayor can not preside over a City Council meeting, the Mayor Pro-Tem is the presiding officer of the meeting until such time as the Mayor returns to his seat. The City Manager is responsible for the administration and the day - to - day operation of all of the municipal services and city departments. The City Manager also maintains intergovernmental relationships with federal, state, county and other local governments. The city of Myrtle Beach reformed into a council - manager government system in 1974 under the administration of Mayor Bob Hirsch and city manager David Stradinger, who moved away from the city 's former strong - mayor form of government. Mayors The current mayor of Myrtle Beach is John Rhodes, who has served since 2006. Name From To Dr. W. Leroy Harrelson 1938 1939 Ben M. Graham 1939 1941 Dr. W. Leroy Harrelson 1941 1943 O.C. Callaway 1943 1947 H.W. Tallevast 1947 1949 J.N. Ramsey 1949 1954 Ernest W. Williams 1954 1955 W.E. Cameron 1956 1959 Mark W. Garner 1960 Bob Hirsch 1978 Eric Ficken 1978 1982 Robert M. Grissom 1982 1998 Mark Struthers McBride 1998 2006 John Rhodes 2006 present Education Primary and secondary education Public schools Myrtle Beach is served by a single public school district. Horry County Schools educates around 40,000 students and is the third largest school district in South Carolina. Private schools and charter schools Below is a list of private schools and charter 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 Palmetto Academy of Learning and Success Higher education Coastal Carolina University The largest university in the Myrtle Beach area is Coastal Carolina University, a state - supported, liberal arts university located eight miles northwest of Myrtle Beach in neighboring Conway, with a satellite campus in Myrtle Beach. The university is a national sea - grant institution and owns part of Waties Island, a 1,105 - acre ( 4.47 km2 ) barrier island which serves as a natural laboratory. The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers compete in NCAA Division I as a member of the Sun Belt Conference. The football team competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision or FBS. The football team plays at Brooks Stadium, which is notable for its teal artificial turf. The Myrtle Beach metro area has the following college and post-secondary schools : Golf Academy of America Palmetto School of Career Development -- Myrtle Beach Campus Horry - Georgetown Technical College ITT Technical Institute Miller - Motte Technical College Webster University -- Myrtle Beach Campus Media Television The Grand Strand and Florence, South Carolina share a common defined market by Nielsen Media Research in Horry, Marion, Dillon, Darlington, Marlboro, Scotland, Robeson, and Florence counties. Television stations in the Pee Dee region, including Myrtle Beach and Florence, South Carolina Reception may vary by location and some stations may only be viewable with cable television Digital television WBTW ( 13.1 CBS, 13.2 MNTV / ANT, 13.3 Ion TV, 13.4 Escape ) WPDE ( 15.1 ABC, 15.2 News / Weather, 15.3 Comet, 15.4 TBD ) WWMB ( 21.1 CW, 21.2 CW+, 21.3 Stadium, 21.4 Charge ! ) WHMC 23 / WJPM 33 ( xx. 1 PBS, xx. 2 South Carolina, xx. 3 ETV World, xx. 4 ETV Kids ) WUNU ( 31.1 PBS, 31.2 Rootle, 31.3 Explorer, 31.4 North Carolina ) WMBF ( 32.1 NBC, 32.2 Bounce, 32.3 Grit ) WFXB ( 43.1 Fox, 43.2 QVC, 43.3 This TV, 43.4 MeTV ) South Carolina broadcast television areas by city Augusta, GA / Aiken Charleston Charlotte, NC Columbia Greenville, SC Myrtle Beach Savannah, GA / Hilton Head North Carolina broadcast television areas by city Asheville Charlotte Greensboro Greenville, NC Myrtle Beach, SC Norfolk, VA Raleigh Wilmington Radio Radio stations in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina market By AM frequency 900 1050 1200 1330 1450 By FM frequency 88.3 88.9 90.1 90.9 92.1 93.7 93.9 94.5 94.9 96.1 97.3 97.7 98.5 99.5 100.3 101.5 103.1 104.1 104.5 104.9 105.5 105.9 106.5 107.1 107.9 NOAA Weather Radio frequency 162.4 162.5 162.55 By callsign KEC95 KHB31 W242AJ W270BZ W283AY WDAI WEZV WGTR WHMC - FM WHSC WJXY WKXB WKVC WKZQ - FM WLGI WLFF WMIR WMBJ WMYB WNG628 WNMB WPJS WRNN WRNN - FM WRXZ WSEA WSYN WVCO WWXM WXJY WXMB - LP WYAV WYEZ WYNA Defunct WMYB / 1450 WNMI - LP / 98.7 : North Myrtle Beach South Carolina radio markets Charleston Columbia Florence Greenville -- Spartanburg Myrtle Beach Rock Hill Other South Carolina radio regions Hilton Head See also List of radio stations in South Carolina Newspapers The Sun News is the largest daily paper published along the Grand Strand, with a readership base extending from Georgetown, South Carolina 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. Myrtle Beach is also served by The Myrtle Beach Herald, a weekly newspaper that is part of the Waccamaw Publishers group. It is locally owned by Steve and Cheryl Robertson. The Herald also produces a newspaper targeted at tourists called Visit ! Infrastructure Transportation Air The Market Common was once the location of Myrtle Beach AFB. The Myrtle Beach International Airport ( IATA : MYR / FAA LID : MYR ), is a county - owned public - use airport located three nautical miles ( 5.6 km ) southwest of the central business district of Myrtle Beach, in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. ( MYR ) It was formerly known as Myrtle Beach Jetport ( 1974 -- 1989 ) and is located on site of the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. The General Aviation Terminal www.beachaviationservices.com ( ICAO : KMYR / FAA LID : MYR ), is a part of the Myrtle Beach International Airport however, the terminal itself is located on the opposite side of the airfield from the commercial terminal side of the airport on Airdrome Street accessed by Phyllis Boulevard inside The Market Common. This new 11,500 square foot terminal was opened on May 21, 2010, built to modernize operations and accommodate the growing needs of the terminal. The new terminal replaces a building that was previously used as Base Operations when the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base was active. Executive Helicopters is within the Myrtle Beach International Airport as well. It is located on the eastern side of the airport with access from Kings Highway. Executive Helicopters is a private helicopter facility that provides tour services in the Myrtle Beach and surrounding areas. they also provide the majority of maintenance for General Aviation. In addition ; Myrtle Air Service a division of Kingman Aircraft Kingman, AZ operate a maintenance facility on site providing maintenance for mid sized jets. Military operations are also ongoing supporting USMC, USN, USAF, US Army and Coast Guard. The Grand Strand Airport ( IATA : CRE, ICAO : KCRE, FAA LID : CRE ), is a county - owned ( Horry County ), public - use airport located one nautical mile ( 1.85 km ) northwest of the central business district of North Myrtle Beach, in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. Grand Strand Airport is a single - terminal airport, serving primarily banner planes and small aircraft. Ramp 66 is the Fixed - Base Operator ( FBO ) for the Grand Strand Airport providing services such as fuel, oxygen, hangar service, maintenance, and inspections. Conway Airport ( IATA : HYW, ICAO : KHYW, LID : HYW ) is an Horry County owned airport that services the General Aviation Community of Horry County and Conway, SC. This airport has under gone major improvements in 2016 - 17 with the addition of LED lighting on the runway and taxiways. Rail The Waccamaw Coast Line Railroad is a 14.1 - mile ( 22.7 km ) short - line railroad division of the Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad, extending from a connection with the Carolina Southern Railroad, another division of that company, at Conway to Myrtle Beach. The line was opened in 1900 by the Conway Coast and Western Railroad, a predecessor of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. The Seaboard System Railroad sold the line to Horry County in November 1984, and it was operated by the Horry County Railway until October 1987, when the WCLR took over. The Carolina Southern Railroad acquired the WCLR in September 1995, and since then it has been a division of the Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad. 