Also, its proximity to the coast, with the county seat, Whiteville, equidistant to both Myrtle Beach and Wilmington, makes it ideal for retirees who still want to be a part of a tightly-knit community while being only 30 minutes from some of the finest golfing and recreational opportunities in the world. Tabor City, the county s second largest town, is 20 minutes from Myrtle Beach s Grand Strand. Within the county lie three wild and scenic rivers that are largely undeveloped, offering remarkable beauty and solitude. Lake Waccamaw, the largest natural lake in the state, is pristine and feeds into the wild expanses of the great Green Swamp, home of a large number of bear, deer and exotic plants. Fishing is popular in Lake Waccamaw, known far and wide for its White Perch that gather in large schools in the summertime.
Medical care is excellent.
The county has a 140-bed hospital that offers a wide array of diagnostic and cardiac services in conjunction with Duke University Medical Center. Industrialists will find two accommodating industrial parks, Southeast Regional Park, which boosts all amenities including water and sewer, natural gas, rail, and an on-site community college for training and Tabor City Industrial Park. A new interstate highway, I-73 traveling from Detroit to Charleston, is scheduled to run through Columbus County. Active Committee s of 100 exist in the county and in Tabor City, while Fair Bluff and Chadbourn also have groups working on behalf of economic development. One of Columbus County s greatest assets is Southeastern Community College, the impetus for much of the county s progressiveness.