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 km ) of rail at a maximum speed of 10 mph ( 16 km / 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. It is located off of Main Street in Conway, South Carolina and is one of the few remaining train depots in South Carolina. It has been Painstakingly restored to its former glory and the Carolina Southern Railroad has become one of the frequent destinations for freight services as well as passenger cars and observational locomotives. The railroad was originally erected in late 1886 and the first train steamed into the Conway Depot in December 1887. The Carolina Southern Railroad stands as a permanent landmark in Southern History. Carolina Southern Railroad is a member of the Carolina Rails system with connections that run from Whiteville, North Carolina to Mullins, South Carolina and also from Chadbourn, North Carolina to Conway. Carolina Southern railroad is also responsible for operation of the Waccamaw Coast Line Railroad, which is a railway that runs from Conway to Myrtle Beach. On August 30, 2011, Carolina Southern Railroad voluntary shut down because several bridges along the rail were overdue for maintenance. The shutdown caused Carolina Southern Railroad to lay off nearly all of its employees. On May 24, 2012, the Federal Railroad Administration ( FRA ) commenced a bridge inspection on the CSR and the Waccamaw Coastline Railroad ( the Horry County portion of rail ). Fifty - two of 187 bridges were inspected and seven had critical defects. On May 26, 2011, the CSR voluntarily ceased operation, so that they could bring in a certified bridge engineer to inspect the seven critical bridges and prepare a plan for their repairs. Based on the engineer 's recommendations, CSR made the necessary repairs on the bridges and CSR resumed operations August 8, 2011. The FRA returned to inspect the bridges and made a recommendation that CSR cease operations until all bridge repairs were completed. There are currently efforts to bring the railroad back online. In 2015, railroad operator RJ Corman acquired the former CSR line and plans to re-open freight service in early 2016. Roads SC 31 serves as a by - pass for a majority of the Grand Strand US 17 US 501 SC 31 US 17 Bus. Farrow Parkway Ocean Boulevard Harrelson Boulevard Grissom Parkway Interstate 73 ( future ) Interstate 74 ( future ) 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 Road Improvement Development Effort ( 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. Mass transit Myrtle Beach is served by the Coast RTA and the Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority. Healthcare The Grand Strand Regional Medical Center is a 219 - bed acute care hospital serving residents and visitors of Horry and surrounding counties. The hospital offers the only cardiac surgery program in the area and is also a designated trauma center. Over 250 physicians serve at the facility. Sister Cities Myrtle Beach has five sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International : Burlington, Ontario, Canada Keighley, West Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom Pinamar, Argentina Killarney, County Kerry, Munster, Ireland Tiberias, Israel Notable people Sigmund Abeles - American figurative artist. Steve Bailey -- Bassist. Robert H. Brooks -- Founder of Naturally Fresh, Inc. and Hooters of America chains. Shane Carruth - Filmmaker. Brandon Frye -- Former NFL player, drafted by the Houston Texans. Everett Golson - Starting Quarterback for Notre Dame team that played in the 2013 BCS National Championship Game. Dustin Johnson -- PGA Tour player ( attended Coastal Carolina University ). Ewa Laurance -- Professional billiard player. Clint Newton - Rugby league player for the Penrith Panthers. Nancy O'Dell - Host of Entertainment Tonight. Ramon Sessions -- NBA player for the Washington Wizards. Tyler Thigpen -- Former NFL player that was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs. Kelly Tilghman - anchor for the Golf Channel and the PGA TOUR 'S first female lead golf announcer. Mike Tolbert -- NFL player for the Buffalo Bills. Kelly Wearstler -- Interior designer ; judge on Bravo 's Top Design. References ^ Jump up to : `` American FactFinder ''. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008 - 01 - 31. Jump up ^ `` US Board on Geographic Names ''. United States Geological Survey. 2007 - 10 - 25. Retrieved 2008 - 01 - 31. Jump up ^ Duncan, Kimberly Allyson ; Rentz, Lisa Tomer ( 1 January 2008 ). Insiders ' Guide to Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand. Globe Pequot Press. p. 3. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7627 - 4407 - 7. Jump up ^ Ben Burroughs ( 29 June 2005 ). `` Indian Mounds -- Located on Waties Island are several sites that have been identified as mounds built by Native Americans '' ( PDF ). 2.coastal.edu. Retrieved 2 January 2018. Jump up ^ Paul H. Voss : `` Horry County, Mind the H ! '', page 61, paragraph 7, 1995 Jump up ^ Dr. A. Geff Bedford : `` The Independent Republic, a Survey History of Horry County, South Carolina '', page 36, paragraph 6, 2nd edition, 1989 Jump up ^ Catherine H. Lewis : `` Horry County, Mind the H ! '', page 61, paragraph 8, 1995 Jump up ^ Dr. A. Geff Bedford : `` The Independent Republic, a Survey History of Horry County, South Carolina '', page 51, paragraph 2, 2nd edition, 1989 Jump up ^ Dr. A. Geff Bedford : `` The Independent Republic, a Survey History of Horry County, South Carolina '', page 58, paragraphs 1 - 3, 2nd edition, 1989. Jump up ^ Dr. A. Geff Ballard : `` The Independent Republic, a Survey History of Horry County, South Carolina '', page 128, paragraphs 3, 2nd edition, 1989. Jump up ^ `` Company History - Burroughs & Chapin Company, Inc ''. Burroughschapin.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018. Jump up ^ `` City of Myrtle Beach Frequently Asked Questions ''. Cityofmyrtlebeach.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018. Jump up ^ National Park Service ( 2010 - 07 - 09 ). `` National Register Information System ''. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. Jump up ^ Lewis, Catherine Heniford ( 1998 ). Horry County, South Carolina, 1730 - 1993 ( Google books ). Columbia, South Carolina : University of South Carolina Press. pp. xxiii, 192. ISBN 978 - 1 - 57003 - 207 - 3. Retrieved 2009 - 02 - 08. Jump up ^ `` Population and Housing Unit Estimates ''. Census.gov. Retrieved June 9, 2017. Jump up ^ METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS AND COMPONENTS Archived 2007 - 05 - 26 at the Wayback Machine., Office of Management and Budget, 2007 - 05 - 11. Accessed 2008 - 08 - 01. Jump up ^ MICROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS AND COMPONENTS Archived 2007 - 06 - 29 at the Wayback Machine., Office of Management and Budget, 2007 - 05 - 11. Accessed 2008 - 08 - 01. Jump up ^ COMBINED STATISTICAL AREAS AND COMPONENT CORE BASED STATISTICAL AREAS Archived 2007 - 06 - 29 at the Wayback Machine., Office of Management and Budget, 2007 - 05 - 11. Accessed 2008 - 08 - 01. ^ Jump up to : `` American FactFinder ''. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011 - 05 - 14. Jump up ^ `` Horry County South Carolina ''. SCIWAY. Retrieved 11 August 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` Myrtle Beach Hotels and Tourism ''. Myrtlebeachschotels.org. Retrieved 2 January 2018. ^ Jump up to : `` Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce - MBACC Research & Statistics - 2007 Data & Statistics ''. Jump up ^ Anderson, Lorena ( 2010 - 07 - 18 ). `` Boardwalk buoys business for Myrtle Beach ''. The Sun News. Retrieved 2010 - 07 - 18. Jump up ^ Orcutt, April ( June 1, 2010 ), `` America 's Best Beach Boardwalks '', Travel + Leisure, retrieved 2010 - 08 - 27 Jump up ^ Kimberly Allyson Duncan ; Lisa Tomer Rentz ; Janice McDonald ( 2008 ). Insiders ' Guide to Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand ( 9th ed. ). Insiders ' Guide. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7627 - 4407 - 7. Jump up ^ Bryant, Dawn ( June 13, 2002 ). `` Senior Week : A blessing, a curse ''. Morning Star. Wilmington, NC. Knight Ridder. p. 7B. Retrieved February 18, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Myrtle Beach named among Top 20 destinations for 4th of July - MyrtleBeach.com ''. 29 June 2010. Jump up ^ City of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina ( 2013 - 06 - 11 ). `` Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Code of Ordinances > > - CODE OF ORDINANCES > > Chapter 14 - OFFENSES AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS > > ARTICLE V. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC MORALS > > ''. pp. Sec. 14 -- 83. Public exposure of specified anatomical parts unlawful. Retrieved July 3, 2014. `` It shall be unlawful for any person to intentionally appear in any public place in such a state of dress or undress so as to expose to the view of others the human male or female genitals, pubic area, pubic hair, buttocks, anus, vulva or any portion of the female breast at or below the areola thereof. '' ( Ord. No. 2013 - 28, 6 - 11 - 13 ) Jump up ^ Myrtlebeach.com. `` Myrtle Beach laws : Swimming / Sun Bathing ''. Retrieved July 4, 2014. Swimwear is subject to city ordinances in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Surfside Beach. It is illegal for anyone to wear a thong bathing suit. Jump up ^ WMBF News Staff ( 2013 - 05 - 24 ). `` Woman arrested in Myrtle Beach for wearing thong ''. WMBF - TV. Retrieved July 4, 2014. A North Carolina woman was arrested Friday morning for indecent exposure after officers saw her wearing a thong swimsuit. Jump up ^ Lee Moran ( 2013 - 05 - 27 ). `` Woman, 22, arrested for wearing a thong bathing suit at Myrtle Beach ''. NY Daily News. Retrieved July 4, 2014. Cops in South Carolina busted a 22 - year - old woman for wearing a thong bikini on the beach. Jump up ^ via Associated Press. `` Myrtle Beach may adjust ' thong law, ' toss warnings '', Times and Democrat, February 10, 2009. Accessed November 24, 2015. `` The Sun News of Myrtle Beach reports that the current so - called ' thong ordinance ' requires officers to issue a warning before issuing tickets. Myrtle Beach has banned thongs on the beach for 16 years. '' Jump up ^ `` Myrtle Beach Bike Week 2015 - Myrtle Beach, SC - MyrtleBeach.com ''. MyrtleBeach.com. Jump up ^ Gettleman, Jeffrey ( May 21, 2003 ), `` Suit Charges Bias at Rally for Black Bikers '', The New York Times, p. A22, retrieved 2010 - 01 - 31 Gettleman, Jeffrey ( May 25, 2003 ), `` Claims of Bias Cloud an American Dream for Black Bikers '', The New York Times, p. 122, retrieved 2010 - 01 - 31 Conner, M. Shelly ( Fall 2009 ), `` First - Wave Feminist Struggles in Black Motorcycle Clubs '', International Journal of Motorcycle Studies, retrieved 2010 - 01 - 30 Jump up ^ Gettleman, Jeffrey ( May 21, 2003 ), `` Suit Charges Bias at Rally for Black Bikers '', The New York Times, p. A22, retrieved 2010 - 01 - 31 Gettleman, Jeffrey ( May 25, 2003 ), `` Claims of Bias Cloud an American Dream for Black Bikers '', The New York Times, p. 122, retrieved 2010 - 01 - 31 Knight - Ridder / Tribune Business News ( 21 October 2004 ), `` Myrtle Beach, S.C., resort hotel settles NAACP discrimination lawsuit '', Sun News, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina National Association for the Advancement of Colored People ; The Crisis Publishing Co ( 2008 ), NAACP : celebrating a century : 100 years in pictures, Gibbs Smith, p. 410, ISBN 1 - 4236 - 0527 - 6 Jump up ^ Kruea, Mark ( February 2, 2006 ), NAACP Offers to Settle Lawsuit ( press release ), The City of Myrtle Beach, retrieved 2010 - 04 - 12 Jump up ^ Harley, Bryan ( 9 June 2010 ), `` S.C. Court Overrules Myrtle Beach Helmet Law '', MotorcycleUSA.com, retrieved 2010 - 06 - 14 Jump up ^ Anderson, Lorena ( June 9, 2010 ), `` Myrtle Beach helmet law quashed ; High court backs state standard '', Myrtle Beach Sun News, retrieved 2010 - 06 - 14 Jump up ^ Harley, Bryan ( 3 February 2010 ), Court to Rule on Myrtle Beach Helmet Law, retrieved 2010 - 02 - 04 SC high court judge questions motives of MB helmet law, Columbia, South Carolina : WIS News 10 Television, 3 February 2010, retrieved 2010 - 02 - 04 Fogle, Adam ( 4 February 2010 ), SC Supreme Court hears Myrtle Beach helmet law cases, archived from the original on 20 April 2010, retrieved 2010 - 02 - 04 Anderson, Lorena ( 4 February 2010 ), `` High court hears Myrtle Beach helmet law cases ; Justices grill attorneys, hold off on decisions '', The Sun News, retrieved 2010 - 02 - 04 Jump up ^ `` Tanger Outlets - Myrtle Beach - Hwy 17, South Carolina ''. Tangeroutlet.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018. Jump up ^ `` Golf Capital Of The World ''. Travelworldmagazine.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018. Jump up ^ `` Myrtle Beach Form of Government ''. The City of Myrtle Beach. Retrieved February 5, 2017. Jump up ^ Prabhu, Maya T. ( March 10, 2013 ). `` Former Myrtle Beach mayor reflects on establishment of a professional government ''. Myrtle Beach Sun News. Retrieved February 5, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Mayors of Myrtle Beach, SC ''. Horry County Historical Society. Retrieved February 5, 2017. Jump up ^ McGuire, Kevin ( 2015 - 01 - 25 ). `` Coastal Carolina going with teal for new artificial turf ''. NBC Sports. Jump up ^ `` 07 / 13 / 2001 - Decision - 31983 ''. Stb.dot.gov. Retrieved 2 January 2018. Jump up ^ Interstate Commerce Commission, 38 Val. Rep. 503 ( 1932 ) : Valuation Docket No. 930, Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company et al. Jump up ^ Edward A. Lewis, American Shortline Railway Guide, 5th Edition, Kalmbach Publishing, 1996, pp. 324, 357 Jump up ^ Railroad Retirement Board, Employer Status Determination : Waccamaw Coastline Railroad, Inc., 1998 Jump up ^ Carolina Southern Archived 2012 - 07 - 10 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ ( 1 ) Jump up ^ `` Horry County South Carolina and Carolina Southern Railroad Infrastructure Project 2012 '' ( PDF ). Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2012. Jump up ^ Jones, Steve ( 2011 - 11 - 02 ). `` Horry County seeking $20 million for rail system upgrades ''. The Sun News. Retrieved 2011 - 11 - 03. Jump up ^ `` TIGER grant efforts fall short for Carolina Southern Railroad ''. WMBF News. December 30, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2012. Jump up ^ Gable, Paul ( February 13, 2012 ). `` I&R Committee Hears Railroad Update ''. Grand Strand Daily. Retrieved September 7, 2012. Jump up ^ Gable, Paul. `` The Carolina Southern Railroad Problem ''. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2012. Jump up ^ Cartrette, Nicole ( 25 July 2012 ). `` Railroad passed over again for TIGER grant ''. The News Reporter - Whiteville. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2012. Jump up ^ Jones, Steve ( 29 September 2012 ). `` Conway - based railroad 's future under scrutiny ''. The Sun News. Archived from the original on 2012 - 10 - 25. Retrieved 30 September 2012. ^ Jump up to : `` Carolina Southern Railroad FreightRail and Bridge Revitalization Project - Cost Estimate '' ( PDF ). Horry County Government. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 2012 - 05 - 16. Jump up ^ Biance, Heather ( 8 October 2012 ). `` Efforts alive to get Carolina Southern RR back on track ''. WMBF - TV. Retrieved 8 October 2012. Jump up ^ Smith, Drew. `` Horry, Marion and Columbus leaders want rail service back ''. WBTW News 13. Retrieved 10 October 2012. Jump up ^ Rocky, Dohmen. `` Railroad funding in # MYR could help with `` real '' jobs ( Update : Three Counties, Two states, committee meets ) ``. The Digital Myrtle Beach. Retrieved 10 October 2012. Jump up ^ `` Rail line connecting NC and Myrtle Beach area to open soon ''. 29 February 2016. Jump up ^ `` Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority : Be Transported ''. Pdrta.org. Retrieved 2 January 2018. Jump up ^ `` Interactive City Directory ''. Sister Cities International. Retrieved 11 March 2014. Jump up ^ `` Myrtle Beach signs sister city agreement with Tiberias, Israel ''. Wpde.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Myrtle Beach. South Carolina portal Official website `` City of Myrtle Beach ''. Geographic Names Information System. USGS. Retrieved 2008 - 05 - 07. Myrtle Beach at Curlie ( based on DMOZ ) Places adjacent to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Conway U.S. Route 501 Carolina Forest Grissom Parkway Briarcliffe Acres U.S. Route 17 Socastee S.C. Highway 707 Myrtle Beach Atlantic Ocean Surfside Beach U.S. Route 17 Bus. Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean Grand Strand transportation infrastructure Roadway and highway network Limited access highways S.C. Route 31 ( future I - 74 ) S.C. Route 22 ( future I - 73 ) Southern Evacuation Lifeline ( proposed ) U.S. and State highways U.S. 17 U.S. 17 Business U.S. 501 U.S. 701 U.S. 378 S.C. 9 S.C. 65 ( Ocean Dr ) S.C. 73 ( decommissioned ) S.C. 90 S.C. 179 S.C. 319 S.C. 410 S.C. 544 S.C. 707 S.C. 905 S.C. 917 County and city roads Carolina Forest Boulevard Farrow Parkway Harrelson Boulevard Mr. Joe White Avenue Robert Edge Parkway Robert Grissom Parkway Airports Commercial aviation Myrtle Beach International Airport ( KMYR ) General aviation Conway - Horry County Airport ( KHYW ) Georgetown County Airport ( KGGE ) Grand Strand Airport ( KCRE ) Green Sea Airport The Grand Strand of South Carolina Primary City - Myrtle Beach Metro Myrtle Beach metropolitan area Counties Horry Georgetown Communities Atlantic Beach Briarcliffe Acres Cherry Grove Beach Crescent Beach DeBordieu Garden City Georgetown Litchfield Beach Little River Murrells Inlet Myrtle Beach North Myrtle Beach Pawleys Island Springmaid Beach Surfside Beach Municipalities and communities of Horry County, South Carolina, United States County seat : Conway Cities Conway Loris Myrtle Beach North Myrtle Beach Towns Atlantic Beach Aynor Briarcliffe Acres Surfside Beach CDPs Bucksport Forestbrook Garden City Little River Red Hill Socastee Unincorporated communities Bucksville Burgess Carolina Forest Cherry Grove Beach Cool Spring Crescent Beach Galivants Ferry Green Sea Hand Hickory Grove Homewood Ketchuptown Konig Longs Pine Island Polecat Landing Springmaid Beach Toddville Wampee State of South Carolina Columbia ( capital ) Regions Atlantic Coastal Plain Blue Ridge Mountains Grand Strand High Hills of Santee Lake Murray Country Lowcountry Metrolina Midlands Ninety - Six District Olde English District Pee Dee Piedmont Sandhills Sea Islands Upstate Seal of South Carolina Larger cities Charleston Columbia Greenville North Charleston Rock Hill Spartanburg Smaller cities Aiken Anderson Beaufort Bennettsville Camden Cayce Conway Easley Florence Forest Acres Gaffney Georgetown Greenwood Greer Goose Creek Hilton Head Island Isle of Palms Laurens Lexington Mauldin Myrtle Beach North Augusta North Myrtle Beach Orangeburg Simpsonville Summerville Sumter Union Walterboro West Columbia York Towns Abbeville Barnwell Batesburg - Leesville Bluffton Clemson Darlington Dillon Edgefield Fort Mill Fountain Inn Great Falls Hardeeville Irmo Jefferson Kingstree Liberty Marion McCormick Moncks Corner Mount Pleasant Newberry Pageland Pendleton Pickens Seneca Sullivan 's Island Travelers Rest Walhalla Westminster Williamston CDPs Berea Carolina Forest Dentsville Gantt Garden City Ladson Parker Red Hill Saint Andrews Seven Oaks Socastee Taylors Wade Hampton Counties Abbeville Aiken Allendale Anderson Bamberg Barnwell Beaufort Berkeley Calhoun Charleston Cherokee Chester Chesterfield Clarendon Colleton Darlington Dillon Dorchester Edgefield Fairfield Florence Georgetown Greenville Greenwood Hampton Horry Jasper Kershaw Lancaster Laurens Lee Lexington Marion Marlboro McCormick Newberry Oconee Orangeburg Pickens Richland Saluda Spartanburg Sumter Union Williamsburg York Topics Airports Amusement parks Census areas Colleges and universities Congressional districts Famous people Governors Highways Historic places History Legislature Media Newspapers Radio TV Rivers Shopping malls Sports venues State House State parks Tourist attractions Wildlife refuges Society Crime Culture Demographics Economy Education Politics Sports Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Myrtle_Beach,_South_Carolina&oldid=818253985 '' Categories : Cities in South Carolina Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Myrtle Beach metropolitan area Seaside resorts in the United States Populated coastal places in South Carolina Cities in Horry County, South Carolina Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from January 2018 Coordinates on Wikidata Pages using infobox settlement with unknown parameters All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from June 2016 Articles with unsourced statements from December 2011 Articles with unsourced statements from September 2007 Articles with DMOZ links Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikivoyage تۆرکجه Bân - lâm - gú Български Català Cebuano Dansk Deutsch Español فارسی Français Italiano עברית Kernowek Kreyòl ayisyen Magyar Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Русский Shqip Simple English Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Svenska Türkçe Українська اردو Volapük Winaray 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 2 January 2018, at 14 : 13. 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Question: where did the name myrtle beach come from
Answer: the locally abundant shrub, the Southern Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera)